2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 Kia Rio vs Volkswagen Beetle

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,661/ year to fuel
28 MPG

The 2016 Kia Rio is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,500 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $1,661 for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle (28 MPG). That's roughly $161 a year, or about $804 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Kia Rio
  • Volkswagen Beetle

Side by side

Kia RioVolkswagen Beetle
$1,500 Your annual fuel cost $1,661
31 MPG Combined efficiency 28 MPG
27 MPG City 24 MPG
36 MPG Highway 33 MPG
89 cu ft Passenger volume 81 cu ft
15 cu ft Cargo volume 7 cu ft
286 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 320 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.6L 4-cyl Engine / motor 1.8L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed automatic Transmission 6-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Kia Rio vs Volkswagen Beetle across model years

  • Kia Rio
  • Volkswagen Beetle

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Kia Rio has more passenger space (89 vs. 81 cu ft); the Kia Rio has more cargo space (15 vs. 7 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Kia Rio ranks 18th and the Volkswagen Beetle 27th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Kia Rio or the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

Measured by cost to drive, the Kia Rio. The Kia Rio is rated 31 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Beetle 28 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Kia Rio vs. the Volkswagen Beetle per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,500 for the Kia Rio and $1,661 for the Volkswagen Beetle.

Which has more cargo space?

The Kia Rio, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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