2018 head-to-head · Compact Car

2018 Chevrolet Cruze vs Kia Rio

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

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✓ Cheaper to run
$1,409/ year to fuel
33 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,453/ year to fuel
32 MPG

On fuel costs these two are nearly tied. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, the most efficient 2018 Chevrolet Cruze (33 MPG) costs about $1,409 a year to fuel and the 2018 Kia Rio (32 MPG) about $1,453.

Your numbers

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

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Chevrolet Cruze
  • Kia Rio

Side by side

Chevrolet CruzeKia Rio
$1,409 Your annual fuel cost $1,453
33 MPG Combined efficiency 32 MPG
29 MPG City 28 MPG
40 MPG Highway 37 MPG
94 cu ft Passenger volume 90 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 14 cu ft
267 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 280 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.4L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 1.6L 4-cyl
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.

Chevrolet Cruze vs Kia Rio across model years

  • Chevrolet Cruze
  • Kia Rio

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 Chevrolet Cruze has more passenger space (94 vs. 90 cu ft); the Kia Rio has more cargo space (14 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 44 2018 compact cars, the Chevrolet Cruze ranks 12th and the Kia Rio 15th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze or the 2018 Kia Rio?

Measured by cost to drive, the Chevrolet Cruze. The Chevrolet Cruze is rated 33 MPG combined and the Kia Rio 32 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Chevrolet Cruze vs. the Kia Rio per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,409 for the Chevrolet Cruze and $1,453 for the Kia Rio.

Which has more cargo space?

The Kia Rio, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Cruze vs Kia Rio in other years

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