2021 head-to-head · Compact Car

2021 Honda Insight 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.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$894/ year to fuel
52 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,292/ year to fuel
36 MPG

FWD · 1.6L 4-cyl · CVT · 36 MPG

The 2021 Honda Insight is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $894 a year to fuel (52 MPG), versus $1,292 for the 2021 Kia Rio (36 MPG). That's roughly $397 a year, or about $1,987 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

  • Honda Insight
  • Kia Rio

Side by side

Honda InsightKia Rio
$894 Your annual fuel cost $1,292
52 MPG Combined efficiency 36 MPG
55 MPG City 33 MPG
49 MPG Highway 41 MPG
98 cu ft Passenger volume 91 cu ft
15 cu ft Cargo volume 17 cu ft
170 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 249 g/mi
9/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
9/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 8/10
Hybrid Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.5L 4-cyl Engine / motor 1.6L 4-cyl
CVT Transmission CVT
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.

Honda Insight vs Kia Rio across model years

  • Honda Insight
  • 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 Honda Insight has more passenger space (98 vs. 91 cu ft); the Kia Rio has more cargo space (17 vs. 15 cu ft).

Among 37 2021 compact cars, the Honda Insight ranks 3rd and the Kia Rio 7th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Honda Insight is a full hybrid, while the Kia Rio is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Honda Insight or the 2021 Kia Rio?

Measured by cost to drive, the Honda Insight. The Honda Insight is rated 52 MPG combined and the Kia Rio 36 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Honda Insight vs. the Kia Rio per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $894 for the Honda Insight and $1,292 for the Kia Rio.

Which has more cargo space?

The Kia Rio, with 17 cu ft of luggage volume versus 15 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Honda Insight vs Kia Rio in other years

More 2021 comparisons

Or compare the 2021 Honda Insight with anything else:

Keep exploring