2021 head-to-head · Compact Car
2021 Kandi K27 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.
FWD · Electric motor (20 kW) · Single-speed · 114 MPGe · 59 mi
The 2021 Kandi K27 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $796 a year to fuel (114 MPGe), versus $1,292 for the 2021 Kia Rio (36 MPG). That's roughly $495 a year, or about $2,476 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
- Kandi K27
- Kia Rio
Side by side
| Kandi K27 | Kia Rio | |
|---|---|---|
| $796 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,292 |
| 114 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 36 MPG |
| 127 MPGe | City | 33 MPG |
| 102 MPGe | Highway | 41 MPG |
| 29.5 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | — |
| 59 mi | Driving range | — |
| 101 cu ft | Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| 8 cu ft | Cargo volume | 17 cu ft |
| 0 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 249 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 8/10 |
| 7 hrs | Charge time at 240V | — |
| Electric | Powertrain | Gas |
| Electricity | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| Electric motor (20 kW) | Engine / motor | 1.6L 4-cyl |
| Single-speed | 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.
Kandi K27 vs Kia Rio across model years
- Kandi K27
- 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 Kandi K27 has more passenger space (101 vs. 91 cu ft); the Kia Rio has more cargo space (17 vs. 8 cu ft).
Among 37 2021 compact cars, the Kandi K27 ranks 1st and the Kia Rio 7th for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Kandi K27 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Kia Rio; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Kandi K27 or the 2021 Kia Rio?
Measured by cost to drive, the Kandi K27. The Kandi K27 is rated 114 MPGe combined and the Kia Rio 36 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Kandi K27 vs. the Kia Rio per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $796 for the Kandi K27 and $1,292 for the Kia Rio.
Which has more cargo space?
The Kia Rio, with 17 cu ft of luggage volume versus 8 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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