2024 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2024 Kia Forte vs Mazda 3
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2024 Kia Forte is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,368 a year to fuel (34 MPG), versus $1,500 for the 2024 Mazda 3 (31 MPG). That's roughly $132 a year, or about $662 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 Forte
- Mazda 3
Side by side
| Kia Forte | Mazda 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,368 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,500 |
| 34 MPG | Combined efficiency | 31 MPG |
| 30 MPG | City | 27 MPG |
| 41 MPG | Highway | 37 MPG |
| 96 cu ft | Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| 15 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 261 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 287 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| CVT | 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 Forte vs Mazda 3 across model years
- Kia Forte
- Mazda 3
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 Forte has more passenger space (96 vs. 93 cu ft); the Kia Forte has more cargo space (15 vs. 13 cu ft).
Among 43 2024 midsize cars, the Kia Forte ranks 16th and the Mazda 3 21st for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2024 Kia Forte or the 2024 Mazda 3?
Measured by cost to drive, the Kia Forte. The Kia Forte is rated 34 MPG combined and the Mazda 3 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2024 Kia Forte vs. the Mazda 3 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,368 for the Kia Forte and $1,500 for the Mazda 3.
Which has more cargo space?
The Kia Forte, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Kia Forte vs Mazda 3 in other years
More 2024 comparisons
Kia Forte vs…
Or compare the 2024 Kia Forte with anything else: