crossover2014–present

Kia Soul — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025

Kia's distinctively boxy compact crossover, combining chunky SUV styling with high cabin headroom and excellent reliability.

The second-generation Kia Soul is a stylish and unconventional crossover, featuring a square silhouette that maximizes interior headroom and luggage space.

UK models are powered by naturally aspirated 1.6-litre GDI petrol engines or robust 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engines, backed by Kia's 7-year warranty.

Real-world fuel economy is respectable, with the diesel returning around 47 MPG and the petrol version averaging around 37 MPG.

TL;DR

37 MPG

Real-world petrol

47 MPG

Real-world diesel

54L

Tank capacity

£73.87

Full tank (petrol)

16.8p

Per mile (petrol)

Real-World Fuel Economy: The Kia Soul achieves an estimated 37 MPG (petrol) and 47 MPG (diesel) in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.

Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 54-litre tank completely costs approximately £73.87 (petrol) or £76.73 (diesel) at average UK fuel price rates.

Fuel economy at a glance

37

Real-world MPG

Petrol

43.5

Official WLTP

Petrol

47

Real-world MPG

Diesel

56.5

Official WLTP

Diesel

Why is real-world MPG lower? Official WLTP figures are tested under laboratory conditions — smooth roads, controlled temperature, no A/C, no passengers. Real-world driving cuts efficiency by 10–15%. WorthThePump applies a 12% penalty to give a realistic estimate.

Annual fuel costs by mileage

Annual mileagePetrolDiesel
5,000 miles/yr£840£687
7,400 miles/yr(UK average)£1244£1017
10,000 miles/yr£1681£1374
15,000 miles/yr£2521£2062
20,000 miles/yr£3362£2749
Full tank (54L)£73.87£76.73
Cost per mile16.8p13.7p

Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.

How does the Soul compare?

Tips to get better MPG from your Soul

The Soul's very boxy shape increases aerodynamic drag; driving at 65 mph on highways saves fuel.

Use standard cruise control on long motorway runs to keep fuel consumption steady.

Check tyre pressures regularly to prevent rolling resistance from lowering your MPG.

Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?

In a Kia Soul achieving ~37 MPG real-world, if you fill 43 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:

£4.30

Gross saving on fuel

£0.50

Cost of 3-mile detour

£3.80

Net saving ✓

You could drive up to 26 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.

Calculate for your exact situation

Popular variants

1.6 GDI Petrol1.6 CRDi Diesel

Frequently asked questions

What is the real-world MPG of the Kia Soul?

The Kia Soul achieves approximately 37 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 43.5 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around 47 MPG real-world.

How much does it cost to fill a Kia Soul?

The Kia Soul has a fuel tank of 54 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £73.87. Diesel costs approximately £76.73 for a full tank.

What is the annual fuel cost for a Kia Soul?

At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Kia Soul costs approximately £1244 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1681. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.

Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Kia Soul?

In a Kia Soul doing ~37 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 43-litre fill nets approximately £3.80 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 26 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.

How much does the Kia Soul cost per mile in fuel?

The Kia Soul costs approximately 16.8p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £5.04 per day in fuel.

What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Kia Soul?

The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Kia Soul is 43.5 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.

Related guides

Find the cheapest fuel for your Soul

Enter your registration and we'll calculate whether the cheaper station nearby is worth the detour — factoring in your Soul's real-world MPG.

Try WorthThePump — it's free