The Real Cost
Week of September 21, 2026 · Houston, TX
2027 Kia Sorento
17.7 gal tank · 25 MPG
$59–$70
typical fill → full tank · 17.7 galAt $3.93/gal, this tank gets you about 443 miles.
Source: EIA · Updated September 21, 2026
12-week state trend
+$0.64 over 12 wk
Local context
Houston runs at $3.93/gal this week — about 12.3% below the U.S. average of $4.48. At this price the 2027 Kia Sorento's 25 MPG returns roughly 6.4 miles per dollar (40.0 gallons per 1,000 miles).
At a typical 12,000 miles a year — the U.S. driving average — a Houston driver spends about $1,886 on gas in this car (use the calculator for your own mileage). For the same car, $2,881 in California (priciest reporting state at $6.00/gal) vs. $1,886 in Texas ($3.93/gal). $996 swing.
By the numbers
Fill cost
$59–$70
typical → full · 443 mi/tank
Per gallon
$3.93
EIA TX state weekly
Monthly · 12k mi/yr
$157.16
40.0 gal
Annual · 12k mi/yr
$1886
480 gal
The math
Why it costs what it costs.
- Fill cost = 17.7 gal × $3.93/gal = $69.54
- Miles per tank = 17.7 × 25 = 443
- Annual @ 12,000 mi (typical) = 12,000 ÷ 25 × $3.93 = $1886
Want to customize miles per year or override the pump price you saw? Use the full calculator.