2019 Kia Optima - A great value in a competitve field

The 2019 Kia Optima costs less and offers more than many of its impressive competitors, making it a great choice for anyone considering a midsize sedan.

Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata… all of these are great sedans. They offer impressive levels of standard safety and technology, drive well, and employ satisfying engines. Among this stiff competition, the Kia Optima still manages to shine. Starting at an unbelievably appealing $22,900, the Optima can be had in a variety of trims with a range of 5 powertrains and an impressive array of options and packages.

Chris Warldaw’s Optima SX Turbo uses a 2.0-liter, 245-horsepower turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine that makes 260 pound-feet of peak torque at a low 1,350 RPM. Fuel economy sits at 21 mpg city, 30 highway, 24 combined, and the as-tested price rang in at $33,505. This Optima was engaging to drive, although its brakes heated and faded after repeated (and spirited) use, and the Optima’s not-quite-a-sports-sedan chassis limited the vehicle’s ability on twisty roads.

Kia’s UVO, or Your Voice, infotainment system features an 8-inch touchscreen capable of running either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The car also boasts an impressive set of advanced safety features and scored well with both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Presenter: Chris Wardlaw
Cinematographer: Dan Sharp

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Sedans & Hatchbacks

[fedoratheexplora]

Im a happy owner of a 2011 kia optima ex. It has 131000 miles on it. I use it as a daily driver and road tripper. I do add fuel additives every now and agian and ive changed out the transmission fluid and coolant twice now even though owners manual sais its not required i do it about ever 60 to 70k miles. I also use full synthetic oil and i replace oil every 5k miles.

[Kurumifan]

I love my Optima. Had it for 4 years now and no problems soo far. Super reliable. My only complaint is that outside noise is bad. At highway speeds I constantly check the windows to make sure they are up because I cant believe it could get soo much road noise with the windows closed. 2013 model. Anyone else noticed this?

[UvidCo]

My wife and I owned a 2012 optima Hybrid, we drove over 6000kms and it burned 429 bucks, we traded that after a few years on a Nissan rogue but my wife now has gone back to an Optima. The 2019s are the best looking yet.

The "2011" you guys shown was actually a 2014 I believe.

[Mark-hutf]

I love my 2014 SX. Power and refinement at a steal of a price secondhand. Loads of toys too.

[stephenhendricks]

Excellent and fair review of the Optima, I think. The complaint that KIA restricts color choice combinations and bundles a large set of individual options into trims and a few relatively expensive option packages is a common one in most of their vehicles. It's very different from the practice of European manufacturers and to a slightly lesser extent American and Japanese brands that offer individual feature options and a vast choice of color combinations on various trim levels. Even more puzzling to some is that the range of color combinations actually shrinks as one moves up the trim ladder. But there's are reasons for KIA's (and Hyundai's) approach.

First and foremost it constrains production costs. A simplified assembly process combined with the advantage of purchasing a greater volume of components from suppliers means the overall cost of producing a vehicle is significantly lower than an approach that enables a consumer to select literally hundreds of combinations of color combinations and individual options. Bundling options into a few packages and restricting color combinations are key to KIA's pricing strategy. And it doesn't end there.

Restricting the combinations of options and color combinations on upper level trims means that dealers are less likely to have less popular combinations sitting unsold on their lots for longer periods of time until they are ultimately sold at greater discounts. Those upper trim levels are the most profitable to dealers and the manufacturer. Avoiding flooring charges by selling top trims as rapidly as possible is the goal of every dealer.

Does KIA lose some sales because they don't offer as many color combinations as competitors, especially in their most expensive trims? Undoubtedly. But would a KIA dealer be willing to sacrifice a potential customer who wants a vehicle in a rare color or option combination if they can sell the next customer who's happy with a more limited and conventional combination loaded with options at a significant savings compared to another brand? The answer is obvious.

And that's why the top trim Optima has as many options including bells and whistles, but likely with fewer color combinations, as comparably equipped Honda Accords, Toyota Camry's and Mazda6's at an MSRP about $5000 less.

[MalamIbnMalam]

I have a 2018 Optima SX with Tech package, it's practically this car reviewed here but mine is Platinum Graphite

[icecreamjunkie]

My grandma has one that she really likes. I have a 2022 Hyundai Elantra and I’m amazed at how many similarities there are.

[blitzkrieg]

Got the 2019 optima in April. Best choice I’ve made, plus they gave me 5800 for my 2005 Nissan Titan which surprised me.

[medellon]

I chose to go with the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia does look sportier but they are virtually the same car. Kia could not give me the deal I was able to get on the Hyundai. Thanks for the informational review.

[isaacsmiranda]

Standard Features
1st:Cargo Mat
2nd:Screen
3rd:Climate Control
4th:Led Headlights
5th:18 Inch Wheels
6th:Paddle Shifters
7th:Gauge Cluster
8th:Panoramic Sunroof
9th:Black Mirror
10th:Heated Seats
11st:Cup Holders
12nd:15.9 Cubic Feet
13rd:Apple Carplay
14th:Android Auto
15th:Backup Camera
16th:Black-Lip Spoiler
17th:Navigation
18th:Blind Spot
19th:Lane Keep Assist
20th:Adaptive Cruise Control
21st:Forward Cillsion Alert
22nd:Sport-Tuned Suspension
23rd:Led FogLights
24th:Heated Steering Wheel
25th:Gulf Box
26th:Bluetooth
27th:Harmon Kardon Audio
28th:Lane Departure Warning
29th:Rear Parking Sensors

[JosephMorin]

Hey Christian! Good to see you on here! Great review as always.

[jseels]

Just got my 2020 Optima SE (Special Edition - LX trim with SX looks) in Pearl White! We love it! Stole the thing off the lot at $22, 000 :) (msrp: $28, 045!!!) nows the time to buy my friends

[secordman]

Good review, didn't sugarcoat things.

[johnholst]

This car is nice. But the all new model is coming out this November and it's a quantum leap better than this one. Options will include the all new 2.5T with almost 300hp, AWD, an 8 speed DCT and adaptive suspension. It will blow everything else out of the water in this segment. Can't wait!

[thetreblerebel]

These cars are affordable and awesome. You can get a 2.0T turbo 4cyl and got a sport saloon

[smokestrong]

bought the s model 2019 with panoramic sunroof. really enjoy the car. think i read the ride quality on the turbo models are stiffer so it's a sports suspension won't ride as good.

[bySterling]

2 3 year leases later and as just coming to an end this month ❤️💪🏻🚗💯 but can’t stick w the same body and style going into another 3/thus 9 years NEED THAT 2021!!!

[Moe_]

Make sure you do recall if the engine goes bad they will not cover the repair unless you do your recall update

[maxrockatanski]

Thank you for the daily driver insights .. I will passing this one up.

[gregnixon]

Great review of the positives. Have the Optima's electrical problems been solved?