2019 Kia Optima

The 2019 Kia Optima is available with four trim options that include LX, S, EX, and SX. The car is only available with a front-wheel-drive option and is priced from $22,900 for the base variant. The top of the line SX trim is priced at $31,900 and is offered with an extensive list of features and equipment. Even the base trim offers features like a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 8-inch touchscreen, and many more. Let’s find out the highlight features in the trim lineup.

What trim should you buy?

The top of the line SX trim is one of the best choices for the buyers of this vehicle. The Optima SX may not be very affordable but comes with a powerful engine option that helps it deliver a strong performance. In addition to this, it gets a number of standout features like 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, red brake calipers, etc. However, for those who are tight on a budget, the base variant is a great choice as it comes with all the basic features.

A 2.4-L inline four-cylinder engine powers the 2019 Kia Optima. This engine churns out 185 hp of peak power while the maximum torque output happens to be 178 lb-ft. This engine comes mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, and all the power is channeled to the front wheels. The 6-speed automatic gearbox is fast and smooth with the shifts, while a strong low-end grunt helps the car deliver impressive performance in all situations.

The NVH levels from this motor are impressive, and the engine boasts a strong character. The car, however, does struggle during flat-out acceleration. Coming to the performance part, the new Kia Optima hits 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and the quarter-mile run takes 15.2 seconds. Moreover, the Optima goes all the way up to 133 mph, which is among the fastest cars in the segment.

The Optima is one of the fastest cars in the segment and does boast impressive performance. In addition to this, the Optima also offers an impressive throttle response. The Ford Fusion, on the other hand, puts out 175 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Moreover, it takes 8.5 seconds to hit 60 mph while the quarter-mile time of both Ford Fusion and Hyundai Elantra are neck to neck. Toyota, on the other hand, comes with the weakest engine in its class.

How well does the 2019 Kia Optima handle?

The Optima gets a comfortable suspension setup, while the driving dynamics are sorted. The steering offers a great feel and feedback, while the high-speed stability is one of the best in the segment. The car gets impressive acceleration timings. The body roll is well controlled, and while pushing the car hard into the corners, you will notice that the grip levels offered by the vehicle are impressive.

In addition to this, the ride quality remains phenomenal, and the car absorbs all the shocks and potholes really well, hence delivering great ride quality for the occupants in the vehicle. Moreover, it incorporates a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear which offers great driving in the corners. Kia has tuned the suspension in a way that it handles corners with ease.

Braking Performance

The Optima gets a four-wheel disc brake setup that boasts impressive braking performance. The car gets 12-inch rotors at the front, while the rear wheels are equipped with 11.2-inch brake rotors. Moreover, a number of features like brake assist, antilock braking system, and traction control are on offer. Apart from this, the car also stays composed under heavy braking due to its huge rotors. However, the braking performance is not yet disclosed.

In comparison, the braking performance offered by the Hyundai Elantra is decent and stops at 125 feet from 60 mph, and the car stays under the control of the driver at all times. The Ford Fusion, however, offers considerably better braking performance by stopping under 110 feet. The Kia Optima is expected to offer similar braking performance to the Ford Fusion due to its relatively bigger rotors in the front.

The fuel economy figures offered by the Optima are decent if not great. The car gets a claimed city fuel economy of 24 MPG. In addition to this, the vehicle boasts a highway economy of 33 MPG, while the combined fuel economy stands at 27 MPG. The fuel tank offered with the sedan is 18.5 gallons. The fuel economy figures offered by the Optima are decent for a car of this size, and the large fuel tank also helps it offer an impressive range.

A quick comparison of the Optima with the rivals reveals that the fuel economy levels offered by the car are at par with the segment standards. The rivals like the Hyundai Elantra, however, offer significantly better fuel economy figures. It returns a fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and a combined 33 mpg which helps with the range despite having a mediocre fuel tank of 14 gallons.

The interior of the 2019 Kia Optima is certainly appealing and attractive. The front seats are extremely comfortable, while the visibility from the driver’s seat is decent. Rear visibility, however, is bad and could have been better. The rear seat bench is comfortable, but there is some dearth of space when it comes to headroom and legroom. The cushioning on the seats is spot on. The fit and finish levels are impressive, while all the parts and components are of premium quality.

The panels and the dashboard feel premium, and in addition to this, there is no dearth of features and storage spaces inside the cabin. The door trims have space to accommodate bottles, while the center console gets a couple of cup holders. The center console also gets a deep storage bin, while the glovebox could have been bigger. On the interior features front, the Optima is available with dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, power-operated front seats, heated front seats, etc.

Comparing the competition, the cabin of the Optima is spacious and is on par with the segment rivals. The quality levels are equally impressive. However, in terms of cargo space, it's beaten by the Fusion by a small gap that offers 16 cubic feet. On the other hand, the car with the least cargo space on offer is the Toyota Corolla which measures 13 cubic feet only. Some of the key interior features are mentioned below:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats with power adjustability
• Tilt and telescopic leather steering wheel
• Driver's seat memory functions
• Heated Leather Steering Wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained? 

An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is available as standard with the Optima. This system gets UVO link connectivity while a 10-speaker premium audio system from Harman Kardon with a rated 630-watt output offers great music output. On the features front, the system in the higher trims is available with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, etc. Steering mounted controls, satellite radio, AM/FM/MP3 player, etc are also a standard part of the package. The system is usable, and the user interface is easy to understand. Some of the key infotainment features are mentioned below:

• Premium navigation
• 8-inch touchscreen
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• UVO Link 
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto

The 2019 Kia Optima offers impressive looks and a great road presence which helps it have an edge over its rivals when it comes to exterior styling. The car gets impressive build quality, excellent fit and finish levels, and aggressive styling. The large LED headlights, a strong grille, and an elegant bumper design elevate the look of the front fascia. In addition to this, the Optima gets LED tail lights, while the side profile looks sleek and elegant.

The large alloy wheels go well with the overall design of the car. On the features front, it comes equipped with puddle lamps and bright LED DRLs. Moving on to the dimensions, it is one of the longest cars in the segment measuring 191.1 inches, and also the among the widest cars in the segment measuring 73.2 inches. Speaking of ground clearance, it is less when compared to other cars in the competition.

The Optima is one of the largest vehicles in the segment and boasts a strong road presence. Cars like the Hyundai Elantra, on the other hand, offer better exterior styling. However, the Toyota Corolla leads its class by being the car with the highest ground clearance in the segment, measuring 6.7 inches. However, the car with the widest body is the Ford, which makes it a better handling car in the corners. Some of the exterior highlights include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED DRLs
• LED fog lights
• Panoramic sunroof
• Light Tinted Glass

The 2019 Kia Optima is a well-built car and comes with a long list of safety features such as emergency braking preparation, traction control, multiple airbags, electronic stability control, etc. In addition to this, the car also boasts a well-built body shell that incorporates high tensile steel to prevent the cabin from being crushed during a hard crash, hence preventing major injuries to the occupants of the vehicle.

The build quality is impressive, and the car also scored impressive ratings in various crash tests conducted by the various institutions. It gets a perfect 5-star rating from the NHTSA and an overall 'Good' rating from IIHS. The private agency also awarded the sedan with the 2019 Top Safety Pick+ car. In addition to this, most of the safety features and equipment are offered as a standard part of the package which further makes it an even more safe car. Some of the standout safety features are:

• Lane Keep Assist Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keep Assist Lane Keeping Assist
• Parking Distance Warning Rear Parking Sensors
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning
• UVO eServices Emergency Sos
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion is one of the best-built sedans in the segment and is offered with powerful engine options, sorted driving dynamics, incredible safety levels, and dependable after-sales support. As compared to the Kia, the car also offers a significantly more comfortable and roomy cabin. In addition to this, the reliability and after-sales support of the car are great, and the Fusion is truly one of the best in the segment. 

2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra is one of the best cars in the segment when it comes to in-cabin experience, performance, after-sales support, long-term reliability, and exterior looks. While Optima and Elantra offer a similar package, it is the latter that is significantly more premium and has a plethora of features. In the end, the choice between the two remains with you.

2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla may not be the most powerful or fast car in the segment but does offer supreme levels of long-term reliability and in-cabin comfort. The car gets an extremely spacious and comfortable cabin, while the mechanicals and other components are of high quality, hence making it a great car for those looking to keep it for a long time. You can always rely on a Toyota, and it never lets you down.

Considering everything that has been discussed so far, the Kia Optima comes out to be a great car for anyone who is looking for a feature-rich sedan that comes with an adequately powerful engine. In addition to this, the 2019 Kia Optima comes at an affordable price tag which makes it a great choice for anyone who is tight on the budget. The long-term reliability is impressive, and so is the after-sales support offered by the brand. However, cars like the Hyundai Elantra and the Toyota Corolla are also good choices for the buyers of this segment.