Test complete: 2009 Kia Optima

Sensible and well-rounded, the 2009 Kia Optima ranks among the better family sedans. We tested both the 2.4-liter four-cylinder LX model and 2.7-liter V6 EX with individual reports on each variant now available on the model overview at ConsumerReports.org. Prices as tested were $20,365 for the LX and $24,640 for the EX.

Admittedly, the Optima is not very exciting to drive, but it's roomy, rides well, and handles securely. Fit and finish is very good and the rear seat is very accommodating. Standard equipment includes ABS, side-curtain air bags, and stability control.

In our testing, the four-cylinder powertrain got a commendable 25 mpg overall. The six-cylinder returned 22 mpg overall. Since the underwhelming six-cylinder offers little more power than the four-cylinder, yet significantly drops fuel economy, we suggest sticking with the cheaper four.

Learn more about the Optima line, with road tests, pricing, and more, in the model overview (available to online subscribers).

—Liza Barth

Comments

[Gwennie]

RE: 2009 Kia Optima

How does this vehicle rate compared to the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry?

Thanks.

[CyCarConsulting]

In the years of buying thousands of cars for franchised dealers,I have never had a worse car than a Kia product. I would find very low mileage 1 year old cars that were absolute nightmares due to the poor quality. I stopped buying them completely, and any trade ins would go directly to the auction. Lenders we had were refusing to finance them as well. I would never recommend this company to anyone. In Kia's defense, they would fix the same problems over and over, but what owner wants to go through that hassle?

[Derrick G]

Gwennie,

That information is available in the New Cars section for subscribers. If you don't subscribe, I'd strongly suggest it. If you just can't, you can view the current issue at your local library.

Concerning the other comment, it's well documented that Kias of yore were unmitigated crap. But this is 2009, not 1999. And while I don't like giving out data reserved for subscribers only, I will say that only the Ford Fusion I4 outranks the current Optima in reliability among gas-only Family Sedans in CR's latest survey. And even then by only the smallest amount.

[just the facts]

Keep living in the past cycar, in case you haven't noticed, the Kias of today are not the same ones that you refer to. Kia and Hyundai have come a long way, they now build a quality value based product, and the sales numbers are showing it.

[CyCarConsulting]

I'm talking about 2008 models

[Derrick G]

Very odd since the Optima's reliability in CR's survey is top notch and most other Kias are at least decent now. Was this all Kias or a specific model?

[coolcar]

CyCarConsulting: truly and really, you should subscribe to CR's ratings... If you don't already.

most kias did quite well in CR's tests and proved good quality, including the Optima, Amanti, Soul, and Rondo, just to name a few and even so... not all models were changed for the 2009 model year

[CyCarConsulting]

Sorry, my experience comes from hands on, not graphs and cut up pies. For example in a 1988 article on Hyundai in the Free Lance Star, 12/14/88, CR reported, "Hyundai Excel reports of trouble from owners in its first year here in 1986,were average."
Meanwhile in 1986 and 87 I was taking Excel after Excel in on trade at a Toyota store from buyers begging to take them out of the problem. If I had the time I could probably find some very interesting reports on how cars over the years fared against their original surveys. A few years back, I remember going through Motor Trends Car of the Year list, finding a lot of them to be dismal failures down the road, both in sales and reliability.
Want some real in depth information. Talk to Service Writers at dealerships, and rental agencies. If you can get some straight answers, you would be amazed at what you'll hear. It is incredible what I've gotten out of those 2 sources over the years.

[coolcar]

CyCarConsulting: I thought you said you were "talking about 2008 models."

Anyhow, I agree with you that Hyundais and Kias were inferior in quality, performance, reliability, pretty much anything... back in the 1980s and 1990s, and maybe into the early 2000s. But that was then and this is now. The Koreans have come a long way since. In fact, I feel that they are equal if not superior to Japanese companies such as Toyota in terms of quality in their cars. All new Hyundais and Kias have an impressive host of features that come with a surprisingly low price... and, having experience with cars such as the Kia Rondo and Hyundai Sonata, quality is actually quite good. Take a look at CR's reliability and performance charts, Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and maybe even take the extra step of actually sitting in a new Korean car.

And NO, I do not work for Hyundai or Kia. :)

[CyCarConsulting]

It's like talking to a wall. I'm done on this subject.

[TinIndy]

Just a lowly consumer here. I researched all the major mid-sized makes for two years. Drove them all, put kids in back seats of each model, and let the wife drive them too. How did the Kia Optima stack up with us.
1. Camry - nice but everyone has one, dealer wouldn't budge, and I heard of tranny problems recently. (2nd gear solenoid)
2. Accord - I ranked this equal to the Optima, smae power, nice features, except very pricey for like equipment.
3. Fusion - Found a nice metal flake black, made an offer and countered, but dealer woulnd budge. Also noticed a shift flare on the new auto tranny. We didn't call them back.
4. Chevy - their cars are uncomfortable for us, but would be nice on a race track.
5. Optima - Standard stability / traction control. Best HP in class. Sat radio with six speakers, quiet, best rear seats in class and probably beyond, great safety rating, great mpg, and finaly a price that couldn't be passed up, Plus we got the 10/100000 bumper to bumper extension for pennies.

We are happy with our purchase and consider ourselves repeat buyers at this point.

[MH]

CyCarConsulting wrote:

"It's like talking to a wall."

Not sure why you feel this way.

This was a test of a 2009 Kia product. You site evidence from 23 years ago from a separate car company, Hyundai. Kias weren't sold in the U. S. until 1994. Hyundai invested in Kia in 1998.

As pointed out by others above, the last few years Hyundai/Kia quality has significantly increased.

[57fairlane]

I've owned an 08 Kia Optima LX AT for more than a year and 14,000 miles now. Reliability has been perfect. Car looks, feels and operates as it did on Day One. I'm pleased with it.

A friend with an 07/44,000 miles has had no mechanical issues, either. He plans to run his vehicle to the end of the 10-year warranty.

Mechanically, Kia has come a long way. They are beginning to find their style niche. Depreciation is still significant, however.

[65mustang]

It’s quite obvious CyCarConsulting has an agenda against the Korean auto makers. Anyone can claim to be whatever they want in these blogs, but I would rely on the ratings from CR.

[Gary Mercatante]

I have a 2008 Kia Optima LX and I just love it! It's a year and a half old, has 41,000 miles on it, and has been absolutely perfect mechanically. It's been "maintenance" and that's it. As CR has stated, it isn't the most exciting car to drive, but it is very comfortable, fairly quiet on the road and the four-cylinder model (which is what I have)delivers the 31 MPG as stated on the sticker. I don't want to sound like a "traitor" here, but I've noticed that the non-U.S. automakers Mileage Stickers tend to be "right on" where the U.S. makers tend to "inflate" their numbers. Take a look at a Kia if you are in the market for a new car... also Hyundai (I have a couple of those). You'll get the same high quality as Toyota and Honda, but spend a couple thousand dollars less. You also get that nice 10/100,000 mile warranty. That is how Hyundai and Kia first started "coming up" in this country back in 1999. They literally "put their money where their mouth is". (something the U.S. automakers need to do) They have proven that if you really will "build a better mousetrap" the world will beat a path to your door! Even in these bad economic times, Hyundai is projected to be the ONLY automaker to MAKE money in 2009. There must be a reason. Check it out for yourself!

[Nick Protos]

I purchased a 2009 Kia Optima on 9-24-09 for my wife. It has a night vision design flaw. At first I thought it was a defect in the windshield but have come to the conclusion it is in the projection/mirrored driving lights. While driving in the dark, no background light from businesses, street lights or other cars, your vision is impaired. You do not have a full range of vision. The projection lights cause a phenomenon that makes a line appear on your windshield, it looks like a bi-focal line and that someone has pulled a shade down to that line. You cannot see above the line so you catch yourself crouching down to look under it. You cannot see above the line on the windshield nor to the sides of the road, you are essentially blind to these areas.
I called the service department and actually took the car in and had the technician drive it. He agreed with my analysis but said there was nothing that could be done.
My wife refuses to drive the car at night citing it is too dangerous.
Kia needs to retrofit these cars with some other lights. Someone is going to have an accident because of the impaired vision and the distraction the line on the windshield causes.