2020 Kia Optima Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

The 2020 Kia Optima has attractive styling and compelling content, but it struggles to stand out among more desirable classmates. The flashy family sedan offers a smorgasbord of distinct engines and hybrid powertrains, but neither its performance nor fuel economy rise above average. The Kia has an unrivaled powertrain warranty and excellent safety ratings, but its back seat is smaller than some rivals and hybrid models have reduced trunk space. On the other hand, it has a well-built interior and plenty of standard driver-assistance technology. Still, the 2020 Optima is a sufficient option for families that want a sedan and that don't care about driving verve.

What's New for 2020?

The 2020 Kia Optima receives several newly standard and optional features as well as a new S model. The latter slots between the base LX and EX trim levels and starts at $25,615. The Optima hybrid and plug-in hybrid now have standard driver assists, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. Both also add LED fog lights and customizable ambient interior lighting. The other updates include standard wireless phone charging on all but the bottom two models, but every Optima now has pedestrian detection.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We'd recommend the gas-powered Kia Optima EX, with its peppy turbocharged engine and responsive automatic transmission. It also has a slew of desirable standard features that include adaptive cruise control, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, and more charging ports for all the devices in your life. That content can be enhanced with the EX Premium package, which adds a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, upgraded audio system, ventilated front seats, and more. However, it pushes the price above $30,000 and that's about the same as our preferred versions of the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The base powertrain is a non-turbocharged four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission; it's quick but sometimes slow to react to inputs and sounds a little rough when coaxed into its upper ranges. We much prefer the smoother, sharper, and quicker combination of the turbo 1.6-liter four and the seven-speed automatic transmission that represents the second rung in the Optima's powertrain ladder. The range-topping turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder is refined and pleasing but less powerful and significantly slower from zero to 60 mph than its direct competitors. Drivers who are concerned about fossil-fuel consumption will be glad to learn of the Optima's two hybrid powertrains—one a conventional hybrid, the other a plug-in with an EPA-quoted 29 miles of EV range. Kia does an excellent job of making both hybrids drive like normal cars, so the unobservant passenger might never notice a difference between an Optima with an electric motor and one without. The Optima's ride is comfortable and controlled, even driving over challenging pavement. While we expect few drivers of mid-size sedans to take their cars anywhere near their handling limits, it's worth noting that the Optima loses its composure a few ticks before the valedictorians in this class, including the Accord and Camry.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Of the Optima's five separate powertrains, all are passably efficient, and a few are real standouts. However, the hybrid powertrain we tested on our highway fuel-economy test route failed to impress in real-world conditions. In our highway testing, the plug-in Optima delivered 41 mpg, underperforming its EPA highway estimate by 2 mpg. An Optima with the larger turbocharged engine earned 35 mpg, an impressive result that beat its EPA estimate by 4 mpg and tied a similarly equipped Accord.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Optima's interior can be very nice, but it can also be very spartan. Likewise, prices ramp up steeply for the better-outfitted trim levels. There's a wide gulf between the top and bottom offerings, but many drivers will probably find an affordable happy medium after a careful perusal of the order sheet. The Kia family sedan feels roomy and spacious, especially up front, where it has significantly more legroom than competitors. The Optima's worthiness as a cargo hauler depends entirely on which model you choose. While the regular model is as good a pack animal as any sedan in this class, the hybrid variants sacrifice cargo space to their bulky battery packs—and in the case of the plug-in model, most of it. We fit seven of our carry-on suitcases in the trunk of the nonhybrid but only four in the plug-in hybrid.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Kia's infotainment system is simple and easy to use, and there are plenty of power ports to go around. An 8.0-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard. Desirable upgrades include a powerful Harman/Kardon audio system, built-in navigation, and wireless charging but no mobile hotspot. Overall, the infotainment system provides an intuitive, if not exactly impressive, interface.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2020 Optima earned excellent ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the hybrid models haven't been crash-tested. The Optima was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, too. The lineup also boasts copious standard driver-assistance technology. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia's powertrain warranty is a legend in car showrooms across the nation, but some of the competition is starting to put up a fight. Toyota and Chevrolet each offer complimentary scheduled maintenance as part of their warranty packages, for instance.

• Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance