I can promise you no one has ever payed MSRP for a Kia. Transaction prices are probably closer to $30,000. At that price it’s a really nice option.

For 37k I'd buy the Premium trim of the Stinger. But the Optima is still nice and looks MUCH better than the new hideous Sonata.

I have been driving one of these for about 4.5 years, 19k miles when I bought it. It has been a great car. Still has features like 360 camera and ventilated seats that are not available on any Model Y :-)

I have a 2009 Optima that I bought used with 130,000 miles. Never have had a problem with it. I would definitely buy another.

It looks pretty good. The seats are really nice and the stereo upgrade option is solid

He is the Optima VS Stinger Premium comparison: Optima - 2018 SX Trim with both packages and auto dimming mirror including destination : $36,945 Reasons to get over Stinger: 1. Interior design, some don't like the tablet touchsreen. 2. Ventilated seats 3. 360 camera system. 4. Wireless charging pad. 5. Quilted nappa leather seats. 6. Rear heated seats. 7. Rear window sunshades. 8. Premium head and pillar liner. 9. Sporty flat bottom steering wheel. Stinger Premium - With Drive Wise Package and destination: $40,000. Reasons to buy over Optima: 1. Exterior stlying 2. Interior design 3. Increased cargo room 4. Better audio system with 5 additional speakers. 5. Larger 7 inch helper screen. 6. Led turn signals 7. Active lane keep assist system, where as the Optima just has a lane departure warning system. 8. Driving dynamics 9. Higher quality interior materials. I may not be impartial because I have a 2016 Optima SXL but If I were buying a new car I would probably still go with the Optima. In my opinion it has more features and the interior is nicer in some ways than the Stinger Premium. Also, the Optima is cheaper in every trim and you can probably get a better deal with or without incentives on one versus a Stinger.

Great review. I bought a used 2016 SXL and that’s when the value meets the price point. My only criticism is the adaptive cruise control, the system will not allow you to just have cruise control, it forces you to use the adaptive cruise control, which automatically detects how far ahead the car in front of you is. So when (if) a rock hits that (super expensive) adaptive cruise control radar sensor in the bumper, you totally lose cruise control. I had the 2012 SX and the only design change I wasn’t a fan of was the switch from digital engine/gas reading to the analog. Other than those two things, I would always recommend checking out an Optima!

Just test drove a 2014 model today and I fell in love 😍

As someone who likes the sharper optima styling over the stinger's smoother design, this definitely appeals to me more. That and the traditional infotainment layout, not that tacked on tablet on top of the dashboard thing. With that said, trading all that for the 3.3t is very tempting

As an owner of a 2016 Cadenza, the Optima SXL is very similar from the features, controls, and layout, of the 2014-2016 Cadenza. (Cadenza had a redesign in 2017) We love our Cadenza, we went from a 2007 BMW 530XI (E60) and actually like the Cadenza much more.

Its Worth it With a Better Engine Option, I Drove this but 2016 As a Rental , Drives So Smooth not your Typical Speeding Car Here

I like those physical buttons. They make it easier to get to specific parts of the infotainment system

Awesome review matt!

Beautiful Vehicle! I’d 100% pay 37k for this amazing gorgeous automobile. 😍

Hey matt can you by chance get a hold of a manual elantra sport and review it please o:

That Nappa leather is sumptuous and we get 36 MPGs on the highway! Love it 5 years later with 48,000 miles!

I like all of those buttons, much better than a touch screen that has no feedback

I've seen 2016 and 2017 certified SXL optima with really low miles around 10-20k miles for 22 to 25 k dollars .

It's beautiful but I can't see myself paying 37k for this knowing that they have the stinger there line up

"Once she starts cooking" Loves it

if it so good as a 2012 kia turbo , i buy it again!!. mine has 161000 now only problem i had was turbo sensor switch and some carbon build up in the engine , i used sea foam to clean it up . put some in the intake and the rest in the gas tank! runs like new again

does anyone know if a guy who's 6'1 will have any struggle sitting in any of the seats? (except the middle)

I'd love to see a review of the Elantra Sport or the Elantra GT Sport. Forte 5 SX too. I wish the N version was coming to North America.

Subaruwrxfan here! We got a kia optima! Lol miss his original KZfaq name.

I think dealerships are discounting these heavily. Most are going for around $27k brand new. Do you think that’s worth it?

I need this car!!!

When Mercedes C300 cost $55,000 to be similarly equipped, I say yes is the obvious answer.

This is one of the only sedans in the segment that savagegeese said he'd want to own. That says something! I don't think I'd buy this new.. CPO in a few years would make it a huge bargain

9:58 lets go to the back road ! You are welcome :)

Most people only pay 33k fully loaded for the Optima sxl and 31k for the sx

That looks really comfortable but id go with the stinger.

0:52 Is it me or is the grille missing a piece of chrome in the center column second row from the top, unless there is a camera there or something?

It is been 6-7 years, and this is my car to buy.

God sake man its not a Stinger STOP comparing it to a Stinger. Compare it to cars in the same market price range. And if your capable of doing that the Optima beats the others for value and drive .

$37k is a difficult price bracket to compete at. So m any good/great cars from other manufacturers. I wouldn't choose the Kia Optima SX-L if I was spending $37k on a car.

does this car have apple carplay?

Matt, how does the Mazda 6 compare in handling in your opinion, if you have driven one. Most auto journalists tend to rate the Mazda at the top in engagement and handling feel. Thanks in advance.

it should be 25k start and fully loaded out the door no more then 31 or 32..Nice car and fun But the new accord is under 37k and you can get a used audi s3 like a 2015 for 32 aswell.Its a sweet car and kia is an awsome brand but kia has to remember its true strength is selling affordable cars that keep up with the competition for cheaper so 37 grand is deff to much.Nice car tho not taking anything away from it but no way 31k tops.Ive driven the new accord and with the 252hp its extremely quick and for the price it seems to be the best value out at the moment.At the end of the day I would take the genesis g80 sport the car I cant afford hahah..nice review as always.

Hi am I late for the arm chair car expert convention?

You can buy those without the turbos for 12 Grand

I just purchased a 2018 kia optima S. Love it! Can't beat that price. But, as many have said here, if you can afford a stinger, go for it

I know you're 5'9 so it's hard to gauge how well it would accommodate taller(6'3+) people, but I wish you'd mention driver headroom. I drove this exact model(I'm 6'5) and the seating position for taller people is unbearable, especially with the sunroof. Half my vision was cut off as my head was hitting the roof.

What is the big deal about turning headlights? Tucker did that in 1948.

I wonder about the safety roll over ratings... doesn't look safe at all...

I'd either get the new Accord or the Stinger, hands down

Optimas have better-feeling steering column for higher trims (SX, SXL). I guess they got rid of the $27K Value edition with the SX's design with less features from last year.

I would wait a year when the prices drops over $10,000. The 2016 is the same exact car as this and you can get a top of the line model for 20,000, also the Stinger would be the first choice

Worth more like 27k to me

Holy shit this car has *_everything_*

It looks good. But in my opinion it's not worth $37k, when you have competitors from Mazda, Honda, and Toyota for less and better overall vehicles.

It's weird how my 2013 Optima SXL has 275hp from the factory. Same 2.0L turbo engine. One thing I hate is it doesn't have the spare tire.

Hi. How do you do Apple CarPlay

Is premium fuel needed on these vehicles?

My family went from a 2004 Mazda 6i (bought brand new back in 2004 w/ the Sport Appearance Package) to the 2014 Kia Optima EX-L GDI. In terms of being fun to drive, fast, and having a sporty look, the Mazda was definitely the better of the 2. But in terms of a more luxurious interior, the Optima was the better of the 2. The Mazda 6 lasted 238,000 miles and was.....okay in terms of reliability. The Optima is at 78,000 miles and it's been pretty good, but it's EXTREMELY boring to drive. The Mazda 6 had a 4 speed automatic and was still more fun than the Optima with the 6 speed automatic. In the end, my mom felt that the Mazda was taking up space in the driveway and was desperate to get it out of the way...and she ended up selling it for a measly $300 (and the only imperfection with it was the headliner was falling down).

The kia optima sx 2012 has 274hp and 245 more hpthat the new one thats strange

Kia's #1 selling car is going to have problems matching previous years sales numbers. Why in the world would anyone pay 36 thousand for the optima when you can get a base Stinger for 32,000. You still get leather seats, many safety features, 7 inch Entertainment System, same size rims, more horsepower and torque, plus a better looking car. I would imagine and hope the SX is built with better parts, but that won't matter to most.

It's 37 000$ new but theres used 2011 optima for under 8-9k its 258 hp manual 2.4L turbo... No bad for a used car

37000 for a KIA Optima??? F U C K ! I remember paying 27000 for my SX back in 2012.

Never would pay that for a fwd Kia or Hyundai.

The base Stinger is more luxurious than the Optima, yes it is better than the new Sonata. Most people bought in the low 30k, nobody paid for the Msrp. It is a best value choice and reliable.

I would probably get the Kia Stinger rather than get this

You can get it for $31.5 where I live.

I don't know if it's worth 37k, but I know it will be worth at most 27k after a year.

I paid 32k for mine in 2014. Owning it for 4+ years and the car has 43k miles. Minimal cost to own and I would do it all over again. The car is fantastic. What makes me laugh is all the naysayers who think it's the same brand from the 90's. These cars are quality very comparable to the other brands in every way

Eh idk about 37k. It’s nice for a Kia, the seats are nice, lots of cool options you’d see on a Benz or something. But again I wouldn’t. If people don’t care about brand status then they might like it. An Audi A4 starts at 36k I’d much rather buy that. Still it’s a good effort on Kia from the past cars they had.

I almost got this car.

NICE Review: 2017 Kia Optima SXL

I build this car in West Point, Georgia. KMMG

We all need to come to grips with the fact that Matt just fucking loves Kias

37k. For what?

Great car, just buy it a year or two later with low miles for mid 20s.

Not to be rude, but why not just review a 2018?

Matt weighs 145lbs, if Kia bolstered the seats to hold you in place to go around corners. The 200+ pound people wouldn't fit between the bolsters. I'm thinking Kia was looking at the overall consumer.

At that price, KIA's own Stinger is definitely the better buy imo.

Threat card supervisor since violate pilot different admire questionnaire combat mom dominant.

This or Ford Fusion Sport?

It just doesn't look like a $37k car. I'd still think it's a $25k-$30k sedan down the road. If I was going for a sedan, I'd get the Stinger GT for just a few grand more.

you really don't have to ask

People get what they can afford. I am not trying to keep up with the Jones!

Masuk info

I’d do a Fusion Titanium honestly even the sport in some case for this price

I get 25mpg in mine no highway

There's no way I'd pay 37k for a Kia Optima. I don't care what trim it is. Brand new fully loaded with the turbo engine should be 28k. Not a penny more. I'd pay 30k and higher for Toyota or Honda not Kia/Hyundai.

Optima.o please thank I mike always.

I just traded mine in and the resale value went down a lot because it's a Kia,just saying

Is it worth 37k? Hellllllllllll no. Nice car tho

Not for only 240 horsepower it's not.

Cool car but cannibalized by the Stinger.

Of course, this comments section are so American about Asian cars

Hate those pep boys looking chrome rims

$10,000 over-priced...imo Kia must be overpricing this Optima to allow the Stinger to have the relatively low price that it has.

Does not look like a $37k car at all.

Over priced. I wouldn't pay more than 30k for that

Having worked at kia before you wouldn't believe the amount of cars that would get delivered off the trucks needing new engines/transmissions right away. Wouldn't buy one myself just from working there but I guess a lot of people say that about places they work.

Wait a couple of years, it will go for $20k or less.

sonata limited 2.0t is better

I'd rather have a Chevrolet Impala Premier.

That center console looks like copied from bmw though

Accord 2.0t Touring is a better car overall and hold its value way way longer. Also this car's biggest competitor comes from Kia itself which is the Stinger Premium

The new 2018 Camry XSE V6 gives you better options than the Kia Optima. I agree the new 2018 Accord 2.0T is a game changer as well