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The Pony Car Turns 602020 Kia Optima Review: Sharp Variety
Our experts review the 2020 Kia Optima to experience the powertrain, interior options, trim level, and more. Read on to learn what we think of Kia’s flagship sedan.
What’s new for the 2020 Kia Optima?
Kia introduces big and small upgrades over the 2019 Optima. They’ve added a new trim level with the S Package, which is between the LX and EX levels. Kia’s Optima Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid now have standard driver assists including lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise. All trim levels now receive optional pedestrian detection and wireless phone charging. Inside, the Optima has added customizable ambient lighting while exterior lighting now includes LED fog lights.
2020 is the last year for the Kia Optima. Kia has replaced the Optima with the Kia K5, which you can learn about here.
2020 Kia Optima – kiamedia.com | Shop 2020 Kia Optima on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Stylish and sharp exterior
Multiple engine options
Big trunk on most trims
Not great fuel economy
Boring base engine
Good standard options and looks but doesn’t surpass rivals
2020 Optima Specs
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- 185 horsepower from base engine
- 178 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 15.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 120.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Standard automated emergency braking
2020 Kia Optima Powertrain
Kia offers an unusually large variety of engines for performance tastes and MPG needs. The base trims start with the 2.4 liter 185-hp engine paired with a 6-speed transmission. We’ll admit that we found the acceleration and performance to be not especially inspiring, though the price is right starting in the mid $24,000 range.
The other two 2020 Kia Optima engines are a turbocharged 1.6 liter 178hp engine with a 7-speed transmission. The addition of a turbo adds some needed performance over the 2.4 liter engine. Finally, the Optima adds another turbocharged option with a 2 liter 245hp engine. While the 2 liter engine does add some pop to the Optima, the acceleration still lags behind competitors in performance and price.
2020 Kia Optima Fuel Economy & MPG
The three available engines for the 2020 Kia Optima gets differing levels of fuel mileage. Starting with the 2.4 liter engine, the EPA says you’ll get about 24 city and 32 mpg on the highway. The 1.6 liter turbocharged engine has a better combo for city and highway drivers with 27 city and 37 on the highway. The 2 liter turbocharged – and most fun to drive engine gets 21 city and 30 mpg highway.
The fuel mileage isn’t bad, but it doesn’t quite compete with in class competitors like the 2020 Nissan Altima. 28 city and 39 highway miles per gallon sounds pretty good. Check out the 2020 Nissan Altima here.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
We have to admit that one thing we’ll miss about the 2020 Kia Optima is the interior. Kia uses soft plastics for the dashboard and interior materials, and it looks and feels nice for the price with available wood or satin finishes. Driver and passengers get plenty of space for their legs and elbows. The backseat isn’t bad at all for the average height person, though a person above average, like 6’2 and over, might feel a bit cramped. You can check out the best vehicles for tall people here.
The interior comes in a couple of seat materials with cloth and leather. Heated seats and 10 or 12-way power adjustment for the front seats are also available. Between the well-padded seating and the overall spacious interior, the 2020 Kia Optima makes for comfortable road trips unless your family and friends are especially tall.
The cargo space becomes more limited in hybrid editions where the battery takes up a significant portion of the trunk.
Overall, the interior space and features make the 2020 Kia Optima a surprisingly popular family car with more than a few of the most popular family features we discuss here.
Entertainment & Technology
The 2020 Kia Optima has a clear, bright 8-inch infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and make use of strong Google software to stream music, make phone calls, and use on screen navigation.
The Optima can also be upgraded with a WiFi hotspot, HD radio, robust 10-speaker stereo system, navigation, push button start, and more.
After some use, we can say that the Kia infotainment system is well organized and easy to use. We only wish the screen didn’t feel further away for a touch screen, though the steering wheel does have some handy controls for music and entertainment.
Safety Features
For the low intro price, you get many safety features with the 2020 Kia Optima. Just to start, you’ll have forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. City driving is easier with pedestrian detection and driver attention monitor. Kia helps out backing up with backup sensor, rear cross traffic alert, and a backup camera. A trim upgrade also gets you adaptive cruise control with stop and go and adaptive headlights.
For a good explanation of many modern safety features, check out our article.
2020 Kia Optima Trim Levels and Pricing
LX $24,355
The LX starts with the base 2.4 liter engine. Entry level owners still get the 8-inch touchscreen, 6 speaker stereo, rearview camera, and many standard safety features including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and more.
S $25,855
S literally stands for Sport and adds some exterior features. Add a rear spoiler, alloy wheels, sport seats with synthetic leather bolsters, and a power driver’s seat. You can also get a Special Edition package with full leather, heated seats, and a sunroof.
EX $29,310
The EX adds the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a few more options. The upgrade includes leather seating, wireless device charging, and a dual zone full automatic temperature control system.
EX Premium- $30,190
The EX Premium package includes a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, 12-way premium adjustable and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a Harman Kardon premium sound system.
EX Hybrid- $30,190
The 2020 Kia Optima EX offers an hybrid or a plug-in hybrid powertrain for $36,090. The hybrid options are paired with a 2.0-liter engine that offers 150 hp and 140lb-ft of torque. The hybrid powertrain bumps the 2020 Kia Optima’s fuel economy to 40 MPG city and 45 MPG highway. The battery range isn’t especially long at 29 miles, but drivers won’t notice the shift between battery-powered and gas, which is nice for drivers who want to use less gas without feeling a shift in power.
SX $33,155
On top of the entire EX package, you’ll have a sport-tuned suspension, satin chrome accents, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters.
Warranties
Kia has one of the better warranties in the car industry, with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty in addition to a 5 year, 60,000 limited warranty. Roadside assistant is included, and you also get an anti-perforation warranty for rust, corrosion, and other issues on the sheet metal within the body.
What we think
2020 Kia Optima – kiamedia.com | Shop 2020 Kia Optima on Carsforsale.com
The 2020 Kia Optima certainly provides some good arguments with a classy interior of soft plastics, and lots of upgrades available, in addition to lots of standard safety features. In order to avoid the relatively boring base engine, we would suggest you start at the EX trim where the turbocharged models give the Optima a bit more pep. Still, competitive vehicles like the Nissan Altima provide more power for about the same price though the interior isn’t quite as nice.
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