Thinking about getting a Kia Optima and wanted to hear what people think about how reliable they are. Are they really as good as people say?
Kia and Hyundai usually aren’t seen as reliable as brands like Toyota or Honda, but they’ve come a long way. They used to focus on cheap prices, but now they pack in a lot of features for the money. The trade-off is that more features might mean more things to fix later.
If you’re looking for a car to last over 10 years, maybe go with Toyota or Honda. For something solid for 3-10 years, a Kia should be fine if you stay on top of maintenance.
@Cedar
By the way, did you check out the new K5 or the Stinger? The K5 is replacing the Optima, and the Stinger is a nice alternative with all-wheel drive and a hatch.
Cedar said:
@Cedar
By the way, did you check out the new K5 or the Stinger? The K5 is replacing the Optima, and the Stinger is a nice alternative with all-wheel drive and a hatch.
Yeah, but the Stinger is ending soon. This year is kind of like its farewell.
@Cedar
I get your point, but I think Kia and Hyundai have really stepped up. Some reliability tests even put them ahead of Honda these days.
Dacey said:
@Cedar
I get your point, but I think Kia and Hyundai have really stepped up. Some reliability tests even put them ahead of Honda these days.
You’re right, they’ve improved a lot. But compared to brands like Toyota, their reliability is still newer, and some people might take time to trust them fully. Plus, the more features you get, the more chances for things to go wrong.
@Cedar
That’s a fair point. Thanks for sharing your take!
@Cedar
Don’t forget their longer warranties, which should ease concerns about reliability.
Dacey said:
@Cedar
Don’t forget their longer warranties, which should ease concerns about reliability.
Good call. I always assume people know about Kia’s warranty, but it’s definitely one of their strong points.
@Cedar
Where I live (UK), all Kias come with a 7-year warranty. It makes them a great choice if you’re not keeping it forever.
Daryn said:
@Cedar
Where I live (UK), all Kias come with a 7-year warranty. It makes them a great choice if you’re not keeping it forever.
In the US, it’s a 10-year warranty, but only for the powertrain. I guess Europe has better protections for other parts already.
@Cedar
Kia is as reliable as Toyota now and probably beats Honda in that area.
Cruz said:
@Cedar
Kia is as reliable as Toyota now and probably beats Honda in that area.
Reliability takes time to prove. Kia has made progress, but Toyota has been a leader for decades. Trust takes a while to build.
@Cedar
Exactly. Kia had some engine issues in the early 2010s. It’s hard to call them reliable if they weren’t just a few years ago.
Cruz said:
@Cedar
Kia is as reliable as Toyota now and probably beats Honda in that area.
Kia has improved, but I wouldn’t say they’re at Toyota’s level yet.
I’ve been driving a 2014 Optima since 2018. Aside from regular maintenance, I only had to replace the CV axles and a window regulator. The earlier models had some issues, but my experience has been great so far. Just take care of it, and it’ll treat you well.
The best years for reliability are 2016-2019 since they fixed engine problems. Avoid the 2020 model—it’s a redesign with a new engine.
Finch said:
The best years for reliability are 2016-2019 since they fixed engine problems. Avoid the 2020 model—it’s a redesign with a new engine.
The 2.5L engine isn’t out yet, only the 1.6L. And the N-Line and GT are coming soon.
@Bennie
You’re right, the 2.5L isn’t available in the US yet, only in the Sonata.
Finch said:
@Bennie
You’re right, the 2.5L isn’t available in the US yet, only in the Sonata.
The Sonata N-Line isn’t for sale yet, either. Neither is the GT-Line K5, even in Korea.