Kia Optima

What is the Kia Optima?

The Optima is a family-sized four-door saloon, called a sedan in North America. In Kia’s European line-up, it sat in the D-segment, where its spacious cabin and practical layout made it well suited to family and business travel.

The third-generation Optima brought a distinctive new design to the model, with Peter Schreyer helping shape Kia’s design direction. Later versions added hybrid and plug-in hybrid options alongside petrol and diesel engines.

Optima generations

The first generation ran from 2001 to 2006, followed by the second from 2006 to 2010; both were listed for the US market. The third generation, sold from 2011 to 2015, reached more markets, including Europe, the UK, France and Canada. The fourth generation followed from 2016 to 2020 in the US, Canada, the EU and UK.

The Optima later carried on in European and UK figures through 2021, and in US and Canadian figures through 2020. Kia also used the K5 name for the model in some markets.

Engines, power and economy

Across EU versions, engines ranged from 1.6 to 2.0 litres, with power from 99 kW (135 PS) to 180 kW (245 PS). The UK range covered 1.6 to 2.0 litres and 100–180 kW (136–244 PS). US versions included engines from 1.6 to 2.7 litres, while Canada’s ranged from 1.6 to 2.4 litres. Depending on the market and year, the Optima was offered with petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or LPG power.

Official consumption figures use different test procedures. The lowest listed non-plug-in figure in the UK is 4.2 L/100 km on NEDC; France’s is 5.1 L/100 km on NEDC. The UK plug-in hybrid’s 1.4 L/100 km NEDC figure is weighted to account for some electric driving. In the US, the lowest listed figure is 5.6 L/100 km under EPA testing, with a best combined rating of 42 MPG; the weighted plug-in hybrid figure is 5.7 L/100 km. Canada lists 5.6 L/100 km under its 5-cycle procedure, or 5.7 L/100 km for the weighted plug-in hybrid figure. WLTP and NEDC in Europe, EPA in the US and the 5-cycle test in Canada use different procedures, so their figures are not directly interchangeable.

Where was the Optima sold?

The Optima appears in official figures for the EU, UK, France, US and Canada. European registrations span 2010–2021; UK figures cover 2012–2021 and French figures cover 2012–2015. The US span is 2001–2020 and Canada’s is 2011–2020. In EU registrations, the 1.7-litre diesel rated at 104 kW (141 PS) was among the leading versions in multiple years.