Used Kia Optima for sale: everything you need to know

The Kia Optima was the Korean brand’s attempt to compete in a market dominated at the time by cars like the Skoda Superb and Vauxhall Insignia, and was sold in two generations between 2010 and 2019 - with most models on Heycar being the later 2015-on version.

It’s not the kind of car to get your pulse racing, but just as it did when new, the Optima offers quite a bit of car for not much money, and the availability of diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and saloon and estate body styles, gives buyers a few options to best suit their needs.

As well as the Skoda and Vauxhall mentioned above, other potential alternatives to the Optima include the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6 and Peugeot 508, while early Kia Stingers are now also approaching the money you might pay for a late, low-mileage Optima.

Should you buy a Kia Optima?

If you’re on this page then congratulations, because you’re probably one of only a handful of people who haven’t forgotten that the Kia Optima existed. It wasn’t a bad car, but it did happen to be launched before the brand’s current ascendency - and given it was swiftly followed by models like the powerful Kia Stinger and the impressive Kia EV6 electric car, you can’t blame consumers for overlooking this older saloon.

It was good value when new and remains so as a used purchase. The Optima hit the UK in 2010 (replacing the old Magentis) and was heavily revised in 2015. Both generations are actually quite handsome, especially the Sportswagon launched in 2016, and while they weren’t the largest vehicles in their class, were spacious both for passengers and luggage.

The driving experience was hampered slightly by the 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine that formed the backbone of the range, which was never as strong as the larger engines offered in some rival vehicles, but 50mpg economy is within reach and it is at least relatively refined. A plug-in hybrid joined the range in 2016, the same year as the Sportswagon, with a smoother feel and better performance.

The Optima is no great entertainer on the road, but improved considerably with the 2015 model, which has a more positive feel to the steering and better control through corners and over crests, yet still rides as well as the earlier cars. The plug-in hybrid does feel more ponderous though, due to its extra weight.

Ultimately, most buyers ended up going for cars like the Skoda Superb, Volkswagen Passat and Vauxhall Insignia instead, and these three models are the kind of cars you might also consider over an Optima today.

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What’s the best used Kia Optima model to buy?

If you’ve got somewhere to plug it in to make full use of its potential economy then the plug-in hybrid is a solid option, with a smoother drivetrain than the 1.7-litre diesel and punchier performance. Diesels are much easier to find though and while it’s not a class-leading power unit and you’re unlikely to hit the claimed economy figures, it gets the job done.

Equipment levels are good across the range but really pick up with ‘3’ trim which gets an upgraded Harman Kardon stereo, a larger touchscreen, and stylish 18-inch alloy wheels. It looks particularly sharp in Sportswagon form, too.

Used Kia Optima fuel economy and performance

• Kia Optima 1.7 CRDi: The 1.7-litre turbodiesel was a regular fixture throughout the Optima’s time on sale, and developed 141PS through either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The manual covered 0-62mph in 10 seconds, the auto in 11 seconds, with 61.4mpg and 64.2mpg combined economy respectively, on the older, less realistic NEDC test cycle.
• Kia Optima 2.0 GDi PHEV: Based around a 2-litre petrol engine and electric motor combination, the plug-in hybrid Optima made 202PS combined. With a 6-speed automatic gearbox it could reach 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds, and a 33-mile electric range helped enable 176.6mpg combined economy in NEDC testing.

What used Kia Optima trim levels are available?

The specifications listed below were available for the last few years before the Optima went off sale in 2019, and should be representative of most models you’ll find for sale at more than bargain-basement prices. The specification is typical of Kia’s value for money approach though, with more kit than you might expect even in the lower trim levels.

• The Kia Optima 2 came with 17-inch alloy wheels, electric heated folding mirrors, power lumbar support for the driver seat, a 7-inch touchscreen with navigation and Android Auto compatibility, a reversing camera, dual-zone air conditioning, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob, and cruise control.
• The Kia Optima 3 upgraded to 18-inch alloys, LED fog lights and rear lights, privacy glass, cloth and faux leather trim, 8-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, heated seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio, and a heated steering wheel.
• The Kia Optima GT-Line S missed out on the LED fog lights from the ‘3’ but did get a different 18-inch alloy wheel design, a diffuser element for the rear bumper with dual exhausts, a power tailgate on Sportswagon models, LED headlights, 8-way power adjustment for the passenger seat, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and heated outer rear seats, a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive cruise control, and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel.
• The Kia Optima PHEV was a standalone trim line for the plug-in hybrid, with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth and faux leather upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio, keyless go, and cruise control with a speed limiter.

Used Kia Optima dimensions and boot size

The Kia Optima’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4855mm
• Width: 1860mm (without mirrors)
• Height: 1465mm

The Kia Optima’s boot size is:

• 510 litres (saloon), 552 litres (Sportswagon)
• 1686 litres with the rear seats folded (Sportswagon, to roof)

Used Kia Optima road tax

Most Kia Optimas will have been registered prior to April 2017, and as such their VED or ‘road tax’ will be based on their CO2 emissions. This works out well for the plug-in hybrid and its 37g/km, as you won’t pay a penny, while the most efficient diesels get as low as 110g/km, which will currently cost you just £20 a year. For cars sold between April 2017 and the end of sales in 2019, you’ll pay a flat rate of £180 per year for diesel models, and £170 per year for the plug-in hybrids.

How much is it to insure a Kia Optima?

Kia Optima insurance starts in group 19 (out of 50) for a 1.7 CRDi in ‘2’ trim, and rises to group 25 for a PHEV. For comparison, you’ll find the Skoda Superb starting in group 15, and ending in group 32 for some of the higher-performance models, which have no direct comparison in the Optima range.