Used 2015 Kia Optima Sedan Consumer Reviews
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One of the best cars I've ever owned
BMT, 11/19/2015
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
45 of 45 people found this review helpful
I'm leasing an LX. Deal was too good to pass up. I've got a friend with an Optima - 2011 - he loves it. The 2015 has upgraded engine and performance which was one of his complaints on the 2011 model. The passenger front seat is ridiculously low...close to the floor, and not adjustable upwards. My wife could barely see over the dashboard and she is 5'4". I found out this is an ongoing complaint for this and other Hyundai and Kia models. I found a set of risers that bolt onto the original set points and raise the seat almost 2 inches. Easy install and corrected the problem. You can find them online...just do a search. Interior is well appointed and quality is fine at this price point. Car, looks, feels and drives like a more expensive model. I've owned BMW, and own a Honda Accord and this car easily competes with both of them at a lower purchase price. Edmunds has done a good review of all the features...I opted for the Convenience Plus Package upgrade which includes rearview camera, acoustically upgraded windows (noise reduction) and a few other goodies. It is worth it. Without the rearview camera you're going to find backing up entails lots of blind spots given the high rear end and a sharply raked rear window. I've driven this car in monsoon like rain at night and the handling, traction control, fog lamps...all served to give us a sense of control and safety. I bought the Sparkling Silver with light grey interior. Its sharp. At the price point
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an optimal automobile
arubin, 01/05/2015
updated 01/09/2024
2015 Kia Optima SX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
58 of 61 people found this review helpful
Overall very nice car very good handling fast and comfortable seating, very good brakes. Ride can be a little stiff at times,very reliable car.
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More than I expected from a new mid-sized sedan
Tyler, 03/03/2016
updated 09/27/2017
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
54 of 59 people found this review helpful
I leased this car after my 2002 Ford Taurus was finally put to rest. I grew up riding in that car as a kid, it was my first car, and I broke 200k miles in it; bear that in mind as you read this review. When I test drove this car, my first impressions were that the steering was loose, the interior was excellent, and it was far and away the best looking midsize sedan in its class alongside the Ford Fusion. I liked it, and it was the cheapest lease deal I found, believe it or not. With taxes/fees etc. I paid $1000 down and $177 a month for a two year lease. Performance-wise, this car met my expectations. The 2.4L puts down 192 HP and 181 ft-lbs of torque. It accelerates as hard as I'd ever want or need it to, and I never have problems passing people. The brakes, as in any proper new car, are fantastic. Thankfully this car has a true automatic transmission instead of a CVT (which I can't stand) and it even has the option to go into a pseudo-manual mode. The tranny searches for gears very rarely. The steering, like I said before, is really loose. I got used to it, it really isn't that big of a deal. Test drive one and you'll see what I mean. The steering is probably the biggest point about this car to be debated. The seats are excellent. They hold you in when you throw the car through a corner and they keep you comfortable on long road trips. The rear seats are good too. There is a good amount of leg room for its class. It rides as smooth as you'd expect it to for a mid-sized sedan. The headlights are FANTASTIC. It has HIDs for the standard lights, and halogens for the high beams. What's nice about this car is it has fog lights as a standard feature. Unfortunately, they really don't do a whole lot. I can barely notice the difference with them on, even in fog/rain/darkness, but it doesn't matter anyway because the normal lights work so well by themselves. I think Kia just put them there as a way to "one-up" other car companies. They make it look better. The rear visibility is not that good, for some reason. Blind spots and forward visibility is great, but rear visibility seems limited. You can still see fine, but the field of view is smaller than what I'm used to. There is no standard rear view camera. A lot of other new cars have this as a standard feature, which is something to keep in mind. The bluetooth feature is nice because I've never used it before on my phone. It is all very intuitive once you set it up at the dealership. The stereo is...not that good. It works fine and enjoy listening to it, but it definitely isn't the best. Changing the bass/treble/middle etc. doesn't help much. This is probably the worst feature of the car, and thankfully that isn't saying a whole lot. It came with 3 months of free satellite radio, which I didn't really care about. I listen to my radio stations, iPod, and CDs. All are very easy to use in this car. The climate controls are great. Everything is set up intuitively and it warms up/cools down the cabin quickly when I want it to. The interior materials themselves actually surprised me. There is quite a bit of soft and hard touch materials in this interior, and it was designed really well. It is a really pleasing place to be. My grandpa wouldn't shut up about it when I took him for a ride, he thought he was riding in a Cadillac. It's designed really well but at the same time you know you aren't in a high end luxury vehicle either. To be fair, there isn't a whole lot of cheap plastic - they instead opted for a lot of leathery-like materials and it really looks good. The tires are just a standard all-season, Nexen (Korean tire). Nothing to write home about, but it isn't anything less than I'd expect. This car does as well as I'd expect it would in the dirty, snowy, icy winters Buffalo is famous for. I don't underestimate the importance of the quality of tire you put on your vehicle, and I have to say I'm pleased with how these tires (and the car in general) have gotten me through the winter. They aren't outstanding, but they get the job done. I get 29 mpg in this car and I drive it pretty hard. I'd say I have a 70% highway 30% city mix, and I drive fast on the highway (65-75 mph). When I actually do the speed limit, I get 33 mpg in this car with 87 octane. I'm pleased with that, considering how spirited of a driver I am. To sum up, I'd say the strengths of this car are how incredibly good looking it is, and how attractive and intuitive the interior is compared to the other cars in its class. Its weakness is its sound system. I'm an enthusiast and would rather be driving a Subaru WRX or Focus RS, but for now this is what I can afford that is new. This car was everything I expected/wanted out of it. I got this car because I needed something that wouldn't break down, (a new car) something that isn't terrible in the snow, (Front Wheel Drive) and was the cheapest lease deal I could find.
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My 1st Kia
Maine O, 10/07/2015
2015 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
48 of 53 people found this review helpful
Let me start by saying I am a Chrysler driver so I'm use to leather and bigger cars. I decided to try a smaller but nice looking car, 2015 Kia Optima is that so I now own one. Good things: 1. Great on gas!!!!! I drive a good bit for work I average about 37 miles a gallon! 2. Handling and this car is fast the LX I'm speaking of. On the highway you can do 80mph and not realize it. 3. Smooth ride comfortable driver seat. 4. By your speedometer it tells you how many miles before your out of gas. 5. Bluetooth 6. Turn signals on left and right mirrors 7. Price!!! 8. Gas cab is in a locked door Not so good: 1. The front passenger seat is like sitting on the floor! 2. Stereo system is ok doesn't compare to my factory chrysler 300 stereo system. I do recommend buying the kia LX I never sat in passenger set during purchase but I judge my cars on back seat comfort and I am pleased with back seats by the way. Kia you get 4 stars from this pleased customer. I will say if you raise the passenger set you get 5 stars.
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very pleased after 3 years
Jeff R, 10/11/2015
updated 05/03/2018
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
37 of 41 people found this review helpful
I bought a Kia Optima LX after previously owning bmw 528, and nissan maxima. I wanted to save money and not spend so much on a car. I was attracted to the warranty and the commercials, but was leery of a Korean, bargain basement brand. I must say, I have been impressed with everything. The power (0-60 in under 9 seconds on regular unleaded), the air conditioning is fantastic and the stereo is surprisingly good. It includes sirius/xm and ipod/iphone ports. I really do not miss driving the bmw or the maxima, very happy KIA customer so far. 3 years later I still love my car. No repair issues at all. 2 years in: Still very happy no repair issues, just get oil changes every 6 months. Great car!
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Sooooo HAPPY I bought this OPTIMA!
Big Dipper, 10/25/2015
updated 11/01/2018
2015 Kia Optima SXL Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Bought this new KIA OPTIMA EX last week...already took it on a road trip. I must say I'm very impressed with this car...I like the way it drives like a small sports car....very comfy for me and I'm 6'3" and 240lbs.....I've always worn a baseball cap and it does NOT touch my PANORAMIC SUNROOF as someone else suggested, very comfy electric leather seats, remote start is flawless, the UVO entertainment system with the premium sound is awesome.....I was listening to STUDIO 54 on SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO with the high-end woofer and it was hitting bass with some conviction! I'm sooooohappy I didn't buy a CAMRY OR ACCORD.......I'm tired of seeing them every 30 seconds :)........ Get an OPTIMA....you'll love it like I do!
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Love my optima
susan, 09/19/2015
updated 09/21/2018
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
4 years 190,000 miles...yeah I travel a lot. The Kia is running great!! We had to replace the air conditioner compressor at around 135,000 miles that cost around 1000 dollars. Other than that and routine stuff like a battery, tires and brake pads we haven't done a single thing mechanical to the car. Back in July I was hit by a large pickup truck and I have to say I did not feel a thing. I was side swiped the pickup truck striking the front fender and his trailer striking the back fender. I've always felt safe in the car but after taking such a hard hit and not even feeling it I'm confident this is a safe car. There was almost 6000 dollars damages to the car. Pros of the optmia... it rides smooth always has. It has great power. The radio is great. I absolutely love the hands free feature. It looks great as well. It has been more than dependable these last 4 years. The price we paid for it was pretty good. Now for the bad stuff!! The clear coat on the front bumper had started to peel off which looked pretty bad. (got that fixed with the accident repairs) there is a small rust spot on the hood. The door seals appear to be dry rotted and have since before 50 thousnad miles. The seats are not comfortable at all and the front passenger seat basically sits on the floor and is not adjustable. Many people have told me they feel like a small child riding over there. Other than those few minor things overall it's a great car. I fully intend on my next car also being a new version of the same car!!
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2015 Optima Engine Failure!!!
Yvette714, 09/12/2016
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
40 of 46 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2015 Kia Optima in October 2014 brand new from the Pomona dealership. My car currently has about 47,500 miles on it, less than 2 yrs old, and has had knocking noise when accelerating, white smoke out of tailpipe, and check engine light came on right before it started violently shaking. I then had to have it towed to a Kia dealership. I have kept up with routine oil changes/maintenance. After googling this issue, I found that there were MULTIPLE complaints with newer KIAs regarding the same issues. I am hoping, unlike MANY of the complaints & class action lawsuit I read online, that my engine will be covered under warranty. This engine needs to be RECALLED (like the Hyundai Sonata engine)! I also spoke with my neighbor who has a Kia Optima with the same issues (Hers is making a loud knocking noise). I also have received comments from numerous friends on Facebook who complain of the same issue as well. The dealership says its Oil Sludge. I took care of my car like I should have & am stuck now in a hardship both financially & physically. Super stressful!!! Especially when I have previously owned/leased 5 other cars before this with absolutely NO mechanical problems…My previous car was a Toyota Camry with over 100k miles on it and ran perfectly when I sold it to buy a new Kia. I maintained it the same way I have maintained my Kia and the other cars I’ve had (Lexus, Nissan, Honda). This is the first time I’ve ever had a major issue with a car I’ve owned… And it was bought brand new (unlike some of my other previous cars)! In speaking with a few different mechanics and friends who know a lot about cars, this seems to be a KIA engine issue, and they know of no cars that get oil sludge being this new and even cars who have gone without oil changes for 15k+ miles. DON'T BUY A KIA!!!!!!!!!!!
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i went from a Kia EX loaded to the LX
Terry Garbett, 12/01/2015
updated 06/12/2019
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
The 2015 Lx is quieter, acceleration superb, steering is solid, brakes are good. A super sedan with a wow interior and exterior.
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Great car so far
Carl, 11/03/2015
2015 Kia Optima SX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Kia Optima Turbo SXL and I must say I'm very impressed with the ride quality. The Car is very very fast and gets up to 100 miles with very little effort in normal mode. If you put it in Sports Mode, forget it this thing is crazy fast. The ride is smooth and quite yet its has the sportiness when you want it. I was going to get the 2106 Maxima but I'm glad I decided on this car instead. The Maxima is a nice car but the Kia has some advantages over it. The Max takes premium gas, the Kia takes regular gas. The Max has a CVT transmission and the Kia has an 6 gear transmission and the Kia has a much better warranty. The Max is 8 k more. All in all i'm happy with my decision and don't regret it one bit.
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Great Car
cheapgreg100, 07/05/2015
updated 01/08/2018
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
This is my 2nd Kia Optima EX Base model. its a 2015. I love the Premium package (definitely worth the $3000 to 5000 upcharge but until things get better for me I am very satisfied with the EX Base. I've had my car for a week but I had the exact model in a 2012 and I love it. The newer one is quieter and has voice activated radio and the controls on the steering wheel are different. UPDATE I now have a 2017 I miss the 2015 for it's power dual exhaust bigger lit up cup holdrs. If I can have my 2015 engine in my 2017 care i'd be totally 100% happy
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Love my car!
adrip, 06/01/2015
2015 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've owned this car for about 6 months and couldn't be more please with the performance, design and gas mileage. We recently took a road trip and averaged 41 miles to the gallon. It is extremely comfortable and fun to drive. I traded a 2005 BMX X5 and was worried my Optima might be a disappointment. It was certainly not disappointment. In fact, since my purchase, my daughter as well as my parents have purchase a new Kia.
Engine problem !!!!!
Sara moss, 03/10/2020
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my car in October 2019 just had it for four months the engine blew. I contact Keia immediately they kept my car for two weeks saying they were looking into how they can help me. They have been the only hands on my car and they performed the last maintenance. When i bought my car i was not told that their was no warranty left on it or that i may need to purchase an extended one immediately before purchase. I was asked when you gone be able to bring the check several times and not given needful information. I am upset that they kept my car so long to tell me even after calling the Kia Cooperate office and waiting on a decision about the matter they are inable to help me. Cant trade it because i still owe 14,ooo.oo on it and to trade will leave 10,000.00 equity that the bank does not want to finance. I stuck with the car and sad , stressed and really feel they could have did something. They tried to pit me more indept by offering to put me in a 2016 which would have left owed alot of quity as well. Im done when i get another car it wont be from Kia. I gotta get the equity to wear i can trade without a lot left to pay. Can somebody give me a top person number to call on Kia im sick of this being nice.
Best bang for the buck
Steven Farrer, 11/07/2018
2015 Kia Optima SXL Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Solid car with great performance. Great appearance inside and out. Some People say Ford, Honda and Nissan similar models are better or higher rated. However, my experience as a mechanic tells me a vehicle is only as good as the warranty behind it. A 3 year 36,000 mile warranty for a higher priced vehicle doesn't make sense to me. Honda makes a great car, (I've owned 3), it's a shame the factory warranty doesn't reflect their confidence in their product. KIA's warranty alone is second to none.
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Great purchase
Dian, 09/29/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Car has everything you need in a vehicle.
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Going the distance
Chad Coble, 01/06/2019
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I'm a believer in Kia! I bought my first kia a 2011 model in 2013 with 40,000 miles. Needed a gas saver due to changes in life. I am getting ready to purchase my second due to the fact I now have 290,000 miles on it with only one issue the whole time throttle body went out at 50,000 under warranty no problem sense. Gas mileage went down as it got more miles to be expected. I ran this car 75mph the majority of those miles and still got 28 miles per gallon. Keep your foot out of it and get 32 to 34. GREAT CAR!
7 years, Just sold it but with regrets
MikeSwONT, 11/19/2020
updated 11/21/2022
2015 Kia Optima SX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Nov 2022, after 74,500km, I regrettably sold my Optima. Due to having 3 dogs, I made the decision to buy a small SUV to make travelling easier. If not for that, I'd have happily kept the Kia as my primary vehicle. It was a flawless ownership experience and I'll miss it very much. Routine maintenance plus tires and brakes were the only expenses I faced during ownership. Every other year it got an oil spray which kept it rust free, and synthetic oil kept it running like a top. This car is so underrated. The interior looks as good as it did on day one. Not a crack or crease in the leather (and I'm a heavy boy), not a single plastic button showing wear or flaking. They really had something to prove with this design. I've always known the Korean car companies got a bad rap, and this car has sealed me as a consumer who will shop H/K first. It seems I'm not alone...I hoped to get my hands on a 2023 Sportage next, but the wait time for the specs I wanted was going to be 9 months. I leased a CX5 Turbo instead, which so far is a great vehicle, but not as fun to drive as the Optima. If you're considering an Optima Turbo, I recommend it without reservations. Nov 2020 review:I just got a happy anniversary email from Kia, it's 5 years to the day I bought my SX. Though I've only put 57,000kms on it since then, I have to sing it's praises. This car has been 100% reliable with only scheduled maintenance needed. I had it detailed last month for the first time as I was flirting with the idea of selling it, but in the end decided to keep it a while longer. The only thing I'd sell it for is to get a minivan or wagon, purely for cargo reasons. Kia made the AndroidAuto/AppleCarPlay upgrade free for 2015 models, and that's been a game changer. Cooled seats are mandatory equipment on future cars, this thing has spoiled me. I'm still on original brakes, though I think it'll be time to change them in the next 5K. I'm also on original tires, though winter tires get rotated in so that's pretty normal. No squeaks or rattles, I undercoat it biannually and it's been suffieicent in preventing even a speck of rust. The pearl white paint looks brand new despite living outdoors 24/7/365. The warranty expires today. I didn't need to use it even once, and it's only been in the shop once to have a recall issue addressed. I've used synthetic oil from the first oil change and the engine seems as healthy as it was on day one. 10/10 would recommend buying this over a 2016 redesign model. It's better looking, and final model year cars always seem to have the benefit of any bugs being worked out in past model years.
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How low can the passenger seat go?
Anabelle, 03/01/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I like my optima except for the passenger front seat is too low. It woukd be fine for someone 5'5 or taller but otherwise you feel like you are in a small cage with only windows looking up to the sky. Otherwise all other seats and parts of the car are great. Wish there was a light in the trunk. Great deal and great seevice.
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Very Happy So Far
Michelle, 03/01/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought this vechile 5 months ago after having a horrible experince with the Chevy Cruise. The car itself is by far prettier than the chevy. I love the look of it and the colour. The interior is a bit light so I sprayed sctoch gard on it in hopes that will persver the life of it. But the seats clean easily and well to my surprise. The inside cabin has a nice and comfortble feel. I like the seats. The passenger seat sits low but that is good considering my husband is 6"7 so this provides him with comfort for his head. Plenty of leg room. My son and his buddies say the backseat is very comfortable. They actually perfer sitting in the back. I do think the seats could had used a little more cushing. Newer cars get less good gas mileage and thinner seats...every year it gets worse. The radio does not have good sound quality and I would had excepted more from the cars price range. But I love everything else. The car itself stops perfectly. I had a car pull out in front of me and I thought well there goes my new car and I hit the brake and came to a comfortable complete stop. I couldn't believe it. The other car kept driving like I wasn't even there. The pick up is great even on the economy. I've taken it off the economy a couple of times for a day at a time just to see and it doesn't really see to effect the gas much at all and gives a nice extra boost. I really like the smooth drive of the car. Very nice. The inside cabin is a big nosier than excepted but I honestly really love this car. I'm so glad I bought it. It is fun, handels well, safe and it looks nice. Inside and out. Plenty of storage in the trunk and the glove box and the arm rest. I really like this car. The only thing I would really consider when buying this is the gas mileage is poor. I average about 19mpg. There is a bar to help you see how you drive for the gas mileage and initially I was getting about 28mpg but the snow birds are here so that makes stopping and going mading and well it has dropped quite a bit. That I'm not really happy about but what are you going to do? Still would buy the car again. Love this Optima.
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Spunky ride
rick levey, 02/09/2018
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I was surprised of the exceleration of the car being a small car ... has 160 on the speedometer and made a rode trip of 205 miles round trip and with the over drive on most of the way and it averaged 41 mpg , nice handeling and verry peppy
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Power at it's Finest!
Glenn Routzahn, 04/28/2019
2015 Kia Optima SX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I got 2 of these cars(his and hers) and they are both the Corsca Blue. Both of them are used 2015 with the same miles and everything. The ride is amazing and the power is awesome. I don't beat my car but if I'm doing 70 miles an hour on the expressway and I have to pass someone, the power is even faster(like is goes into another gear and takes off) I've had a lot of cars in my lifetime and I have to say that these 2015 Kia Optima SX Turbos are amazing. Go to a dealership and take it for a test drive and see for yourself before you buy that next car. The air condition works great too. I love the way it hugs the bends as you go around them. We love our cars and we always get so many compliments .
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I love my kia optima
Barry Sims, 01/07/2016
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2015 kia optima in NOV. 2014 and it now has 20,500 miles. I love this car. I have owned over 3 new vehicles and this is by far the best one yet. The exterior is very sleek and the interior is great as well. The only complaint i have about this vehicle is the fact that the front passenger seat is very low and does not adjust. Also you can not get this vehicle in a manual transmission. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone and i would purchase another one if i ever had the need for a new vehicle.
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Shark fin
Tim johnson, 06/03/2019
2015 Kia Optima SX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We have a 2015 optima SXL turbo. Last week the shark fin decided to fall off while going 70 miles an hour. The screws are all still there but the cap is gone. We contacted Kia because they had a recall/Inspection on our yr. how ever it was for the ones produced in September of 15 to June of 16 and ours wasn’t on the list. We bought ours March of 15. They wouldn’t help with anything and said that it was probably due to a car wash. Just be aware of this. The part and replacement is over 400.00. We have always and will always hand wash our cars.cheap parts are not a way to keep customers.
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Love my new ride!
Christy Mills, 01/27/2016
2015 Kia Optima SXL Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My previous car was a 2011 Kia Optima, which was the first year Kia totally re-designed their Optima line, and I absolutely loved it. I hated to let it go, but couldn't resist the opportunity to get a brand new one that still had the beautiful body styling. I personally am not very fond of the design changes they made to the 2016 model, so was very happy to find this 2015 one with all the bells and whistles as well as the pearl white color I was hoping for.
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Great car for first time buyers!! :)
Susen tomlinson, 04/18/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
Not my dream car. I want a 2009 Pontiac G8. Bought my first car used and I'm only 24 so not much credit to go on. Used car dealer ships are VERY difficult to get approved from (really on a used car)? Out of all the new cars I'm not a Kia fan but I like the optima because it has a nice sporty sleek look to it. I honestly figured I wasn't going to get approved any way so for the fun of it I went down to the Kia dealer ship and took one for a test drive. The sales guy I worked with was great. Lowered the price so there bank would approved me and I got my first brand new car. The car runs great. I will admit the eco thing (where when you stop it stops using gas and runs on the battery) or something like that, takes some getting use to because you can feel the difference from when you stop and them when you go. Besides that everything is great!!
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Engine Failed with only 70k miles
RLamb, 04/01/2021
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
KIA/Hyundai wound not cover the engine even tho it's the same recalled engine that was in the 2014. Supposedly the 2015 Optima were made on a different production line.
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2015 kia optma
TED BURGER, 02/16/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 14 people found this review helpful
Would be a nice car if you had steering control at highway speeds. At speeds over 55 car requires constant adjustment to keep it straight. If you do not adjust the steering wheel constantly you will find your self in the other lane or off the road. Kia seems to think this is normal, car has been in the shop 3 times for the same issue. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
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Screwed when left the car lot
Debbie Hamilton, 12/16/2015
updated 06/19/2017
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
19 of 32 people found this review helpful
The 2015 Kia Optima rode very smooth and I truly enjoyed it. When I first purchased it I enjoyed the car. I drove it home from the dealership and it kept pulling to the right. So, I take it back to the dealership and they said to take to service. I take it back to the service and they were to put it on the machine which I truly doubt it. Because it is still pulling to the right. It is also hard to keep in the road. My next problem is that the engine roars loud and it shakes. I have taken it to the service department and all they do is drive it. The next thing is "I can't duplicate the problem". I also have had a sour smell coming from the air condition. But the service department keeps saying it doesn't have a smell. I paid 89.00 to have it serviced for the smell and later they realized that it did have a smell. so that gave me a oil change coupon instead of giving me my money back. It took 3 times for them to actually take care of this. The transmission is another problem that I have been have with this car. When riding in a 30 mile drive condition, the transmission jerks and boots. The service manager has driven and has seen it boot but, he claims it is the way the car is to run. The tires on this car roars so loud when you are riding down the road that you can not hear yourself think. The also has chips of tire missing from the tires. For a new car I have had so much trouble and the service department fail to work on it. All they do is drive the car so the mileage can bill up. Also, the brakes on this car rubs and I feel it is a safety hazard to all men. Kia is aware of all these problems. They just don't want to admit they have lemons. I have a 2015 Kia Optima LX which was purchased with 3 miles. I have replaced my windshield wipes and I can not get any help from the service manager or the maker. The tech from headquarters was to come out but all of a sudden he decides not to come. I have had so many problems and I am so unhappy with this car. It makes me wonder it I received a car that the mileage has been set back. It runs like a car that has been used. How does a new engine shakes and makes the dashboard shake? How can anyone get help from a service department that does not want to help. Kia has cost me a lot of unnecessary time at the service department and has cost my faith in Kia to be none at all. I purchased the vehicle from Victory Kia of Victoria TX and I will not referred anyone to this dealership. Victory is only concerned with selling not their customers. What am I to do with a car that is not doing what the papers and sales people said it would do. It's been 2 yrs and 3 months that I have had this vehicle. The engine has noise as if the lifters are going bad. The service department continues say they don't hear anything. I will never buy another Kia or will I refer anyone to buy a Kia. I am truly unhappy with this car. The service center in Victoria Tx needs to be observed. All they do is lie to their customers and beat people out of their money. You are not being represented well.
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DON’T BUY IT, ENGINE SEIZED AT 108K MILES
SadieL, 12/29/2021
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
Please do yourself a favor and never even check off the box to look for a KIA when looking for a car, it’ll save you a lot in the long run!! I bought my 2015 Kia Optima LX back in 2017 for $12k (after interest $18k) at 38k miles, got regular oil changes and did all the basic maintenance for my first car I got with a loan, I was super happy and needed something reliable since I got a government job and needed to go out in state of emergencies. Flash forward to now 2021: my engine light comes on a few months ago due to my gas vapor leaking out since the gas cap wouldn’t click (also a common Kia issue and got this code read at Autozone for free) so I go, buy a new gas cap that clicks over from Amazon and drive about 400 miles and the engine light never goes off unless I got it shut off (didn’t get the chance to). Two weeks later after finally changing my gas cap (which had the light on for like a month and a half or so) on December 20th, 2021, I’m driving up a hill and all of a sudden mid driving my car just stops working so I almost thought my arm could’ve hit it into neutral on accident, I am able to have enough time to turn my steering wheel to the right but still partially in the road. I hit my brake and notice that I’m still in drive and look at my dash board to see that my oil and battery light are on at the same time (wasn’t on prior, engine light was already on) I’m still in drive and didn’t hit it into neutral, I take my foot off the brake and try to give it gas and begin to roll BACKWARDS, instantly hit the brake and put it into park. I put the pedal to the floor and NOTHING, I turn my car off and try to turn it over and there’s NOTHING. I panicked since I haven’t had anything like this happen to me before and I luckily just so happened to land right in front of a collision place so I run in, ask for help and they tried to jump my car twice with two different batteries and my car wouldn’t turn over still. They checked my oil next and apparently my oil was low but not empty (never got a warning light or anything and was going to get an oil change within the week) which they told me KIA has issues with burning oil and they believe my engine was seized since I had all my lights and radio on so it couldn’t be the battery. They felt awful for the bad timing and how it happened and told me they would check out my car the next day to see what the issue is. Come to find out my engine is seized! I call KIA and they said that there was a recall on my engine for the “Knock System” where they update the computer which does something for the engine (I’m not a mechanic but that’s what they told me) and that I should’ve got it done in which this recall HAD A DEADLINE where they discontinued doing the recalls regardless of the situation and my car only had 108k miles on it, they told me that my warranty would’ve been extended on my engine if I had the recall done but since I didn’t it was 8,000 miles over my warranty and “too bad” and I tried to explain that I got only ONE letter back a few months ago when I was in an academy and I was so busy in it that I put the letter to the side for me to do later and CORPORATE KIA told me that I “need to learn how to manage my time better” even though the recall deadline was about 4 months later. They told me that I could bring my KIA into a local service technician for KIA but it will be roughly $300 TO EVEN LOOK AT IT, and if they find something at their fault then I MIGHT be reimbursed. So Corporate KIA recorded everything and everyone I spoke to regarding this manner and every which way I tried to explain this they just hit me with “too bad” pretty much and to suck it up because it’s my issue that my engine seized. So now I cannot be without a vehicle as a first responder so I needed to find something fast, tried to trade in my car and was only offered $500 for it at multiple car dealerships. Mechanics have told me at minimum to replace an engine and labor it could be $5000 and with the part shortage it could even take a few months. I have only had my KIA for 4 years and have paid almost $11k towards it, I still owe $7300 on it and was forced into having to get a new car. To add on top of this, I didn’t trade in my vehicle since I decided to fix the engine and flip it in order to pay off my loan. Keep in mind, since the vehicle is still on a loan, it NEEDS to have full coverage where I live regardless of it being immobilized, so now I’m paying a car payment and full coverage on a dead car until I am able to flip it… Also just put 4 brand new tires on it 2 weeks ago which didn’t even add any more value to my car (and was worth $800 itself) when I attempted to trade it in. Save yourself a headache and a half by not dealing with KIA ever!!! KIA could really give a crap less that they sold defective engines and now people are stuck paying more into their company… Terrible customer service and truly don’t value their customers.
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Kia won't honor their warranty, never buy one!
Clint everage, 02/22/2017
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 13 people found this review helpful
Seized engine with 36k miles. Kia is denying warranty repair based on whatever pathetic excuse they can come up with next. They need to be shut down for their shady business practices. I'll be taking them to court for damages.
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This Kia Optima Is lit !
Kimberly jean, 12/16/2017
2015 Kia Optima SXL Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
It is extremely comfortable and hugs the road ! I love love love it !
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Optima may not be Optimal...
Jack R., 02/07/2018
updated 02/07/2020
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Check the road driving expirience.. Mine had a tendency to drift around, just a bit at 70 + ... I had the alignment set a bit more "toe out" and it has helped. There is NO spare so keep those tires fresh. Eco drive mode is noisy and does not seem to add any MPG. Be sure to change the shift modes ...ONLY when stopped and before starting the engine, with the ignition ON.. or you will get a whining sound until you change the mode back to eco and do it right. I only got one remote so I had to buy one from the factory in Korea to keep from getting ripped off. ($78). Also check with a locksmith who programs them and laser cuts the emergency key.. costs $40 .....as opposed to $65+ at the dealers. Sad to say... that my Azera was a better car with a 3.8 V6 that would really go and was whisper quiet ...and got 27 or better MPG..this Optima's wimpy L4 barely gets the job done and get 29.5MPG. Thank goodness I am getting older and really don't care.
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Optima LX /w ConvPackPlus
Michael, 01/24/2016
updated 02/02/2017
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
At a little over 8000 miles, the automobile is serving me well. No problems at all. Seating is comfortable. Power's fine at 192 horses. Gas mileage is good, mine are mostly highway miles. Road noise is a little louder than I'd like, but its not an upscale vehicle, more of a very adequate one. That is what I sought when I purchased it. Updated on 2/1/17...so, I like the car very much; I describe it as driving like a BMW. Don't know if that's true, but the car runs well without problems and accelerates adequately. The dealer, however, in repairing a latch on the underbody engine shield charged $166. I wonder since I never hit anything whether that was an appropriate charge. Wasn't like I hit a pothole and such circumstances beg the question as to whether the engine latch failed under normal driving conditions. Plan to write the dealership owner. Other than that I love the car.
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Best Looking, Best Value
JB, 05/16/2018
updated 11/19/2018
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I believe that a Kia Optima is the best combination of styling, comfort, fuel economy, driveability, and reliability on the road. This is my second Optima. It's perfect, just like the first one I owned. Anyone looking for maximum value in a mid-size sedan should look carefully at the Optima. I think it is the best sedan buy available.
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Great car
Carolyn, 02/22/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Love this car
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Almost - but not quite
chefshellie, 03/06/2015
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 20 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2015 Optima EX, fully loaded. It had every feature my Lexus IS 250 had and was in my new (lower) price range. Unfortunately, just because it has those features doesn't mean they work well, or as they should. My biggest annoyance is that the passenger seat is WAY too low. It does not have an up/down feature (why only 4 way power?) and at 5'6", I can barely see over the dashboard like a 10 year old, and at 42, I am not about to sit on a pillow. This is a real drag.
Decent car for the price
cvs8floz, 03/25/2015
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 24 people found this review helpful
Purchased a new 2015 Optima EX with premium package in January just when we got all the snow in Boston to replace a 2009 Hyundai Sonata that was totaled in an accident. Kind of had to rush the buying process and only looked at a few other cars. Got the car for under $23K delivered before taxes and fees, more than $5K off sticker. Generally happy with the car, good power, handles well, comfortable driver's seat. City mileage worse than advertised. Head clearance could be better. More difficult to access rear seat than other cars. No spare tire. Trunk release button hard to find with gloves. Front passenger seat is way too low, feel like you are sitting in a hole, did not catch in test drive
Less than 10,000 miles on this vehicle.
Fadal, 04/09/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 27 people found this review helpful
I have now owned this vehicle for less than a month and can truly say, I made a "BIG" mistake. This car has very poor gas mileage, the steering wheel is hard and cheap making it difficult to drive with comfort. The cruise control does not work properly. When driving on the freeway, the car tends to swerve causing me to keep both hands on the wheel at all times to control. The passenger seat is ridiculously low. I can go on and on about this car. I took it back to the dealer less than 2 days after purchasing it, and they wanted to give me a trade in value of $13,000 - 6,000 less than what I paid. "Big mistake" I will never buy another Kia.
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review
lee kilmer, 01/14/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great car for the money. Styling, comfort and peppy engine. Couldn't ask for a better car for the money. Just wish i'd spent more for the EX. Would buy another.
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My Sassy Optima
L Williams, 10/29/2017
updated 12/11/2024
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
The best thing about this car is what it looks like. Flashy, elegant and affordable. The gas consumption is a 7 out of 10. Poor quality interior fabric. Threads coming undone. Stains very easily. This car is so great to look at. I have not needed any service except oil changes and regular maintenance. That’s impressive for a car that now has over 100,00 miles The cloth seats are the worst as stated above. I’d buy another but with leather seats It’s front wheel drive and I was stuck 5 times in the winter. It couldn’t roll forward on an icy flat surface. Just spun it’s wheel. I want to keep the car because it has an impressive appearance. But I’ll be trading it before winter. So very bummed
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Optimum
Timothy Perry, 06/11/2018
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I love the car 🚗. It handles great, the closest thing to a sports car I’ll get!
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Beautiful car but poor mileage.
Bill C, 04/03/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
I love the looks of the car but feel the mileage is poor for a mid sized car,
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Not a bumpy ride, but should be quieter.
CDT-Hewlett, 11/08/2018
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Three problems come to mind with this vehicle, though I do enjoy it. Passengers in the front seat complain that the seat is too low and cannot be adjusted. Riding on a highway is not a quiet drive. Had the Cadenza prior this this vehicle, and it had better insulation. The front end of this model is very low in the front. It is great looking, but have hit the front passenger-side bumper on curbs several times. These are the only three drawbacks. Less important to me: it gives me approximately 19 miles to the gallon in every day driving. If this is vital issue, I would get something that guzzles less fuel.
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Passenger seat too loooooow
sad car buyer, 04/25/2016
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 10 people found this review helpful
check out the passenger seat this will turn you off on this car
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2015 Kia Optima
randy Gwirtz, 10/03/2016
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Over all decent car. The passenger seat does sit low. Decent gas mileage. Do like the heated and cooled seats especially in the summer time for the cool vented seats. Overall I do like the way it drives and handles and it does seem like a very well built vehicle.
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Good Car
Ed Cook, 03/27/2017
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Good car for the Money so far will let you know in 7-8 years if I keep this my normal time frame
Sexy car
Nancy Giuliano, 06/22/2017
2015 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a great car. Beautiful to look at and drive. The passenger seat is a little low down but that's the only minor complaint I have. Love my Kia
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Kia Optima SXL
Jonathan, 01/12/2018
2015 Kia Optima SXL Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Love the car such a nice vehicle!!
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Don't waste your money!
Heather, 12/01/2020
2015 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I would rather give no stars but that's not an option. I bought my 2015 Kia Optima brand new, as in I put the first five miles on this car test driving it. I thought I got a great deal but boy was I wrong. This car is made so very cheap. My passengers side mirror fell off recently, as in the glue came off which caused the mirror to fall and crack. When I brought this to Kia's attention, I was advised that I was outside of the defect warranty by 10 months and it would cost me $500+ out of pocket to repair...for a mirror!!! I complained to consumer affairs because I personally feel like something like this should never happen, which led me nowhere because they wouldn't budge. If something is simple as mirror glue can't last 5 years, what else in this cheaply made car is going to break?! I bought this car because I have two young children and the safety ratings were great but I feel like that is all a lie and I no longer feel safe driving this car. Needless to say I will never buy another Kia and I look forward to trading this piece of crap in as soon as I can and buying something more reliable.
Great car
Frank, 02/03/2020
2015 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
2015 Optima bought used, never in shop for a repair in 2 years. Fun to drive, very satisfied.