Used 2012 Kia Optima Consumer Reviews
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My Kia Stinks
sylus, 10/24/2012
2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We bought a 2012 ex turbo in April 2012. from week one we could smell mold in the car. After typing in my kia smells into google it appears this is a know issue on models across the Kia range from 2011. Six months later we still can't get Kia to admit the mold problem and we are stuck with the car despite several attempts to recify it. Incredibly dissapointed in the car, getting mold into our lungs and Kia's response. No good having a warranty for 7 years if it's in the workshop all the time.
Great deal and ride!
Don Heisler, 12/21/2015
updated 12/27/2016
2012 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I got mine way below book and it was one time lease owner so it was taken care of. If you find one treated right it should last. In all makes of vehicles there are bad apples so get an extended warranty because any used car will have parts that fail. Mechanic friend said that kia has come along way and I couldn't be happier. Great sporty luxury car for low price. Fast and very fun K5 edition!
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2012 Kia Optima for sale near you
3 of 21 listings
- Hybrid SedanMSRP: $7,999144 mi away
- SX SedanMSRP: N/A147 mi away
- SX SedanMSRP: $5,99940 mi away
See all 21 listings
A good buy with a few flaws
upacrk1, 03/14/2013
updated 03/16/2018
2012 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought a new 2012 Kia Optima LX in Snow White Pearl back in May 2012. Originally I had an issue with the driver's seat not being very comfortable. (I didn't notice this in the short test drive.) In the 9 months I've owned it, my butt seems to have gotten used to it. The acceleration is great! So good that if the roads are slick, I have to put it in ECO mode so the tires don't slip. This may also says something about the OEM Nexen tires. I haven't been driving much so far- only 4700 miles. (Try to walk/bike as much as I can). MPG per tank is 22-27 with an avg 24.5 . As expected, mileage is lower in the cold winter months. No long trips yet - can't wait to see what I'll get then! Update - almost four years out (16500 miles), the car still looks great! While they might work for most owners, the light beige colored seats are a little too light for my liking. I should have gotten the darker gray/black. Passenger seat is built a little too low and does not adjust up/down. Seat risers are available online. 2016 models now have up/down adjustment. Road noise is noticeable; could use more insulation. Driver's leg room is good and seems to be getting worse on newer similar sized cars. Heater/AC work great! Sport shift feature is fun. Music generally comes from a USB stick. Voice command software/hardware is finicky. Dash layout is good; controls very functional. Although it's been decades since I've had a flat, I was uncomfortable with the no spare/compressed air can-sealer setup. I purchased a new OEM spare tire kit online for $181. The default no spare setup leaves a lot of wasted space in the spare wheel well. Easy access to this space would have been a sensible thing to design. The sensitive electronic steering takes some getting used to and requires more attention at highway speeds. Update 2 - I finally got in a short road trip in (220 miles) and got 35 MPG! Wow! And the electronic steering issue - that's now been fixed with a software update. It's much better now. And just one last comment - a rattle that was driving me nuts (and sounded like it was coming from behind the glove box) turned out to a pair of sunglasses in the overhead eyeglass holder. The Nexen tires still leave something to be desired. Update 3 - Now September 2017 with 25K miles. I have replaced the original Nexen tires with General Altimax RT43 tires. The ride is much nicer. Dry grip is greatly improved. Waiting for some good rain and (down the road) snow to see how they work. Based on a lot of research, I expect the Generals will do well. It really pained me to replace the OEM tires so soon! :-( Engine has been replaced due to failing recall SC174. Based on not too many miles, it appears the mileage may have improved a bit after the engine replacement. Update 4 - Now March 2018 with 26700 miles. Shortly after the engine was replaced, the right front wheel bearing and axle needed to be replaced (maybe because the driveshaft nut was tightened too much during the engine swap; our area was experiencing a mechanics' strike at the time but repair work was still being done) when the suspension was found to be way too loose. Battery replaced. Finally went to a full synthetic oil change. Engine is a little quieter now. General tires have proven to be good in snow/rain.
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GOOD CAR AND MPG
cde5151, 01/14/2013
2012 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Had the optima 1 month, have put on a 1000 miles, has total of 21432 miles now. comfort fairly good, I am 6'2. I think the car looks great. Can fit 4 adults, 5 would be a tight fit. A lot of talk about poor mpg. I drive 40 miles a day. 30 miles on hwy and 10 a day in the city(Lawrence, Ks.)I average 32 mpg so far. So no complaints here,,,...
Replaced trans at 18k
sassy1866, 10/17/2013
2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love this car but at 18k miles I've had to have the transmission replaced already. As soon as I pay the car off I'm getting rid of it. It's fun to drive and looks great inside and out. But to have a major part of the replaced so soon is unacceptable. I had high hopes for Kia but it seems they have a long way to go in reliability.