Used 2012 Kia Optima Sedan Consumer Reviews
Used Optima for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
it does'nt get much better
arubin, 01/04/2012
2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have my Optima ex turbo for a week, I already have driven 425 miles, mixed city and highway.The car is solid, quiet and has a very nice combination of ride and handling.Very comfortable seats front and rear, great sound from the Infinity stereo, and very good controls.So far my gas mileage overall mix is 27,28 mpg.I can't say enough how much I love this car.The only negative is the choice of tires ,Nexens are very bad on wet roads.I hope Kia will realize a car as good a the Optima deserves better performing tires.
Amazing value for the money
mustrockon, 07/22/2012
2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
When we were looking for a car in the 30Ks range I have to admit Kia was not on the short list. After talking with two family friends, one with a BMW and another with a Mercedes both purchased within the last 3 years we began to broaden our search. Not only were the repair bills outrageous for even the smallest of fixes, but the features for the "lower priced" models were lacking compared to the Optima. We ended up getting a pearlized white with leather interior and a turbo 2.0 getting 275 horsepower. It has no problem getting up to speed and rides like a dream. Not only is this the best car we have owned for this price, but our family friend with the Mercedes is trading in for an Optima!
Great car for the money hands down
sassy1866, 06/04/2012
2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I just bought a 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo. Spicy Red with Beige interior. Absolutely love it. You can't find any other car with the amount of options at the Kia price. I bought the tubo because the regular 4 seemed noisy. Plus I love the power. Only two complaints I have are the wind noise around the windows when driving on the highway and the passenger seat is too low.
Engine failed in 2nd month - transmission in 3rd
Bob, 08/23/2018
2012 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2012 Kia Optima LX with 116k miles, after checking the Carfax. There was a recall of certain Optima engines due to metal shavings left during the cleaning process. This VIN was not included in the recall. But after 2 months, the engine blew on my way to work. Kia handled it great, replacing the engine at no cost to me. I drove it 3 more weeks and the transmission blew. Just after my engine blew, I mentioned it to a friend who recalled another person who had the same blown engine with a Kia Optima. He told me that right after the engine was replaced, the transmission went. Now mine does the same exact thing. Right now, I'm waiting to hear back from the dealer after they inspect it, but I don't have a good feeling. Two major issues in 3 months?
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
You get what you pay for
giantsfan58, 01/16/2013
2012 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought a fully loaded 2012 Optima EX in Feb. 2012. I noticed soon after buying it that the leg room is very tight. My leg was constantly jammed up against the speaker in the driver's door. The seats are sharply molded and hard. The transmission went out at 13,000 miles. Recently, I noticed an issue with the steering. While driving down the freeway, the car would begin drifting right or left. When you go to correct it, there is a "catch" in the electronic steering. If you do a search for this you will see many others have had this problem. The real world MPG is nowhere near what thet advertise. This car has a ton of bells and whistles and is great looking, but buyer beware.