Used 2020 Kia Optima Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Oh how they have come so far...
Cliff, 12/03/2019
updated 06/10/2022
2020 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
51 of 51 people found this review helpful
My previous car was a Mazda CX-5 my lease ended and I was looking for a vehicle that was not as harsh on the road as the Mazda and still had the space. I knew that I was not going to get another Mazda because of the ride quality and the I also wanted to get my payments down. So i started my research and saw that the optima had more than exceptional ride quality. I was hesitant to go from a SUV back to a sedan but I thought, you know what let me just check it out and see. I went to my nearest KIA dealer and I test drove a Black 2020 KIA Optima LX/FE (FE is an LX but just means Fuel Efficiency). I was taken back by 1) How big the vehicle is. I am 6'0 and I had so much room in the front and I left my seating position to see how much I had behind me and I fit perfectly in the back and had so much knee room this had more interior room than my CX-5 with the exception of cargo room. 2) The standard features on an LX model is insane Blind spot monitoring, Lane assist, 8 inch display with android auto or apple car play, decent stereo, and auto headlights. very impressive. and finally the ride quality. it rides so smooth absorbs most road imperfections. the only con I found so far is that it is slightly quieter than the CX-5 it is still plenty loud especially on the highway. I found that wind noise can get a little intrusive when you are going speeds higher than 65MPH. With that being said Kia really has don a tremendous job with their vehicles. This is my second Kia Optima. the first being a 2007 Optima LX and this 2020 being my second. Its literally night and day. I enjoyed my 07 Optima but it was a bland car nothing to be proud of. something from point a to point B. But this 2020 Model is just amazing. It looks great really feels like a premium car. the materials are high quality. I am truly happy with my recent purchase and I highly recommend this car to anyone looking for a great midsized sedan for a good value. UPDATE: Still thought it was a wonderful car. However, I haven't had it for over a year now. with the birth of my child I needed something bigger. I did manage to stay in the Kia family. I traded it in for a Kia Telluride. One of the best decisions I have ever made. Love Kia!
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Very pleased
AnneL, 01/19/2020
updated 01/23/2023
2020 Kia Optima SE 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
34 of 34 people found this review helpful
I have had my Kia Optima FE(Thanks to an earlier post letting me know that means Fuel Efficient - no one at the dealer knew that) for 6 months now and am quite happy with it. I was driving a 2005 Highlander and was not sure if I would like a sedan, but the quieter and smoother ride have won me over. Apple Car Play is great. I like all the safety features it has. Around town I get 26-27mpg according to the dash info and on the highway, if there are no slowdowns or stops, 40-50mpg. Update 1/23. I am still happy with this car. No problems other that the logo on the hood has peeled.
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I feel so safe
Kenzie, 03/25/2020
2020 Kia Optima SE 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
20 of 20 people found this review helpful
I’ve never had a car that I felt so safe and comfortable driving, while still looking nice.
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Great car
Dee, 02/29/2020
2020 Kia Optima S 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
I owned a 2008 Kia Spectra for 12yrs. Never had any major problems out of it. So I thought I would stick to another Kia I purchased the 2020 Kia Optima. So far I really love it. Maybe because it’s new to me but with the 10yr/100.000 warranty you can’t beat it.
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AWESOMEEEEEE
ohiadoreyou, 10/24/2019
2020 Kia Optima S 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
Love the ride, the drive and the bang for my buck!
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Reliable after 2 years
Jonathan J., 01/09/2021
updated 03/11/2022
2020 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I keep cars for a long time, usually over 200,000 miles. Right now, I have 28,600 miles on my Optima, purchased with 12,000 miles. The initial selling point for this car was very simple, it had more legroom than a Camry. I have been to the auto shows, and most new cars feel cramped, no matter the make or model. So I guess we tall guys have to settle. The dealer had a lot of selections, and was tall like me, so I was not confined to any particular brand. He suggested this make and model. I am thankful for him. I am a lawyer who practices in motor vehicle accidents and sees a lot of injuries. Therefore, beyond legroom, I wanted safety. The knee airbags, a relatively standard feature in many cars, are what I was looking for, because many of my motor vehicle accident clients suffer knee injuries where an airbag could have prevented it. So I wouldn't buy a car without knee airbags. Furthermore, it has an airbag system that virtually surrounds the cockpit. Performance. As far as performance, the Optima LX has plenty for me. I don't need overwhelming speed, but want enough power to get up the hills, and acceleration to pass easily. Although I am not a performance driver, the Optima passes very well (I have tested that once). Performance mode enables some features that lend it better for fast driving. Basically, it shifts at higher rpm's and accelerates better. I need power on highways with mountains, and the manual shift option allows going up and down mountains without the annoying down and up shifting when I don't want it. Mileage: If I cruise at 60-65 mph in eco mode on a level highway, it gets around 40mpg, more or less, depending on the stretch. Hills reduce fuel economy significantly. My city commute (35 mph speed limit) is hilly. Going to work, mostly but not all downhill, I get 24 mpg, and coming back uphill I get 18-20mpg. The fuel economy is poor because there are stop lights, hills, and traffic is slow at times. The infotainment center was tempermental at times when patched into my smartphone. Initially, it was the voice command on the steering wheel. I now don't find that feature as useful so haven't had issues for a couple years. One disappointment is the brake stop pump which is an unwanted feature of this car. I have learned the brake stop pump is designed to keep the car from rolling backwards when stopped on a hill. I have gotten used to the in the last couple years. I'm not fond of this feature. I guess it is common on newer cars. Overall this is a great car and I recommend it for the right person looking for more legroom than most midsize sedans out there, and as much as many full sized luxury sedans. Let's go Brandon!
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A Deal on top of a Deal
Jim, 08/27/2020
2020 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I went car shopping with several choices.. And rebate shopping focused! Kia had 7,000 off Plus my military discount ALSO and the car I found had dealer options but wasn't more! I stacked all the deals together and didn't buy from my local dealer.. I found a better deal 85 miles west at another dealer. I then had money to tint windows, all weather matter, car phone cup holder and a trunk mat! The dealer threw in an emergency medical kit!
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Peculiar omissions
Brian, 06/29/2020
2020 Kia Optima EX Premium 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Test drove several Optimas. Hard to beat for the money, BUT a car that will keep you in your lane, will heat, or cool your bottom, and has a heated steering wheel( a feature Honda doesn't offer in an Accord) doesn't have the basic homelink garage door opener , or Remote start?! Remote start is available as an app for $180 year? 1.6T is OK, but not up to par with the other turbos, and the trans is a little clunky.
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Not Kia of Yesteryear
Satisfied Owner, 10/28/2021
2020 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This car has exceeded all of my expectations. I currently have 77,000 miles and they have been without trouble. My daily commute is 122 miles, all highway. So the car drives as it did when I bought it with 5 miles on the odometer. NO RATTLES, CREAKS, SQUEAKS, or LEAKS!!!! The 1.6T engine is smooth, strong, and mostly quiet. Even at high revs it’s still refined. The ride is Germanic...underlyingly firm, but smooth. Handling is OK. The seats are EXTREMELY comfortable and supportive. I returned a 2016 MB E350 at the end of its lease and these seats are ALMOST as great as the E-Class. Speaking of which, this car wasn’t a huge drop from the Benz as far as refinement and quality. Of course you know you aren’t in a Benz. But at half the price, much lower maintenance, insurance, fuel, and repair costs it’s a good downgrade. I purchased the EX Premium package. I enjoy the panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled seats, 12-way power driver AND front passenger seats, Harmon-Kardon (which I had in my Benz), Nav with real-time traffic, very roomy cabin and huge trunk, electronic E-Brake, BSM, Lane Keep Assist, semi-autonomous system that’s steers the car around slight curves, cruise control that speeds and slows down with traffic, and more niceties. Nothing has ever malfunctioned in the car. Apple CarPlay always hooks up and works flawlessly. And gas mileage is awesome at 40 on the highway with a very light foot and some hypermiling. And it take regular. I think it’s one of the last cars to have an 18.5 gallon tank. They no longer make the Optima. It’s now the K5. They no longer use real leather. They also took away a few more items. And its engine isn’t as quiet. If you can find a Certified Pre-Owner Optima, get it. It’ll be worth it. Oh...one negative about the 1.6t EX Optima for me would be its Dual-Clutch Transmission. I understand the science of it, but it’s clunky in start and go traffic. It’s basically a manual trans that’s automated. I drove stick shifts and know the feeling. Otherwise, it’s very smooth and not noticeable. Unless you have a good ear to hear the difference.
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Known for major engine problems and poor service
Dan Sentin , 03/24/2021
2020 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
The dealership experience is horrible. You have to leave your car there for a day for a check engine light. They threaten to not honor your warranty if you don’t get an oil change at the dealership. And the engines are known for blowing up due to oil problems. This model sounds terrible on cold start up. I will be selling it at break even point so I don’t get stuck with a seized engine and a manufacturer that may make thongs difficult for me if things go wrong.
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Kia optima blues
Paula, 10/08/2021
2020 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Kia optima 2020. Only has 5700 miles on the car and all sorts of warning lights are coming on. Sitting at dealership and they don't know what's wrong. Asked if I had had it in any other shop. I've only had the car for 2 months. Not feeling good about this.
Great car
Jenna Duvall, 09/23/2021
2020 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
So far I am really loving this car. I have had this vehicle for a little over a year and currently have about 15,000 miles on it and it has been very reliable. There was an issue with the air conditioning where it stopped working for a little bit, but we think it was due to a dirty cabin air filter which froze up the system. I haven’t had time to have a mechanic look at it yet but ever since I replaced the cabin air filter. It has been working perfectly. I love the fuel range. I get about 500 miles of range and between 25-35 mpg which is phenomenal. It’s so roomy and comfortable. The blind spot system, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, emergency automated braking, and back up camera are so convenient and useful. I will say that the emergency braking and blind spot features have saved my butt a few times. The power is great too. I used to have 2017 Nissan Sentra and that thing was like a golf cart. It had no power and it felt like it was going to fall apart when accelerating due to the cvt transmission. I am so happy that Kia put a traditional 6 speed automatic in the optima. I love it! It’s amazing. I never want to get rid of it. I love it too much!
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Great car
FP1, 06/22/2020
2020 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
Good pick up and go. THe SX model has some nice features, including being a bit more "plush" than the other models.
great Car
TC, 01/18/2022
2020 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
my optima has been a really great car so far. it rides and drives really nice. got nice power to. just wish it got a little better gas mileage. my car is the SX Optima 2020
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Stylish, comfortable with great pick up
BonnieG57, 01/24/2023
2020 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I’m on the last 2 months of a 36 month lease/ Optima EX. I only have good things to say about this vehicle. Comfortable on long trips, enough room to comfortable seat 4-5 people. I only get cars that have quick pickup and this one fit the bill. I tried a lower end model and was NOT impressed. Since the Optima has been discontinued I’ll be looking at the K5 EX for my next lease.
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Surprisingly fun to drive
ButcherBoy, 02/04/2024
2020 Kia Optima SE 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car surprised me with how nice it is to drive. It's smooth,sporty and responsive. Everything feels intuitive. Never thought I'd recommend a Kia but here I am. Good job Kia.
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Looks nice, but avoid 2 liter motor
Macbob, 12/24/2024
2020 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Car looks sporty, rides nice,but be aware….avoid any Kia or Hyundai vehicle that has the 2.0 motor. It has design flaws and lots of problems.
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