Best Car Reviews - 2014 Kia Optima

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Introduction

The 2014 Kia Optima is a front-wheel-drive midsize sedan aimed at buyers who want expressive styling, useful equipment and family-car practicality without moving into a premium price bracket. This facelifted model retained the Optima’s sleek, coupe-like profile while adding updated exterior details, improved front seats and more available driver-assistance technology. The supplied configuration uses a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre SIDI four-cylinder gasoline engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Design and Exterior Features

The Optima stands out from more conservative midsize sedans with its long hood, swept-back roofline, short rear deck and distinctive grille. At approximately 190.7 inches long with a 110-inch wheelbase, it has substantial road presence without becoming difficult to place in urban traffic. For 2014, Kia refreshed the front and rear fascias while preserving the model’s sporty proportions.

Updated front and rear styling for the 2014 model year.
Signature grille, sculpted body sides and coupe-inspired roofline.
Available 16-, 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels depending on trim.
Available LED lighting elements, fog lamps and panoramic sunroof.

Interior and Comfort

The cabin has a driver-oriented dashboard, modern design and generally good soft-touch trim for the class. Front seats are comfortable for daily commuting, and the rear seat offers useful legroom, although the sloping roofline can reduce rear headroom for taller passengers. The conventional gasoline model provides 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space, while higher trims can feel notably upscale with leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats.

Five-seat cabin with a spacious front seating area.
Available leather upholstery, power front seats and driver memory settings.
Available heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and ventilated front seats.
Available dual-zone automatic climate control and laminated front door glass.

Performance and Handling

This four-cylinder SIDI configuration uses a 2.4-litre direct-injection engine producing 192 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2.4-litre Optima is smooth and adequate for normal city and highway driving rather than especially quick; independently tested 0-60 mph acceleration for an Optima EX was 8.9 seconds. EPA estimates for this powertrain were 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined, equivalent to about 10.2, 6.9 and 8.7 L/100 km respectively. The supplied 11.44 L/100 km figure is best treated as a real-world or alternate-cycle consumption value, as it is higher than the EPA combined estimate.

2.4-litre SIDI inline-four with 192 hp and 181 lb-ft.
Front-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmission.
EPA combined economy of 27 mpg, or about 8.7 L/100 km, for the 2.4-litre model.
Comfortable ride with responsive transmission operation; steering feedback is less engaging than the best rivals.

Technology and Connectivity

The 2014 Optima offered solid technology for its era. Even the basic model included Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, USB and auxiliary inputs, satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system. Available UVO eServices added voice control and telematics functions, while upper trims could include an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, HD Radio, Infinity audio, rear-view camera and traffic information.

Bluetooth, USB, auxiliary input and satellite radio availability.
Available UVO eServices voice-control and telematics system.
Available 8-inch touchscreen navigation and rear-view camera.
Available Infinity premium audio system with HD Radio.

Safety Features

Standard safety equipment includes antilock four-wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, front side airbags and side-curtain airbags. A rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available depending on trim and package. The Optima earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2014; IIHS gave it Good ratings in moderate-overlap front, side, roof-strength and head-restraint evaluations, plus an Acceptable driver-side small-overlap result.

Standard stability control, traction control and four-wheel antilock disc brakes.
Front side airbags and side-curtain airbags.
Available rear-view camera, rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert.
Available blind-spot monitoring.
NHTSA five-star overall rating and IIHS Top Safety Pick recognition.

Pricing and Variants

The 2014 Optima LX started at $21,500 in the United States before the $800 destination charge. The gasoline range included LX, EX, SX, SX Turbo and SXL Turbo trims, while Optima Hybrid LX and EX models were also available. The regular 2.4-litre Optima competed with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and Volkswagen Passat. It was a strong value when new because it offered striking design and many available comfort features at prices below some similarly equipped rivals.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Distinctive, still-attractive exterior design.
Comfortable seats and a well-equipped available feature set.
Useful trunk capacity in non-hybrid versions.
Strong safety-test results for its era.
Competitive original pricing and a broad trim range.

Cons

Steering can feel artificial and provides limited road feedback.
Rear headroom is restricted by the sleek roofline, especially with a panoramic sunroof.
FWD only; no all-wheel-drive option.
Fuel use can rise noticeably in urban driving and real-world conditions.
Engine and recall history demand careful inspection before purchase.

Maintenance and Common Issues

RepairPal estimates average annual repair and maintenance costs for a 2014 Optima at about $466, although age, mileage, condition, location and service history can change this substantially. A pre-purchase inspection and a VIN-specific recall check are particularly important. Commonly reported concerns include engine knocking, stalling or seizure; oil-consumption concerns; steering wander or pull complaints; electrical-system and warning-light faults; and door-latch or power-lock failures. Some vehicles have also been subject to safety recalls involving engine-related concerns and the hydraulic electronic control unit, so completed recall work should be verified.

Rating

Overall rating: 7.2/10. Design: 8.5/10; comfort: 7.5/10; performance: 7.0/10; technology: 7.5/10 for its model year; safety: 8.0/10. The Optima remains appealing as a stylish, well-equipped used sedan, but its ownership rating is held back by the need to investigate maintenance history, engine condition and recall completion carefully.

User Reviews and Feedback

Owner feedback commonly praises the Optima’s appearance, equipment level, ride comfort and value. Experiences vary more sharply with high-mileage examples, where service history and recall completion become decisive factors.

Owners often like the exterior styling and the sense of value versus similarly equipped rivals.
Many report comfortable seats and an easy-to-use cabin layout.
Highway driving and trunk practicality are frequent positives.
Some drivers dislike the steering feel and find the panoramic roof reduces headroom.
Long-term owners frequently advise checking engine history, oil level and outstanding recalls before buying.

Best Cars in This Category

2014 Honda Accord
2014 Toyota Camry
2014 Mazda Mazda6
2014 Ford Fusion
2014 Nissan Altima

Summary

The 2014 Kia Optima is best suited to a used-car buyer who values standout design, strong comfort features and midsize-sedan practicality at an accessible price. Its 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic provide sensible everyday performance, while available luxury and technology features help it feel more expensive than its original price suggests. Buy carefully: a documented maintenance record, clean inspection, stable engine operation and verified completion of all VIN-specific recalls are essential to making the Optima a worthwhile value.