The Kia Optima, in its current form, has been around for four years.
And in that short time, Kia has completely revamped this model (and most of its model line), transforming the Optima from a frumpy bargain sedan into something with a lot more flair and features.
Although it's not as fresh as the Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord -- all of which were redesigned for 2013 - and its Sonata platform-mate gets a full refresh for 2015, this Optima remains competitive.
The Optima most directly faces the Accord, with its good compromise between ride and handling.
The 2015 Mazda6 is also a strong rival in style, and it actually drives with more verve than the Optima, although the Mazda's infotainment systems are inferior to the Optima's.
The Ford Fusion is one of our favorite cars on the market, with great handling and a rakish appearance to match that of the Optima.
Meanwhile, the base Nissan Altima beats the Optima's highway mileage, with up to 38 mpg on the highway.
And as for the new 2015 Hyundai Sonata, it takes a more conservative design direction, and we expect more refinement and comfort out of it compared to the current version.
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 2015 Kia OptimaBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Ford FusionBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Hyundai SonataBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Mazda MAZDA6Browse Used Listings |  2015 Nissan AltimaBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2015 Kia Optima meets all your needs in a sensible four-door sedan, but exceeds expectations for more flair and features. |
The 2015 Ford Fusion continues to offer an excellent blend of top-notch safety, solid fuel economy, and stunning good looks–all without compromising on interior space and comfort. |
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata blends in better than ever in the top tier of family sedans. |
The stunning exterior of the 2015 Mazda 6 isn't leading you on; with an athletic driving experience and a lot of sophistication for the money, this a charming sedan with a surprisingly frugal side. |
If you don't mind a CVT, the 2015 Nissan Altima is a solid choice that checks off all the boxes. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $21,840 | $22,500 | $21,150 | $21,190 | $22,300 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 20 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars | Large Cars | Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan EX | 4-Door Sedan S FWD | 4-Door Sedan 2.4L SE PZEV | 4-Door Sedan Manual i Sport | 4-Door Sedan I4 2.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Manual w/OD | CVT w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2015 Kia Optima vs. 2015 Ford Fusion | 2015 Kia Optima vs. 2015 Hyundai Sonata | 2015 Kia Optima vs. 2015 Mazda MAZDA6 | 2015 Kia Optima vs. 2015 Nissan Altima | |
