Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews
Kia Optima
$471
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Hyundai Sonata
$458
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Overall Reliability Rating
4
Excellent
The Kia Optima Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 8th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $471 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Optima.
4
Excellent
The Hyundai Sonata Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 5th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $458 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity and frequency of repairs are lower than other vehicles, so the Sonata is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.
The Kia Optima ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in fuel economy.
“I HAVE OWNED TIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS IT HAD 13,000 ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT WERE AT 80,000 NOW AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE REPLACED IS THE FACTORY BATTERY AWESOME CAR I HAVE BEEN A ASE MASTERTECH FOR YEARS...”
“I HAVE OWNED TIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS IT HAD 13,000 ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT WERE AT 80,000 NOW AND THE...”
The Hyundai Sonata ranks highest in interior and ranks lowest in value.
“We got this car from my grandpa. It might look like junk but a dependable car wish photo could be available love this car a bunch has over 350,000 miles on original engine. I did put money on some...”
“We got this car from my grandpa. It might look like junk but a dependable car wish photo could be...”
The Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima are both midsize sedans made under the Hyundai-Kia roof. They both come with front-wheel drive. They are very similar in some areas, but aren’t exactly the same. The Sonata received a refresh for 2018, while the Optima was all-new for 2016.
The power choices for the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima are identical. Both have a standard engine with 185 horsepower and an optional 245 horsepower turbocharged engine. And both give you two green choices: a hybrid version and a plug-in hybrid version.
There are some areas where one or the other excels. The Optima has more rear headroom, while the Sonata has more trunk space. The refreshed Sonata receives steering and rear suspension improvements that the older Kia platform does not yet have, giving the Sonata better ride and handling.
Still, the Sonata and the Optima have many key features in common. Both have 7-inch touchscreen infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both have standard rearview cameras, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. And both have the industry-leading Hyundai-Kia five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, plus 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.
Both the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima are worthy midsize sedans. Drive both and see which you prefer.