we had a 2014 kia optima sxl with 125,000 miles on it and was the best car we’ve ever owned. Didn’t have one problem with it until someone hit us head on and totaled it. Now a days you see Kia’s everywhere.
Sorry to hear it got written off, hopefully you were ok! We see tonnes of Optimas on the road, they're very popular here. We're just wrapping up editing a second Showdown episode on two more popular mid-size family sedans, we reference this comparison during this new episode, but we aren't directly comparing them to either the Camry or Optima, however personally the Optima still beats them out.
I had a bone dry no power anything 2013 kia forte lx(basic) and gotta agree kia is awesome and I used to redline on a daily for almost 3 years till somebody rammed me from behind, I was standing still and got sandwiched....just last month >:/ But I'll be upgrading to a turbo Optima so I'm happy
+Lucas Jones Sorry to hear about the "total" of your SXL, but good to hear of your experience with the Optima SXL. I just bought a new 2018 Turbo SX and love it. Did a LOT of research on mid-size sedans and had it narrowed to the Honda Sport and the SX Turbo (Camry wasn't even on my radar). For the money, the amazing amount of standard amenities, performance, etc, I went with the SX Turbo, and glad I did. Kia has come a long way in the last 10yrs or so, from being a sneered at "second class" manufacturer, to being a top quality, well-priced vehicle receiving plenty of "thumbs up" from the auto world, in general.
@Larry Hild camry will take off a little quicker but optima will pass by middle of 2nd gear, this is from my experience with my forte 2013 lx (150hp) and a 2017 camry, i wasnt paying attention to the light tho so kia may actually do better, i think i have the video on my channel
Kia has absolutely stepped up their game in the last few years, and we love seeing comments like this! There are a lot of brands out there like Kia who've worked hard to improve their products, but many still won't give them a chance due to old stigmas or biases.
what value, they are both the same price and have similar features. Plus the camry has a natural aspirated engine, where it will last much longer than a small turbo engine and resale value is superior in the camry.. so yeah the optima will lose more over time, so I don't know where the value is
@@hassansmw5634 I agree. I don't agree about the turbo engine lasting not as long as the naturally aspirated one, but in this particular case, Kia isn't representing a value. They're within $1000 but the Camry has a V6. I will say this Kia is an older design. The next-gen Kia may surpass this Camry but by that time the Camry is 3-4 years into its current design.
Kia got a lot right with that previous generation also, and when you consider how similar the design is with this current generation it shows they didn't need to reinvent the car, but rather improve on what was already working.
I agree with you 1000%. Ever since Kia introduced this generation Optima in 2011, all of a sudden Ford followed suit with her focus, and then several other car manufacturers did the same.
Hannah I bought to 2019 GT about a month ago and can’t speak highly enough of it the Australian version comes with slightly different options and equipment levels to the US version but it’s still fantastic value and a great car to drive.
Kia interior second to none. Not over the top and not cheaply made. I have the 2019 LX fully loaded and my wife actually knows how to use everything. You truly have a very good car.
@@calilife5109 I'd go with the Honda. Even with high mileage they tend to hold their value. Plus you'll get better gas mileage with the Honda. Kia's didn't start scoring high until after 2008 for holding their value. Test both cars out, then check out the mileage. Have someone with you that can look over the car as well. Good fortunes to you
I have a 2013 Kia Optima EX Turbo, no problems at all so far, have 95k on it. The styling hasn't aged at all. Still looks modern. Only thing is that transmission, at lower rpm it has a "delay" when accelerating.
Glad to hear it! I don't think we noticed any issues with the transmission on the 2018, perhaps they've addressed it since then. We really like this car, it's currently our #1 pick in the segment!
Have you done a fuel injection cleaning on the car? Thats probably the delayed acceleration. Gdis build up lots of carbon on the valves. After i cleaned mine the acceleration came to normal and even faster
Mannnnn I don't even know where to start about my 2012 optima. Let's just say yea their cool cars but umm they definitely have a threshold. I would recommend getting rid of it before 130
I've owned a 2009 Camry before and it's was great! I decided to try out the 2018 Optima and man it's just amazing! Got the S package and the features it includes standard can't be beat! Back-up camera with sensors, side mirrors with senors, Android/Apple play (btw, Android play is much better), leather/cloth seats are a winner cause in the summer that booty suffers with all leather seats! Anyways, the quality is really impressive and the looks are great! Rides nice which is also important. For now I am happy and maybe one day I'll check out the new Camry's which look awesome!
Toyota has really stepped things up with the Camry's design, no longer a boring beige car that blends in! The Optima though is fantastic, Kia has managed to offer all the features you'd want in a mid-size car while keeping the price affordable and competitive with both the domestics and imports from Japan.
Been in both vehicles and cross shopped and I’m 100% satisfied with my optima. The thing is so quiet, so comfortable and so attractive. Got the fully loaded ex with all the features listed in this review besides the turbo engine.
We're glad to hear that, congrats on your purchase! The engine certainly helps to make things go, but most of the time you don't need all that power anyway. Better to have improved fuel mileage.
So glad that Kia didn't change much from 2017 to 2018...Love my ever so slightly used 2017 SXL! With the bending headlight with auto hi beams, fog lights don't seem necessary.
We figured the ventilated seats might be due to this being a first year of production. We find that manufacturers will often omit certain features for the first year or two, so when the 2020 Camry rolls out with new features it'll be an incentive for 2018 owners to trade in.
Kia has come a long way and I give them lots of credit for their styling and their newfound quality in their cars compared to 10 or more years ago, but for me that Camry is a much better choice because it's gonna hold its value much longer and it finally looks like a fun car to be seen in and drive!
Great points! We think the Camry is a fantastic looking car also, and if it had a few extra features like the Optima did then we'd take it for sure. The biggest red flag for us is the Camry's infotainment, we didn't have a chance to use it in-depth but it isn't nearly as good as what Kia offers right now.
We as in Perpetual Radio, the network. If the channel was named after me I'd use I, but since we're representing ourselves as an entity and not an individual, it will be 'We'. We also don't plan on being a one man operation forever.
The Optima was our #1 pick for 2018 in the mid-size sedan segment, beating out the Accord and Camry. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to feature the Fusion.
If you like "red" interior ...KIA"s "Aubergine Nappa Leather" seats in the SXL are far superior & stylish ...not to mention Nappa leather, which I don't belive Camry offers!
Nice comparison. I just bought a 2018 Optima SXL. I do like the Camry but ultimately the Kia warranty and 0% financing was the decider. And a Camry was $36K vs the Kia’s $33K with incentives. And no Nav is a juat bad. I’m amazed at the quality of the Kia. I’ll sacrifice the V6 and HU display.
Kia's quality has certainly improved significantly over the past few years. We really liked the Optima, easily our favourite of the 4 recent Kias we drove. We think it has a lot going for it at a very competitive price.
That's certainly true that times are changing, much like the Japanese perception and stigma when they first started selling cars in North America. Kia and Hyundai have both come a long way in terms of quality and design.
That's good advice! We put these episodes together to show off the differences with a lot of these cars, but at the end of the day buyers need to go for the one they like the most!
I had to buy used because I couldn’t afford to buy new. I wanted a Camry, but couldn’t find any in my price range with the mileage I was looking for. I ended up buying a 2016 Optima. It only had 19,500 miles on it, and was significantly less than a Camry. Of course, the Camry has higher resale value.
when I first laid eyes on the Optima I totally wanted it, now that I have a 2014 Optima ex I am so glad it hooked me like that because it is now 2019 and it is still looking and driving like brand new, it's blacked out and so damn sexy, that's not to say the Camry isn't a great car but the design inside and out was my push towards my Optima.
Bought a new 2013 Optima SXL. Still have it, still love it. I don't care for the later models Optimas, wheels don't enhance its look, and power went down from 274hp..
I picked the 2017 Kia Optima SX. It just has way more on it than the Camry that he did not mention. Power folding mirrors, plus way more comfortable seats, Memory seats. Don't get me wrong, the Camry is really nice, but for them to charge more for less is a little stupid. The only complaint I have for the Optima is that the Panorama sunroof does make noise when going over bumps sometimes. Not sure if it's all of them or just mine. Other than that, I love my Optima and the features it has. I don't have the 360 degrees back up camera system in mine, but I honestly don't need it. The car has them, but I got the SX, not the SXL. The heads up display is nice, but I really have no need for it, just my opinion of course.
Must be your panoramic sun-roof ....mine in a 2016 SXL doesn't do that! I'd talk to my KIA dealship service dept about it if I were you. I've found mine gives excelent ...seem to really care about providing great service & like someone else mentioned I can pull into my dealership any time I want and get a free car wash for the life of my car!
I had a 2006 Hyundai Sonata 3.3L V6. It was an excellent car and I accumulated 204k miles with it. This year, I looked at a new car to eventually replace it. I considered another Hyundai Sonata and a Kia Optima. Dealers offered considerable discounts. But, I didn't bite because what I really wanted was another V6 Sonata. I'm not fond of turbos. I had turbocharged cars back in the 90's. Turbos were fun when new. But, over time, they became the weak link in the powertrain. Still, I gave the Sonata and Optima careful consideration. Then, the news about 4-cylinder Kias and Hyundais catching fire broke out. And now? I've taken Kia and Hyundai completely out of consideration. I've also excluded other companies that used turbos like Honda, Chevrolet, and Ford. Turbos put 4-cyl engines under a lot more stress than NA ones. Hyundais and Kias catching fire: th-cam.com/video/wNEQK2qmsC8/w-d-xo.html That left Toyota and Mazda as my two main brands for a midsize car. I liked the Mazda 6. But, the wife didn't like the exterior styling. So.... we took home a 2019 Camry SE. couldn't be happier.
Congrats on the purchase of the Camry! We've spotted a lot of 2018/2019 models on the road so far, it seems to be a continued source of popularity for Toyota.
@@PRNTestDrive I also liked the styling of the Optima. If Kia had equipped the Optima with the old Hyundai 293 HP 3.3L Lambda II V6? I would have chosen the Optima in a heartbeat. This move to turbocharged 4-cylinder engines has been bad for Kia and Hyundai. Now, the US federal government is involved in the investigation of the engine fires. I get the feeling things are about to get really expensive for the Korean brands.
The 2019 Optima is really nice too, the slight facelift gives it a bit of a sportier look. The Camry is hit or miss, but the 2019 Toyota Avalon looks great, I've spotted a few around here, I really need to get one featured.
So completely skipping the optima, yea sounds about right lol Kia has came a long way and they did make the mainstream cars improve, but competition is supposed to do that. Which is why the Camry to me is the better option, I don’t need cooled seats.
Prices are definitely creeping up. You can still get a base model for pretty cheap, but if you want all the features they do get costly, but it seems to be similar across the board from other manufacturers.
Because mid-size sedans are getting a lot more technology. I am willing to bet the 2018 Optima has more options and tech than the 2014 RX. What does a 2018 RX go for these days?
Just grabbed a 2013 optima sxl at 112k miles. Love it! No problems and turbo is smooth! No lag when accelerating! The Cardenza stands out more but optima has way better gas mileage
I bought a 2015 Kia Optima 2.5 liter n.a. Used and a 2017 Toyota Camry hybrid new. I am very happy with both and both will put you in your seat and both do very well with fuel economy. The Camry has a few more bells and whistles, but most I don’t need or use like the navigation system it is much easier to just use google maps. Also, Some phones do not fit in the wireless charger station of the Camry.
We've noticed the wireless charging issue with a lot of cars actually. We've been using larger phones, the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note8, and we'd say that 60% of the chargers are large enough for them.
The Kia Optima is still our top pick in this segment, we think it has a lot going for it. We like that Toyota is getting creative with the design of the Camry though, for too long it's been a very conservative look.
Seems like they keep the best for the best! We're hoping to feature a 2018 Cadenza, they aren't selling many here but we're going to try to make it happen this summer.
Just picked up my 2019 Optima PHEV. Got the estate (station wagon?!) for the extra space. Boot is big but batteries take up a few liters of space. Incredible levels of refinement. Superb power train. Flawless driving experience and top spec have meant a very special first week of driving.
Oh nice, congrats on the purchase! I'm very jealous that you have the wagon as a plug-in hybrid in your market. We had the chance to drive the 2018 Optima PHEV last year and liked it, but a wagon would be incredible!
I do love the Kia's design when comparing the exterior and interior but I can't look past the display on the Optima. It sticks out like a sore thumb as if the design hasn't changed over the past 5 years. Hopefully in the next face lift they'll do something about it because I just can't...
Hope it helps! We'd like to see them add HomeLink, but Kia wouldn't be the first manufacturer to offer less on their Canadian models compared to elsewhere.
I negotiated for an upgraded rear-view mirror for my 2018 Optima SXL Turbo. The new mirror includes auto dimming, three HomeLink buttons and a digital compass. In my opinion, that mirror should come standard with the Optima, but it doesn’t. It’s definitely something worth negotiating for. By the way, installation of the mirror is not a trivial matter. It should be installed by the dealer, not by the owner.
I have a 2015 Optima sxl and I must say, very little cars can compare to it. I always get asked what kind of car is it. Thinking of trading for the 19 version.
The 2019 looks like a very nice facelift for the Optima. I took a look at one briefly when they first landed at dealers, hoping to get into one to do an updated episode.
That's certainly true. There's no doubt that the Camry has the potential for better residual value down the road, but Kia has improved their products significantly over the past several years as well.
@@pkoya341 just a few..and Every day les and less..toyotas are there forever. Look at the residual value ,maybe you can get a better reference. This is my everyday business, car salesman. I have better data than you
The Kia is a nice car. Ive heard a lot about people having problems with their GDI engines at low mileage. Overall, I'd get the Camry just because I love the smoothness of the V6 and overall superior reliability.
That's certainly a valid point, it's something that Kia/Hyundai will need to continue to work on as their engines have certainly been hit or miss over the years.
Brian Lawrance Yup you’re right I drive a 2016 Kia Optima sx and at 11,000 miles my engine had to be replaced. So now I’m going through a lemon law suit love the looks of the Optima but over all it’s a crappy car
Why are the foot pedals all black and rubber?? Mine is a 2016 and the pedals are much more premium. Aluminum /metal with little rubber circle bumps lining it.
On which one, the Optima? Perhaps it was a dealer installed option? Also it's possible the trims are different in your country, we've found a lot recently that the models sold here in Canada are just a little different than those down in the US, but also significantly different than Europe.
Not sure what that is, but if it's the same music than that person/channel is also using the free-to-use music included with the TH-cam Creator Dashboard. I've heard my exit music before on other channels.
The slight facelift for the 2019 Optima will definitely help to push some sales. We had a chance to see a SX Turbo a few weeks back still wrapped from delivery.
There's no competition there, the Kia is the better car in our opinion, but it depends on what you're looking for. The fully loaded Optima SXL Turbo we featured has more features over the Accord, and if you go for the 2.0L Honda engine the Kia is only a tad slower. The Accord feels more sporty though. But out of the 4 mid-size sedans we've featured this year, the Kia is #1, followed by the Accord, Camry, and then Passat.
Love the smooth yet powerful V6 in the XSE, and it takes turns confidently, add best in class resale value and I will take the Camry everyday over the Kia.
@@PRNTestDrive so if that's the case , why didn't you take it in consideration in your comparison?? obviously that is a huge kudo to the camry and this point is more important than some features that made you choose the kia as the winner. They are priced the same, so how did the Kia win?? Camry is a much better value.
Test drove the Camry this past weekend. If it had Android Auto, I'd buy one this week no question. Sadly it doesn't seem like Toyota has any interest in adding it, so I'll likely be going with an Accord, Optima, or another car with Android Auto.
I'm not sure why Toyota and BMW are the two who don't want to support Android Auto. I know when both AA and CarPlay were announced a lot of people speculated manufacturers would be stuck picking one over the other, but everyone else offers both. No clue why they wont.
Perpetual Radio Networks the salesman I spoke to today said I'm one of the first Android users to ever really try all the options the Camry has with my phone before buying it (still haven't decided or bought anything yet). Really the only thing holding me back is the navigation. If Google maps showed up on the screen when I activate it on my phone, I'd be sold
Same here with me, if the camry would have GPS and android auto i'd buy it right now, i am looking the accord and i've found great deals on certified 16,17 SXL optimas for around 22 to 25 k dls with low low miles 10k to 16 k miles
@@PRNTestDrive only because it's given to them. Blind Americans. Toyota had mess ups the last 2 years and they are still put on top. Well, they have the money to do it.
Just saw this review lol ended up buying a 2018 kia optima sx turbo and I love the car. It's very comfortable and I love the interior. Also it has amazing acceleration for a 4 banger and wont empty the gas tank. I get sucked back into the seat at times when passing folks on the interstate when the turbo boost kicks in. Lol. Also the sunroof is super cool. I have a toyota and its a good car the Kia is just more fun to drive imo. Great vid tho pretty spot on.
I really love the Optima. Have a 2012. I only have one complaint. Kia HAS to figure out their cup holders! They need to add the spring loaded grips. My damn coffee juggles around and is easier to spill. Come on Kia! Lol
Small complaint at least, but I know what you mean! We've driven a number of cars recently with awful cup holders, either they're too shallow and the cups feel like they'll tip over, or like you mentioned there's nothing to grab them and they'll definitely fall out.
I'm in the market myself for either the kia Optima, or the camry. Leading towards the Camry do to years of reliability, but the kia Optima are so nice!!!! With basically the same features, at $10k less then the camry. I'm looking at spending around $20k cash on a leftover 2019 or 20. Decisions, decisions!!!!🤔💨💨💨💨💨💨
Kia has upped their reliability significantly over the past little while. The Optima is a really good car, plenty of feature and tech for a competitive price. The next generation looks even better!
I guess the Kia Cadenza is more of an Avalon competitor but it starts around $35,000us and offers a similar V6. I guess it’s class it’s technically a full size sedan though.
I believe both the Avalon and Cadenza are considered mid-size vehicles though both at the larger end of the scale. We’ve been asking to do an episode on the Cadenza but so few exist in Canada it’s next to impossible.
I’ve always been a big Toyota guy... reliable, holds its value and don’t get stolen like Honda’s but I’ve now owned 3 Kia’s including my current 2018 Optima S and I have to say I really think they are a better looking version of those early Toyota’s...the reliability is there, the design is very good and value is outstanding while I think Toyota has fallen off a little (I will say I like the sportier look of the new Camry...they’ve been pretty boring before!) in terms of quality and their warranty is just average while value/price isn’t what it used to be. Bottom line, I love my new Kia but I don’t think you can go wrong with either
I would go with Toyota all the way,the inside design of Toyota is beautiful and out of the box. Not impressed with Kia at all, it seems like an old model in and out, however I drove recently a Kia Forte 18 and it was very impressive how smooth and fun to drive is. It is possible that in reality to have a different impact compared with this video. Toyota is an unbeatable champion for now,will see if Kia will ever reach as high.
Well yeah of course people are going to have a ‘different impact’, everyone has different taste when it comes to design, along with differing needs for a vehicle.
That it does! We've been meaning to feature a Cadenza, we've only spotted three on the road since moving to Quebec, but one of our local dealers has one in stock. We sat in it a couple months back and couldn't believe how much rear seat legroom there is!
Perpetual Radio Networks I did test drive the Cadenza last year and it’s a great car for the money and loaded with extending thigh cushion and everything imaginable. However, I couldn’t wrap my head around buying a KIA Cadenza. The car is ranked lowest in maintaining resale value. We did buy a Sorento SXL and love it. I’d looked at everything from Mercedes, BMW, on down and then drove the Sorento. The infotainment, overall reliability, and build quality is near luxury. Plus it does offer CarPlay and Android support. For the money I suspended my ego.
My mom has a 2015 Kia Optima LX And Has 130,400 miles and she enjoys it but, she is looking for something new. She might get the new optima. Or The Kia Sorento
We can't include everything, and we watch enough auto content on TH-cam to know only the huge productions like MotorTrend include that kind of information.
@PRN_TestDrive how do you feel the Kia Optima sx compares to the Honda Accord Touring 2.0T in terms of suspension and handling, and then compared to the Stinger 2.0 (vs both Optima SX and Accord 2.0) Keep up the reviews - enjoyed your recent Kia Stinger videos.
We haven't had a chance to drive the 2.0T Accord, but I've seen it in action and the performance is next-level. I've heard that Honda has had some problems with the rear suspensions on the new Accords, so that might be something to be aware of. The 2019 Optima's facelift is really nice, for the same price as the base Stinger you can get a fully loaded SXL with all the tech, definitely worth it. The Stinger has a sportier feel over both of them, but the ride is a little more harsh since it's designed as a sport sedan.
i go for the Kia all the way. from better infotainment to better seat cushion to better features to aggressive design language on Kia. i just had to put whole dibs for the optima. good job kia and great review!!
@@ThatCarGuy2 yeah this comment was before I got the camry. looked deeper into the optima and found a lot of reliability issues with the power train so I went for camry and i dont regret a thing 😎 . going strong at 87K miles!
Ahmad Ghosheh my 2009 XLE is crap. It had all sorts of issues with only 81k on it. The door locks, steering, alternator, tire sensors, O2 sensors and battery terminals are just a few to name.
The XSE is made in the same factory in Kentucky as the Lexus LS350. FKS engine in the Camry is the exact same engine as the LS350. You're basically getting a LS350 -the AWD at 10k less.
So I have (had? Idk it was stolen a few days ago) a 2013 optima SXL. I test drove a 2019 SX and it’s a great car. However, I want another SXL because there are features I want to keep that the SX doesn’t offer. Where did you get a 2018 SXL? In the US I haven’t been able to find any at all only a 2017 SXL
In Canada we often get different trims than the US does, the Korean brands specifically do this. Unfortunately you may not be able to find a US-spec vehicle with that trim as they might have changed things down there.
Excellent and appropriate comparison. I have a 2018 Optima LX+ and while it's lacking many of the features with both of these trim levels, it's a sweet car too drive and I love it lol. Never thought I'd buy a KIA until I drove this and I've always thought of it as KIA's "3 Series". The Camry has a busier look and layout but it's a great looking car and that V6 is sweet as is the 8 speed. I'd love that option in the KIA and HUD as well. Combine the best of both of these quality machines and you'd have a killer. Both great choices regardless.
@@PRNTestDrive Thx for the review! I had never even considered Kia before but got a great deal on a 2019 Opitma SXL! Its competition is nice too but I am more price oriented and my Kia dealer was much more willing to deal. My last 3 were MKZ, Avalon Ltd and MB E350 (BMW7's and Audi 8's before I retired!) and this Optima compares favorably for me in many respects (especially price/value). The included features that have recently been filtering down to these new Kia and similar sedans has created less need for me to want to shop more "premium" lines.
I have a 2012 optima sx and i get horrible gas mileage. 16 to 18 average with moderate driving. I think i will sell it and buy a Camry. I don’t even use the cooled and heated seat option anyway.
Strange that your fuel economy isn't good on it. We've requested the 2019 Optima (facelift) to feature later this year, we're hoping to get it to do more accurate fuel testing like we implemented at the end of 2018.
Perpetual Radio Networks oh gosh. I'm srry. I'm in North America. We still have the V6 option. But word is Nissan plans on giving the 2019 Altima AWD..😱
Very nice! We've heard from other viewers outside North America, specifically in Europe where engine options are plentiful in comparison to here. We're hearing a lot of AWD rumours from a lot of manufacturers now, so far the first we're getting our hands on is the 2018 Ford Fusion Sport AWD in a few weeks. We're also taking a look at the Dodge Challenger AWD on Monday. There's definitely a big shift towards all-wheel drive!
We're hoping to get our hands on the 2019 Optima, we had a chance to look at once a couple months back briefly, but they haven't added them to the press fleet yet.
They have them on the website, yes, but find me a dealer with a 2019. I found one in Vancouver and another in Toronto. They barely sold off the 2017 models they had lingering in dealerships last year.
Only those ppl take camry who have fear of losing resale value. Because money is everything for them. Otherwise any sensible person will buy kia for its beautiful shape and better performance in every aspect.
Very true! The Camry has historically held it's value pretty well, this new generation might be the only exception, but so far we're seeing more of the 2018 Camrys on the road than we do 2018 Accords. The Kia definitely has a lot going for it, and gets even better for the 2019 model year.
I don't think there is as significant drop in resell value as some are contenting ...and that will change as KIA continues to win the respect of more & more people!
Glad you like what we’re producing, thanks! We’re hoping to film some more Showdown episodes before the end of the year. We’ve got some great consumer vehicles lined up.
Camry rims are really beautifull And the interior is way more pretty than optima tho optima looks more luxuries but it feels me like it's a copy of BMW but it's not complete copy I mean it always reminds me of BMW but it's not as luxury as them It feels like I'm watching a cheap version of Bmw But Camry dashboard and console is more unique . But kias saat cooler ,H/k audio system navigation and android auto are things that make me still go for optima
We noted too that the interior design of the Optima feels a little like BMW's design language. If you're going to copy, copy from the best, right! It's true that the Camry's interior is very unique, a radical change from Toyota's historical approach to vehicle design.
Thinking back I'd say they were both pretty similar to be honest. I believe the Camry has an actual sport suspension though, so if you're looking for a softer ride the Kia might be the one.
Both exteriors are nice for different reasons, but the interior of the XSE Camry is hideous. The interior of the XLE Camry is pretty decent but still isn’t as nice as the SX Optima’s interior.
Toyota went a little funky with the sport trim, but at least they offer an alternative. We’ve been surprised by how many XSEs we’ve seen on the road so far, seems to be a popular option for people here.
Both work, the Camry was backed into a snow bank before we got to the dealership but it cleared out it's driver side exhaust after we drove it around the corner.
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we had a 2014 kia optima sxl with 125,000 miles on it and was the best car we’ve ever owned. Didn’t have one problem with it until someone hit us head on and totaled it. Now a days you see Kia’s everywhere.
Sorry to hear it got written off, hopefully you were ok! We see tonnes of Optimas on the road, they're very popular here. We're just wrapping up editing a second Showdown episode on two more popular mid-size family sedans, we reference this comparison during this new episode, but we aren't directly comparing them to either the Camry or Optima, however personally the Optima still beats them out.
Agreed!!
I had a bone dry no power anything 2013 kia forte lx(basic) and gotta agree kia is awesome and I used to redline on a daily for almost 3 years till somebody rammed me from behind, I was standing still and got sandwiched....just last month >:/
But I'll be upgrading to a turbo Optima so I'm happy
+Lucas Jones Sorry to hear about the "total" of your SXL, but good to hear of your experience with the Optima SXL. I just bought a new 2018 Turbo SX and love it. Did a LOT of research on mid-size sedans and had it narrowed to the Honda Sport and the SX Turbo (Camry wasn't even on my radar). For the money, the amazing amount of standard amenities, performance, etc, I went with the SX Turbo, and glad I did. Kia has come a long way in the last 10yrs or so, from being a sneered at "second class" manufacturer, to being a top quality, well-priced vehicle receiving plenty of "thumbs up" from the auto world, in general.
@Larry Hild camry will take off a little quicker but optima will pass by middle of 2nd gear, this is from my experience with my forte 2013 lx (150hp) and a 2017 camry, i wasnt paying attention to the light tho so kia may actually do better, i think i have the video on my channel
Kudos to Kia!! Kia is a clear winner here!! Value, quality and styling all around winner......
Kia has absolutely stepped up their game in the last few years, and we love seeing comments like this! There are a lot of brands out there like Kia who've worked hard to improve their products, but many still won't give them a chance due to old stigmas or biases.
@@PRNTestDrive so true. Also, when Toyota has feel off, they won't even publisize it.
what value, they are both the same price and have similar features. Plus the camry has a natural aspirated engine, where it will last much longer than a small turbo engine and resale value is superior in the camry.. so yeah the optima will lose more over time, so I don't know where the value is
@@hassansmw5634 I agree. I don't agree about the turbo engine lasting not as long as the naturally aspirated one, but in this particular case, Kia isn't representing a value. They're within $1000 but the Camry has a V6. I will say this Kia is an older design. The next-gen Kia may surpass this Camry but by that time the Camry is 3-4 years into its current design.
The 2011 kia optima is the real winner. Made theses other car companies improve their midsize sedans.
Kia got a lot right with that previous generation also, and when you consider how similar the design is with this current generation it shows they didn't need to reinvent the car, but rather improve on what was already working.
Sam Lung exactly the point.......
That x audi engineer that kia hired helped 👍
I agree with you 1000%. Ever since Kia introduced this generation Optima in 2011, all of a sudden Ford followed suit with her focus, and then several other car manufacturers did the same.
Still cheaped won't last as long as toyota
Bought a 2019 Kia Optima s model last week and I must say I am truly so happy with this car.. it turns heads and it drives beautifully!!
Glad to hear it, and congrats! We need to get behind the wheel of the 2019 sometime soon to talk about the facelift, it looks really good.
Hannah I bought to 2019 GT about a month ago and can’t speak highly enough of it the Australian version comes with slightly different options and equipment levels to the US version but it’s still fantastic value and a great car to drive.
Kia interior second to none. Not over the top and not cheaply made.
I have the 2019 LX fully loaded and my wife actually knows how to use everything.
You truly have a very good car.
Me too bought Optima GT, this car is really fantastic. For such a cheap price, its a steal lol
Love the Optima dash layout.. straight foward no nonsense, nice clean lines, will age well..
Agreed! Some might think it's boring, but we like a functional design over clutter any day.
Sure the kia will age well....also is very rich and matured to drivd than camry....
just grabbed a 2019 kia LX. Very, very nice car.
Im getting my first car what would you recommended kia optima 2004 or honda civic 2002?
@@calilife5109 I'd go with the Honda. Even with high mileage they tend to hold their value. Plus you'll get better gas mileage with the Honda.
Kia's didn't start scoring high until after 2008 for holding their value.
Test both cars out, then check out the mileage.
Have someone with you that can look over the car as well.
Good fortunes to you
Own 2012 Optima 102,000 miles no problems. Love it
We're glad to hear it!
I have a 2013 Kia Optima EX Turbo, no problems at all so far, have 95k on it. The styling hasn't aged at all. Still looks modern. Only thing is that transmission, at lower rpm it has a "delay" when accelerating.
Glad to hear it! I don't think we noticed any issues with the transmission on the 2018, perhaps they've addressed it since then. We really like this car, it's currently our #1 pick in the segment!
I had same issue in my 2013 Optima also had electrical issues
Have you done a fuel injection cleaning on the car? Thats probably the delayed acceleration. Gdis build up lots of carbon on the valves. After i cleaned mine the acceleration came to normal and even faster
Ex turbo?! I have a 2013 optima EX you can turn it?!
Mannnnn I don't even know where to start about my 2012 optima. Let's just say yea their cool cars but umm they definitely have a threshold. I would recommend getting rid of it before 130
I've owned a 2009 Camry before and it's was great! I decided to try out the 2018 Optima and man it's just amazing! Got the S package and the features it includes standard can't be beat! Back-up camera with sensors, side mirrors with senors, Android/Apple play (btw, Android play is much better), leather/cloth seats are a winner cause in the summer that booty suffers with all leather seats! Anyways, the quality is really impressive and the looks are great! Rides nice which is also important. For now I am happy and maybe one day I'll check out the new Camry's which look awesome!
Toyota has really stepped things up with the Camry's design, no longer a boring beige car that blends in! The Optima though is fantastic, Kia has managed to offer all the features you'd want in a mid-size car while keeping the price affordable and competitive with both the domestics and imports from Japan.
Been in both vehicles and cross shopped and I’m 100% satisfied with my optima. The thing is so quiet, so comfortable and so attractive. Got the fully loaded ex with all the features listed in this review besides the turbo engine.
We're glad to hear that, congrats on your purchase! The engine certainly helps to make things go, but most of the time you don't need all that power anyway. Better to have improved fuel mileage.
So glad that Kia didn't change much from 2017 to 2018...Love my ever so slightly used 2017 SXL! With the bending headlight with auto hi beams, fog lights don't seem necessary.
We're expecting an update soon though! We do like the styling and design though, conservative but elegant.
The Optima is getting a refresh for 2019. Supposedly more tech as well.
No cooled seats or nav.. I went optima
We figured the ventilated seats might be due to this being a first year of production. We find that manufacturers will often omit certain features for the first year or two, so when the 2020 Camry rolls out with new features it'll be an incentive for 2018 owners to trade in.
😂😂😂😂😂, me too, ac seats come in handy during the summer.
This is something that should’ve been included being that the Toyota is over 40k really Toyota
Kia has come a long way and I give them lots of credit for their styling and their newfound quality in their cars compared to 10 or more years ago, but for me that Camry is a much better choice because it's gonna hold its value much longer and it finally looks like a fun car to be seen in and drive!
Great points! We think the Camry is a fantastic looking car also, and if it had a few extra features like the Optima did then we'd take it for sure. The biggest red flag for us is the Camry's infotainment, we didn't have a chance to use it in-depth but it isn't nearly as good as what Kia offers right now.
Who is "We"? It's just you making these reviews.
We as in Perpetual Radio, the network. If the channel was named after me I'd use I, but since we're representing ourselves as an entity and not an individual, it will be 'We'. We also don't plan on being a one man operation forever.
I was just joking with you
i test drove the Camry its very boring to drive worst cars are Camry, Toyota Prius i call this cars tree huger cars!
I’d prefer the optima over the Camry Accord or the Ford Fusion. Also for got to add the Chevy Malibu,
The Optima was our #1 pick for 2018 in the mid-size sedan segment, beating out the Accord and Camry. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to feature the Fusion.
Perpetual Radio Networks ok
That red interior on the camry is fiyah.
Might not be for everyone, but we do see them on the road. Black is the only other option I believe for the sport models.
If you like "red" interior ...KIA"s "Aubergine Nappa Leather" seats in the SXL are far superior & stylish ...not to mention Nappa leather, which I don't belive Camry offers!
Nice comparison. I just bought a 2018 Optima SXL. I do like the Camry but ultimately the Kia warranty and 0% financing was the decider. And a Camry was $36K vs the Kia’s $33K with incentives. And no Nav is a juat bad. I’m amazed at the quality of the Kia. I’ll sacrifice the V6 and HU display.
Kia's quality has certainly improved significantly over the past few years. We really liked the Optima, easily our favourite of the 4 recent Kias we drove. We think it has a lot going for it at a very competitive price.
Plus you get Tire pressure monitor in Kia ....which Camry does not have
Gautham Ag the Camry it does come with a tire pressure monitoring.
Does the Camry have 4-camera surround view?
@@Gauthamag23 Even the lower trim Camrys have TPM. My Camry SE certainly does and it's the base SE model.
Bravo to be brave to recommend KIA, times are changing it seems....
That's certainly true that times are changing, much like the Japanese perception and stigma when they first started selling cars in North America. Kia and Hyundai have both come a long way in terms of quality and design.
@@PRNTestDrive It's the Korean Automotive Renaissance.
I love my Optima. Great car and great value.
Glad to hear it!
Nice great you enjoy. Got the Stinger. Wanted the extra umphhh!
Still cheaped won't last as long as toyota
Just buy what you like or what you can afford. In my opinion, I love the Camry!!!!!
That's good advice! We put these episodes together to show off the differences with a lot of these cars, but at the end of the day buyers need to go for the one they like the most!
I had to buy used because I couldn’t afford to buy new. I wanted a Camry, but couldn’t find any in my price range with the mileage I was looking for. I ended up buying a 2016 Optima. It only had 19,500 miles on it, and was significantly less than a Camry. Of course, the Camry has higher resale value.
when I first laid eyes on the Optima I totally wanted it, now that I have a 2014 Optima ex I am so glad it hooked me like that because it is now 2019 and it is still looking and driving like brand new, it's blacked out and so damn sexy, that's not to say the Camry isn't a great car but the design inside and out was my push towards my Optima.
We're seeing a lot of Optimas on the road now, they're great options for buyers! The Optima ended up in our #1 mid-size sedan spot for 2018.
Got a 2020 kia Optima a few weeks ago and I couldn't be happier.
Congrats on the purchase!
I agree too, I still have my 2015 optima with some mods. It’s still running fine. Toyotas are lovely too, I have the 4Runner as well. ❤ love my rides.
I agree too, I still have my 2015 optima with some mods. It’s still running fine. Toyotas are lovely too, I have the 4Runner as well. ❤ love my rides.
I don't need 300hp...
The Kia is just fine with me..
It's always nice to have more power, but most don't need it on a daily basis. The Kia provides more than enough and keeps fuel mileage at bay.
just bought a 2014 Kia optima with 50,000 on the clock, picking it up tomorrow, i cant wait to drive it
Congrats on the purchase!
Own 2012 optima hybrid with 176k miles on it. 0 problem. Just new tires,brake pads and rotor replaced last month. Great manufacturer
Glad to hear it! I hope it keeps on being reliable for you.
Bought a new 2013 Optima SXL. Still have it, still love it. I don't care for the later models Optimas, wheels don't enhance its look, and power went down from 274hp..
Glad to hear it! The Optima is still our top pick in the segment, Kia is doing everything right when it comes to their sedans.
The engine is better in the 2016s and up, don’t be closed minded power doesn’t make it better
I picked the 2017 Kia Optima SX. It just has way more on it than the Camry that he did not mention. Power folding mirrors, plus way more comfortable seats, Memory seats. Don't get me wrong, the Camry is really nice, but for them to charge more for less is a little stupid. The only complaint I have for the Optima is that the Panorama sunroof does make noise when going over bumps sometimes. Not sure if it's all of them or just mine. Other than that, I love my Optima and the features it has. I don't have the 360 degrees back up camera system in mine, but I honestly don't need it. The car has them, but I got the SX, not the SXL. The heads up display is nice, but I really have no need for it, just my opinion of course.
Very nice! The Optima is still our top pick in this segment, it does everything you’d need it to and looks great doing it.
Must be your panoramic sun-roof ....mine in a 2016 SXL doesn't do that! I'd talk to my KIA dealship service dept about it if I were you. I've found mine gives excelent ...seem to really care about providing great service & like someone else mentioned I can pull into my dealership any time I want and get a free car wash for the life of my car!
Still cheaped won't last as long as toyota
Thanks for the review. It's aboot time someone did a Camary/Optima and showed us what they oolso have, inside and oot.
That’s what we’re all aboot!
I had a 2006 Hyundai Sonata 3.3L V6. It was an excellent car and I accumulated 204k miles with it. This year, I looked at a new car to eventually replace it. I considered another Hyundai Sonata and a Kia Optima. Dealers offered considerable discounts. But, I didn't bite because what I really wanted was another V6 Sonata. I'm not fond of turbos. I had turbocharged cars back in the 90's. Turbos were fun when new. But, over time, they became the weak link in the powertrain.
Still, I gave the Sonata and Optima careful consideration. Then, the news about 4-cylinder Kias and Hyundais catching fire broke out. And now? I've taken Kia and Hyundai completely out of consideration. I've also excluded other companies that used turbos like Honda, Chevrolet, and Ford. Turbos put 4-cyl engines under a lot more stress than NA ones.
Hyundais and Kias catching fire: th-cam.com/video/wNEQK2qmsC8/w-d-xo.html
That left Toyota and Mazda as my two main brands for a midsize car. I liked the Mazda 6. But, the wife didn't like the exterior styling. So.... we took home a 2019 Camry SE. couldn't be happier.
Congrats on the purchase of the Camry! We've spotted a lot of 2018/2019 models on the road so far, it seems to be a continued source of popularity for Toyota.
@@PRNTestDrive I also liked the styling of the Optima. If Kia had equipped the Optima with the old Hyundai 293 HP 3.3L Lambda II V6? I would have chosen the Optima in a heartbeat. This move to turbocharged 4-cylinder engines has been bad for Kia and Hyundai. Now, the US federal government is involved in the investigation of the engine fires. I get the feeling things are about to get really expensive for the Korean brands.
My 2015 Kia Optima sxl turbo is amazing. Such a nice drive.
Glad to hear it! We see a lot of Optimas on the road these days, and more often than not they're the top-end trim!
To me the Camry looks like a mix of a 2010 Camry and a 2013 Avalon, personally I’m not a fan. The Optima however, is gorgeous.
The 2019 Optima is really nice too, the slight facelift gives it a bit of a sportier look. The Camry is hit or miss, but the 2019 Toyota Avalon looks great, I've spotted a few around here, I really need to get one featured.
I would take a base stinger over a v6 camry for the about the same price.
The Stinger is a seriously impressive car, we’d probably do the same! Once they offer the 2.0L version in Canada it’ll be hard not to compare.
So completely skipping the optima, yea sounds about right lol Kia has came a long way and they did make the mainstream cars improve, but competition is supposed to do that. Which is why the Camry to me is the better option, I don’t need cooled seats.
Stingers are ugly!
@@Wazza722 You're ugly, Stingers are beautiful
Hey Jared, did i say you were ugly?
You dont even know me!
Fuck you!say it to my face prick!
My mom bought a brand new 2014 lexus RX 4 years ago for $43,000. When in that 4 years did non luxury cars reach those prices lol?
Prices are definitely creeping up. You can still get a base model for pretty cheap, but if you want all the features they do get costly, but it seems to be similar across the board from other manufacturers.
Inflation
Because mid-size sedans are getting a lot more technology. I am willing to bet the 2018 Optima has more options and tech than the 2014 RX. What does a 2018 RX go for these days?
FiveNine Limited just looked one up at a local dealer and they are 57k for a fully equipped model like the Camry and Optima that's a difference! Lol
Kia is for grandpa.Camry looks much better. Lexus even better!!
Just grabbed a 2013 optima sxl at 112k miles. Love it! No problems and turbo is smooth! No lag when accelerating! The Cardenza stands out more but optima has way better gas mileage
Glad to hear it! We gave the optima the #1 mid-size sedan ranking during our 2018 wrap-up for good reason.
How is the car doing now? I’ve been looking at a 2017 optima but I’m still on the edge of buying it because of reliability.
I just bought a 2013 sxl at 93k miles this week. How is yours holding up?
I bought a 2015 Kia Optima 2.5 liter n.a. Used and a 2017 Toyota Camry hybrid new. I am very happy with both and both will put you in your seat and both do very well with fuel economy. The Camry has a few more bells and whistles, but most I don’t need or use like the navigation system it is much easier to just use google maps. Also, Some phones do not fit in the wireless charger station of the Camry.
We've noticed the wireless charging issue with a lot of cars actually. We've been using larger phones, the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note8, and we'd say that 60% of the chargers are large enough for them.
Perpetual Radio Networks it is the iPhone 8 Plus that won’t fit in the charging station of my Camry.
The KIA Optima is stunning beside the ugly camry. Excellent design and proportions of the Optima!! It's Stunning from every angle.
The Kia Optima is still our top pick in this segment, we think it has a lot going for it. We like that Toyota is getting creative with the design of the Camry though, for too long it's been a very conservative look.
To each their own right? I happen to like both
Hey?!fuck you kia is ugly like your face!!.dot compare toyota to kia!!.toyota is best car in the orld
Stinger, cadenza, and k900 have a optional heads up display.
Seems like they keep the best for the best! We're hoping to feature a 2018 Cadenza, they aren't selling many here but we're going to try to make it happen this summer.
Just picked up my 2019 Optima PHEV. Got the estate (station wagon?!) for the extra space. Boot is big but batteries take up a few liters of space. Incredible levels of refinement. Superb power train. Flawless driving experience and top spec have meant a very special first week of driving.
Oh nice, congrats on the purchase! I'm very jealous that you have the wagon as a plug-in hybrid in your market. We had the chance to drive the 2018 Optima PHEV last year and liked it, but a wagon would be incredible!
I do love the Kia's design when comparing the exterior and interior but I can't look past the display on the Optima. It sticks out like a sore thumb as if the design hasn't changed over the past 5 years. Hopefully in the next face lift they'll do something about it because I just can't...
The infotainments are certainly going a different experience for each user.
Homelink is not missing on the Optima, it's on the auto-dimming mirror.
Perhaps it’s offered in other markets, however on this Canadian-spec Optima the rear view mirror only has UVO buttons, no HomeLink.
Perpetual Radio Networks got it, thanks for sharing.
Hope it helps! We'd like to see them add HomeLink, but Kia wouldn't be the first manufacturer to offer less on their Canadian models compared to elsewhere.
I negotiated for an upgraded rear-view mirror for my 2018 Optima SXL Turbo. The new mirror includes auto dimming, three HomeLink buttons and a digital compass. In my opinion, that mirror should come standard with the Optima, but it doesn’t. It’s definitely something worth negotiating for. By the way, installation of the mirror is not a trivial matter. It should be installed by the dealer, not by the owner.
gadaoman that might be the case on the Canadian version. On the American version all SX Optimas come with it.
I have a 2015 Optima sxl and I must say, very little cars can compare to it. I always get asked what kind of car is it. Thinking of trading for the 19 version.
The 2019 looks like a very nice facelift for the Optima. I took a look at one briefly when they first landed at dealers, hoping to get into one to do an updated episode.
We'll see in 5 to 10 yrs where both vehicle stands.
That's certainly true. There's no doubt that the Camry has the potential for better residual value down the road, but Kia has improved their products significantly over the past several years as well.
One with warranty still left and the other without...
@@MS-ie1gs you don't need the warranty if the car(Kia) is already in the yunk yard..
@@tatoo99999 why? 2011 Optimas are everywhere. You are embarrassing yourself with lack of knowledge
@@pkoya341 just a few..and Every day les and less..toyotas are there forever. Look at the residual value ,maybe you can get a better reference. This is my everyday business, car salesman. I have better data than you
The Kia is a nice car. Ive heard a lot about people having problems with their GDI engines at low mileage.
Overall, I'd get the Camry just because I love the smoothness of the V6 and overall superior reliability.
That's certainly a valid point, it's something that Kia/Hyundai will need to continue to work on as their engines have certainly been hit or miss over the years.
Brian Lawrance Yup you’re right I drive a 2016 Kia Optima sx and at 11,000 miles my engine had to be replaced. So now I’m going through a lemon law suit love the looks of the Optima but over all it’s a crappy car
alfredo damian- Your warranty does not cover it?
Angel Figueroa Yeah it covered it but now my car turns off while driving. And it’s a brand new motor. And again it’s at the shop.
alfredo damian- Hopefully everyhting comes out alright, good thing it was covered, if they make you pay for anything then you can sue them.
Another fantastic showdown episode!
Glad you liked it, thanks!
I would take the Camry exterior with the Kia interior design.
Agree!!!
Both are good cars but in my opinion I prefer the Kia cuz of the simple interior design
It's the first time anyone can say a Toyota Camry's interior isn't simple.
Nice video as always. In the last few years I see more and more optimas in the street, they indeed offer nice features for their price.
Thanks! We're seeing a lot of them around too, especially these newer models. People are definitely buying them!
Why are the foot pedals all black and rubber?? Mine is a 2016 and the pedals are much more premium. Aluminum /metal with little rubber circle bumps lining it.
On which one, the Optima? Perhaps it was a dealer installed option? Also it's possible the trims are different in your country, we've found a lot recently that the models sold here in Canada are just a little different than those down in the US, but also significantly different than Europe.
Perpetual Radio Networks Yes, the Optima. Very true, it's probably just the difference in trims. Thank you.
He has the Coop772 intro song!
Not sure what that is, but if it's the same music than that person/channel is also using the free-to-use music included with the TH-cam Creator Dashboard. I've heard my exit music before on other channels.
The Lexus has a V6 non-turbo back in the 1990s. My Lexus ES300 has a 3L V6, but the power output is much less than the 3L that's out now.
Those older Lexus models are some of the most reliable ones you can buy, but you're right power on them was pretty low by today's standards.
camry is the clear winner here, but just checked out 2019 optima, that one is hot!
The slight facelift for the 2019 Optima will definitely help to push some sales. We had a chance to see a SX Turbo a few weeks back still wrapped from delivery.
I loved my 2018 Camry. I regret trading it away :(
What made you trade a 2018 model?
What you traded it in for?
@@blasianpancakesthethird9581 2014 LS 460 F Sport.
@@crxracer805 That's a good car,I'm confused why you regret trading it... especially since I heard the Camry and the Ls was similar in ways.
I have my 2018 se camry 13k miles on it already. It's the 2.5 though but I still love it and drives smooth no problems
The Camry holds back on some features because of the full size avalon.
That definitely makes sense, GM has also done this with the vehicles we've featured from them for 2018.
Not now
need to compare the kia and the accord im stuck between the two
There's no competition there, the Kia is the better car in our opinion, but it depends on what you're looking for. The fully loaded Optima SXL Turbo we featured has more features over the Accord, and if you go for the 2.0L Honda engine the Kia is only a tad slower. The Accord feels more sporty though. But out of the 4 mid-size sedans we've featured this year, the Kia is #1, followed by the Accord, Camry, and then Passat.
Buy accord... Japan is best
PRN_TestDrive I would agree especially with the KIA vrs. Accord. The KIA ride is smoother & quieter ...due to KIA's sound-proofing tech!
Does the 2019 Kia also have the multiple back camera views
I believe it has 2 views.
Love the smooth yet powerful V6 in the XSE, and it takes turns confidently, add best in class resale value and I will take the Camry everyday over the Kia.
Resale value is certainly one of the main reasons why so many people buy Toyotas.
@@PRNTestDrive so if that's the case , why didn't you take it in consideration in your comparison?? obviously that is a huge kudo to the camry and this point is more important than some features that made you choose the kia as the winner. They are priced the same, so how did the Kia win?? Camry is a much better value.
Still cheaped won't last as long as toyota
Test drove the Camry this past weekend. If it had Android Auto, I'd buy one this week no question.
Sadly it doesn't seem like Toyota has any interest in adding it, so I'll likely be going with an Accord, Optima, or another car with Android Auto.
I'm not sure why Toyota and BMW are the two who don't want to support Android Auto. I know when both AA and CarPlay were announced a lot of people speculated manufacturers would be stuck picking one over the other, but everyone else offers both. No clue why they wont.
Perpetual Radio Networks the salesman I spoke to today said I'm one of the first Android users to ever really try all the options the Camry has with my phone before buying it (still haven't decided or bought anything yet). Really the only thing holding me back is the navigation. If Google maps showed up on the screen when I activate it on my phone, I'd be sold
Same here with me, if the camry would have GPS and android auto i'd buy it right now, i am looking the accord and i've found great deals on certified 16,17 SXL optimas for around 22 to 25 k dls with low low miles 10k to 16 k miles
I guess this is a "Thing" now, customers buying cars based on their phones.. Wow.. Guess it's easier to choose a car than switch phone loyalty.. Lol
You can always get a aftermarket one at Best Buy or something.
Got the 2017 kia optima ex hybrid love it.... Adding mods any ideas?
Glad to hear it! Not sure what kind of mods are available for this unfortunately.
That'll drop its value
K 900 and Cadenza have a HUD display.
As well as the Stinger!
If its bells and whistles your looking for go the kia.
If its quality and resale value your looking for the japanese made camry!
There's no arguing there. Historically Camry's have always been reliable and they hold their value really well compared to the rest of the segment.
@@PRNTestDrive only because it's given to them. Blind Americans. Toyota had mess ups the last 2 years and they are still put on top. Well, they have the money to do it.
Just saw this review lol ended up buying a 2018 kia optima sx turbo and I love the car. It's very comfortable and I love the interior. Also it has amazing acceleration for a 4 banger and wont empty the gas tank. I get sucked back into the seat at times when passing folks on the interstate when the turbo boost kicks in. Lol. Also the sunroof is super cool. I have a toyota and its a good car the Kia is just more fun to drive imo. Great vid tho pretty spot on.
Glad you found our video, and enjoy your Optima!
I really love the Optima. Have a 2012. I only have one complaint. Kia HAS to figure out their cup holders! They need to add the spring loaded grips. My damn coffee juggles around and is easier to spill. Come on Kia! Lol
Small complaint at least, but I know what you mean! We've driven a number of cars recently with awful cup holders, either they're too shallow and the cups feel like they'll tip over, or like you mentioned there's nothing to grab them and they'll definitely fall out.
I'm in the market myself for either the kia Optima, or the camry. Leading towards the Camry do to years of reliability, but the kia Optima are so nice!!!! With basically the same features, at $10k less then the camry. I'm looking at spending around $20k cash on a leftover 2019 or 20. Decisions, decisions!!!!🤔💨💨💨💨💨💨
Kia has upped their reliability significantly over the past little while. The Optima is a really good car, plenty of feature and tech for a competitive price. The next generation looks even better!
I guess the Kia Cadenza is more of an Avalon competitor but it starts around $35,000us and offers a similar V6. I guess it’s class it’s technically a full size sedan though.
I believe both the Avalon and Cadenza are considered mid-size vehicles though both at the larger end of the scale. We’ve been asking to do an episode on the Cadenza but so few exist in Canada it’s next to impossible.
I’ve always been a big Toyota guy... reliable, holds its value and don’t get stolen like Honda’s but I’ve now owned 3 Kia’s including my current 2018 Optima S and I have to say I really think they are a better looking version of those early Toyota’s...the reliability is there, the design is very good and value is outstanding while I think Toyota has fallen off a little (I will say I like the sportier look of the new Camry...they’ve been pretty boring before!) in terms of quality and their warranty is just average while value/price isn’t what it used to be. Bottom line, I love my new Kia but I don’t think you can go wrong with either
Have you looked at the camry option list? And how it has AWD
Thanks for sharing!
I would go with Toyota all the way,the inside design of Toyota is beautiful and out of the box. Not impressed with Kia at all, it seems like an old model in and out, however I drove recently a Kia Forte 18 and it was very impressive how smooth and fun to drive is. It is possible that in reality to have a different impact compared with this video. Toyota is an unbeatable champion for now,will see if Kia will ever reach as high.
Well yeah of course people are going to have a ‘different impact’, everyone has different taste when it comes to design, along with differing needs for a vehicle.
The Kia Cadenza also offers heads up display and works really well.
That it does! We've been meaning to feature a Cadenza, we've only spotted three on the road since moving to Quebec, but one of our local dealers has one in stock. We sat in it a couple months back and couldn't believe how much rear seat legroom there is!
Perpetual Radio Networks I did test drive the Cadenza last year and it’s a great car for the money and loaded with extending thigh cushion and everything imaginable. However, I couldn’t wrap my head around buying a KIA Cadenza. The car is ranked lowest in maintaining resale value. We did buy a Sorento SXL and love it. I’d looked at everything from Mercedes, BMW, on down and then drove the Sorento. The infotainment, overall reliability, and build quality is near luxury. Plus it does offer CarPlay and Android support. For the money I suspended my ego.
My mom has a 2015 Kia Optima LX And Has 130,400 miles and she enjoys it but, she is looking for something new. She might get the new optima. Or The Kia Sorento
Both are pretty solid choices, we've featured both on this show so far.
Kind of sad you guys didn't show the curb weight of each vehicle.
We can't include everything, and we watch enough auto content on TH-cam to know only the huge productions like MotorTrend include that kind of information.
I have a 2011 kia optima in mint condish...and I'm gonna get it painted in Ceramic Gray...instead of buying another one...
Glad to hear it! There's nothing wrong with holding onto something that works. We're big supporters of this!
@PRN_TestDrive how do you feel the Kia Optima sx compares to the Honda Accord Touring 2.0T in terms of suspension and handling, and then compared to the Stinger 2.0 (vs both Optima SX and Accord 2.0) Keep up the reviews - enjoyed your recent Kia Stinger videos.
We haven't had a chance to drive the 2.0T Accord, but I've seen it in action and the performance is next-level. I've heard that Honda has had some problems with the rear suspensions on the new Accords, so that might be something to be aware of. The 2019 Optima's facelift is really nice, for the same price as the base Stinger you can get a fully loaded SXL with all the tech, definitely worth it. The Stinger has a sportier feel over both of them, but the ride is a little more harsh since it's designed as a sport sedan.
an infotainment swap from hyundai to toyota should be nice :D
That would certainly be ideal, so far the Kia infotainment system is really great. Easily our favourite that we've featured so far.
The Toyota infotainment is really good an use to use
Optima has 630 watt 10 speaker sytem with Clari-Fi restoration software. It sounds pretty good in there.
We really liked the sound system on the Optima.
Optima's Harman Kardon speakers sound awesome! Harman Kardon usually only found in luxury cars!
Are the engine's still seizing up on people in the Kia?
We've done some recent long-term testing with Kia vehicles and never had any problems.
i go for the Kia all the way. from better infotainment to better seat cushion to better features to aggressive design language on Kia. i just had to put whole dibs for the optima. good job kia and great review!!
Lots of support for the Optima! Thanks!
Wait... don't you own a Camry lol
@@ThatCarGuy2 yeah this comment was before I got the camry. looked deeper into the optima and found a lot of reliability issues with the power train so I went for camry and i dont regret a thing 😎 . going strong at 87K miles!
Oh
I was researching these two options for a future purchase, this video helps a lot, thanks man
Glad to hear it! The Optima received a facelift for 2019, I believe the Camry got an Infotainment upgrade for 2019 also.
Yes, I do NEED 300 HP in a Camry. LOL. OK, maybe not but I still want it. I love My 2009 Camry XLE.
That’s certainly true! A want for sure. We’re hoping to get a chance to drive this one at more length.
Ahmad Ghosheh I own a Kia Optima and I love it!!! It’s like a Lexus
Ahmad Ghosheh my 2009 XLE is crap. It had all sorts of issues with only 81k on it. The door locks, steering, alternator, tire sensors, O2 sensors and battery terminals are just a few to name.
The XSE is made in the same factory in Kentucky as the Lexus LS350. FKS engine in the Camry is the exact same engine as the LS350. You're basically getting a LS350 -the AWD at 10k less.
So I have (had? Idk it was stolen a few days ago) a 2013 optima SXL. I test drove a 2019 SX and it’s a great car. However, I want another SXL because there are features I want to keep that the SX doesn’t offer. Where did you get a 2018 SXL? In the US I haven’t been able to find any at all only a 2017 SXL
In Canada we often get different trims than the US does, the Korean brands specifically do this. Unfortunately you may not be able to find a US-spec vehicle with that trim as they might have changed things down there.
I'll keep my 2018 Kia Stinger thank you.
The Stinger is a truly fantastic car, we’ve featured it a number of times since filming this episode. Enjoy yours!
@@PRNTestDrive yes I'm very, very happy. Thanks
Love the XSE. The 3.5 L V6 is silky smooth and powerful. Camry is hands down the winner.
Can't go wrong with it!
Actually, navigation is available on the fully loaded Camry if you get the top end head unit.
That’s true it is, and we mention that in our Spotlight on the Camry. I’m sure we mention it on the Showdown though.
Excellent and appropriate comparison. I have a 2018 Optima LX+ and while it's lacking many of the features with both of these trim levels, it's a sweet car too drive and I love it lol. Never thought I'd buy a KIA until I drove this and I've always thought of it as KIA's "3 Series". The Camry has a busier look and layout but it's a great looking car and that V6 is sweet as is the 8 speed. I'd love that option in the KIA and HUD as well. Combine the best of both of these quality machines and you'd have a killer. Both great choices regardless.
We think so! Hard to go wrong with either one, and we’ve heard that good improvements have been made to both vehicles for 2019!
This is obviously before the Kia's fire tests
right
All of these mid sized sedans will do the job nicely imo. For me it comes down to the deal I can negotiate to get the equipment I want.
Fair enough!
@@PRNTestDrive Thx for the review! I had never even considered Kia before but got a great deal on a 2019 Opitma SXL! Its competition is nice too but I am more price oriented and my Kia dealer was much more willing to deal. My last 3 were MKZ, Avalon Ltd and MB E350 (BMW7's and Audi 8's before I retired!) and this Optima compares favorably for me in many respects (especially price/value). The included features that have recently been filtering down to these new Kia and similar sedans has created less need for me to want to shop more "premium" lines.
I have a 2012 optima sx and i get horrible gas mileage. 16 to 18 average with moderate driving. I think i will sell it and buy a Camry. I don’t even use the cooled and heated seat option anyway.
Strange that your fuel economy isn't good on it. We've requested the 2019 Optima (facelift) to feature later this year, we're hoping to get it to do more accurate fuel testing like we implemented at the end of 2018.
how is the fuel economy in optima ? I want to consider it but I heard its not as good as most of the sedans
I don't believe we had developed our fuel economy testing at this point unfortunately.
Nissan still puts a V6 in the Altima
Do they? We did check Nissan's website before putting these videos together, in Canada only an inline 4 is available across the 3 trims sold here.
Perpetual Radio Networks oh gosh. I'm srry. I'm in North America. We still have the V6 option. But word is Nissan plans on giving the 2019 Altima AWD..😱
Very nice! We've heard from other viewers outside North America, specifically in Europe where engine options are plentiful in comparison to here. We're hearing a lot of AWD rumours from a lot of manufacturers now, so far the first we're getting our hands on is the 2018 Ford Fusion Sport AWD in a few weeks. We're also taking a look at the Dodge Challenger AWD on Monday. There's definitely a big shift towards all-wheel drive!
Not anymore with their recent reveal. But yes it will get awd lol
No more v6 Altima just 4 cylinder turbo for 2019. CVT engines are boring.
The camry's interior is horrible
We're not huge fans of it. Exterior is nice, but interior just doesn't flow for us.
Yeah.. Like it was designed for a 15 yr old.
@@pantherdagger3460 childish design like a toy
New Optima has 7-speed DCT available with auto leveling headlights and Android auto Apple Car Play.
We're hoping to get our hands on the 2019 Optima, we had a chance to look at once a couple months back briefly, but they haven't added them to the press fleet yet.
Camry dash looks very cheap, looks like a 90's Pontiac, for the same price of that V6 Camry, you can get the Kia Cadenza with the 3.3 V6 .
I just wish Kia Canada would sell the Cadenza here. They basically killed it for the 2018 model year.
@@PRNTestDrive we have the Cadenza in Canada www.kia.ca/cadenza ,But it's pricier than the previous generation.
They have them on the website, yes, but find me a dealer with a 2019. I found one in Vancouver and another in Toronto. They barely sold off the 2017 models they had lingering in dealerships last year.
I buy optima sxl ❤️❤️❤️
Congrats!
2:27 Toyota Camry does NOT have heated steering. It makes no sense...
That was a mistake on our end. Not sure why Toyota hasn't added it for 2019, I'll have to check if the Avalon has it.
Only those ppl take camry who have fear of losing resale value. Because money is everything for them. Otherwise any sensible person will buy kia for its beautiful shape and better performance in every aspect.
Very true! The Camry has historically held it's value pretty well, this new generation might be the only exception, but so far we're seeing more of the 2018 Camrys on the road than we do 2018 Accords. The Kia definitely has a lot going for it, and gets even better for the 2019 model year.
I don't think there is as significant drop in resell value as some are contenting ...and that will change as KIA continues to win the respect of more & more people!
My choice would be the Camry since i have one.
Fair enough!
Love the Optima though, great car as well.
Amazing showdown episode you’re doing a great job mate i love your show
Glad you like what we’re producing, thanks! We’re hoping to film some more Showdown episodes before the end of the year. We’ve got some great consumer vehicles lined up.
Camry rims are really beautifull
And the interior is way more pretty than optima tho optima looks more luxuries but it feels me like it's a copy of BMW but it's not complete copy
I mean it always reminds me of BMW but it's not as luxury as them
It feels like I'm watching a cheap version of Bmw
But Camry dashboard and console is more unique .
But kias saat cooler ,H/k audio system navigation and android auto are things that make me still go for optima
We noted too that the interior design of the Optima feels a little like BMW's design language. If you're going to copy, copy from the best, right! It's true that the Camry's interior is very unique, a radical change from Toyota's historical approach to vehicle design.
@@PRNTestDrive yeah ur right but it feels better to sit in a car that has it own design.what about suspension wich one was softer?
Thinking back I'd say they were both pretty similar to be honest. I believe the Camry has an actual sport suspension though, so if you're looking for a softer ride the Kia might be the one.
@@PRNTestDrive so Kia is going to be ma choice but it's suspension is not still is good as Sonata LF
Both exteriors are nice for different reasons, but the interior of the XSE Camry is hideous. The interior of the XLE Camry is pretty decent but still isn’t as nice as the SX Optima’s interior.
Toyota went a little funky with the sport trim, but at least they offer an alternative. We’ve been surprised by how many XSEs we’ve seen on the road so far, seems to be a popular option for people here.
i love camey but at the end i bought passat I had once Kia but i didnt like it
The Passat seems to be an incredibly popular mid-size car.
Dose the Optimas come with smoke derectors.
ha. ha. ha.........
The Camry is hideous inside and out. Optima is a beauty.
The Camry might not be everyone's cup of tea, which is huge shift in Toyota's design language.
Are the dual exhaust just for show?
Both work, the Camry was backed into a snow bank before we got to the dealership but it cleared out it's driver side exhaust after we drove it around the corner.
No it adds some horse power on the car. Especially the 4 cylinder.
camry v6 all the way!
Always good to see support for the Camry, it’s a solid car.