2010 Kia Optima

2010 Kia Optima Price Range: $17,495 - $22,795

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs about the same to get the Optima to the dealership as the average sedan. The average sedan won't tax your gas budget substantially more than the Optima will. As far as gas mileage, the Optima beats the typical sedan. With respect to MSRP, the average sedan costs tremendously more than the Kia Optima.

Utility
Neither the Kia Optima nor the average sedan has a marked advantage regarding seating capacity.

Convenience
The average sedan's fuel tank will need to be replenished slightly more often than the unit in the Kia Optima.

Comfort
While the front cabin in the Kia Optima offers a bit more head room than the average sedan, there really isn't much of a difference. While the rear of the Kia Optima provides a bit more head- and leg-room than the average sedan, there honestly isn't much of a difference.

Dimensions
The Optima's tank is about the same size as the typical sedan's, though the average sedan's is a little larger. The average sedan and the Kia Optima compete for the same parking spaces.

Performance
When it comes to horsepower, the average sedan packs quite a punch and will knock the Optima down a few rungs. On the flip side, keep in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums.

Handling
With their similar turning radii, the Kia Optima and the average sedan most definitely handle almost the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The typical sedan's engine is considerably more massive than the Kia Optima's. Bear in mind that bigger engines may use more gas than smaller ones. The average sedan packs quite a punch compared to the Optima when it comes to torque, which is the force that lets you accelerate quickly. Torque is roughly equivalent to acceleration, and in this respect, the average sedan is considerably more powerful than the Kia Optima.

Warranty
The basic warranty that comes with the typical sedan isn't quite as generous as the Kia Optima's.