Shopping for a midsize sedan? You might be feeling overwhelmed by options. If you’re looking for something practical and spacious, however, the 2020 Kia Optima is a model you won’t want to overlook.
How reliable is the 2020 Kia Optima?
The 2020 Kia Optima, according to owners and expert reviewers, is extremely reliable. As of November 2020, it has no open recalls and has an overall “Quality & Reliability” score of 83/100 from J.D. Power.
- Owner Reviews: 4.63 stars
- Expert Reviews: 4.4/5
Save yourself some time and hassle researching reliability ratings for the 2020 Kia Optima by reading our summary below, which includes NHTSA reports and feedback from real owners.
More about the Kia Optima
The 2020 Kia Optima is part of this midsize sedan’s fourth generation of production, which launched for the 2016 model year. For 2020 specifically, the Optima sees some new standard features that include:
- A forward-collision mitigation system
- Pedestrian detection with emergency braking
For this model year, the Optima also drops a couple of its previous package options, including the Premium and Limited packages for the LX and SX trims.
Speaking of trims, the 2020 Optima is available in four trim configurations. The base LX is powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder engine at 185 horsepower, which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Two other engines are available on the 2020 Optima. There’s a turbocharged 1.6L engine at 178 horsepower on the EX trim and above, while the range-topping SX trim gets its own turbocharged 2.0L engine at 245 horsepower.
Whether you’re looking for a car with just the essentials or with more luxurious features, you can find an Optima trim to suit your needs. Even on the base LX trim, you’ll enjoy standard equipment like:
- Heated mirrors
- An eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Standard driver-assistance aids
- Automatic headlights
With these generous offerings plus a 4.5/5 overall reliability score from U.S. News & World Report, can you start to envision yourself behind the wheel of a 2020 Optima?
2020 Kia Optima Recalls & Complaints
Prospective 2020 Optima owners will be happy to know that as of November 2020, this model does not have any open safety recalls. However, there are still a couple of issues that have been reported by owners of this model.
Faulty Transmission
Source: VehicleHistory.com Review
In a VehicleHistory review from October of 2020, Amber B. reports that while the car seems reliable now, its initial performance was not great. Specifically, she writes that the car was sold to her with a faulty transmission.
Since the transmission was replaced, however, she claims that her driving experience has improved. And considering Kia offers a 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, we assume this was a covered repair.
Brake Issues
Source: NHTSA Complaints
There have also been a couple of formal reports filed with the NHTSA regarding the 2020 Optima’s automatic braking system, which is a standard part of the safety/driver-assistance suite on all trims.
In one report (complaint ID: 11353811) filed in September of 2020, the owner of a 2020 Optima reports that the car’s braking system is not reliable, but the exact nature of the problem is not clear.
In another NHTSA report (complaint ID: 11337484) from July of 2020, another owner claims that the forward-collision warning system does not engage when there is an obstruction in front of the vehicle.
This owner alleges that he or she has changed the sensitivity of the system to its lowest threshold but that this still has not made a difference. It is unclear whether the vehicle has been inspected at a dealership.
Save Time Researching Your Next Vehicle
With no recalls (as of November 2020), very few owner complaints, and excellent reliability ratings from sources like U.S. News & World Report and J.D. Power, there’s a lot to love about the 2020 Optima.
Still, before you finalize your next vehicle purchase, be sure to check its Vehicle History report. You’re just a few clicks away from detailed specs, expert reviews, and other useful data from trusted industry authorities.
