Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
20 City / 27 HWY
Horsepower
170
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Ricky M
Dependability and cost of driving. It gets 29. 9 mpg with the 2. 7l v6.
My Kia Optima is by far the best most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. The ride quality is excellent and road noise minimum. It currently has 278, 000 miles and I have done nothing more than oil changes and normal maintenance. When I buy my next car it will be another Kia Optima.
accountCircle Sparrow F
This is a solid little car.
I do not know a whole lot about cars, but I can tell you that my pre-owned 2005 Kia optima with about 150, 000 miles on her has been a solid and reliable car for me. She recently took me on quite a few miles of unintentional light off-roading adventures and handled that like a champ. Has a CD player, which is my preferred mode of music-listening, and a capacious trunk to satisfy all your road trip needs.
accountCircle Arlene V
My car is reliable and can get me anywhere on the map.
What I like about my vehicle is that I can travel for more than 50 miles and it will get me there and not break down.
accountCircle Tammy T
One of the best cars I have ever owned.
I love my Kia it is full loaded with a 6 disc CD changer. I have leather seats a sunroof and many for options. I do believe there was nothing else that they could have added to this vehicle. It is truly one of the best cars that I have owned. I would recommend this car to any one that is looking for something good and reliable and good on gas.
accountCircle Ashley C
05 Kia optima is a great car
This car is good for driving long distances and travelling. It is also good on gas. I only have to fill up twice a week if I drive it all week. It has comfortable seats and a lot of room. The performance of the vehicle is good and reliable. Only had a problem with the air getting clogged but got it fixed and hasn't clogged since.
accountCircle Cory P
It is a great runner and great on gas
Although my vehicle is old it runs very smooth. I have had minimal problems with the car in the 2 years I have owned it
accountCircle Barbara G
Cool dependable comfy ride.
Great car that has been dependable and reliable. Haven't had hardly any issues with it and the few it is had gave been minor and easy on the pocketbook. It offers a comfortable ride and has excellent air conditioning which is a must down here in the deep south.
accountCircle Stephanie A
Size is perfect for self comfort levels as well as practicality
I like the Kia Optima because it is small enough for me to handle for day to day necessities, and large enough for when I need to do more involving special activities like events.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kraye
Would not be my first car choice
Everybody's saying how it's good on gas, well I disagree, at least mine isn't. Headlight bulbs need to be replaced way more than they should be, and they're not cheap. It sucks in any kind of wet weather condition. It's got absolutely no get up after being stopped, sometimes it doesn't even want to drive again after stopping.
accountCircle Lisa S
Awesome review of 2005 Kia optima.
Very reliable, very little features. Good running car for long trips and long drives. Good gas mileage. Easy to fix and cheap on parts. Make sure you buy a 4 cyl as the 6 cyl will be hard on gas. Very comfortable and good for long car rides and sleeping. Can fit a family of 5.
accountCircle Joann L
Safety expense money gas mileage color sunroof.
What I do not like is it needs new tires and has a cracked cv axle, which I didn't know about when I bought the car. Both of these things I cannot afFord at this time.
accountCircle Beth B
It is red and tan because we had to replace the front when I wrecked it.
It has been in two wrecks. There is a problem with the doors opening. You have to open the passenger door my unlocking the car then turning the key in the door and opening as you turn it. The ac is broken and the windshield needs replacing.
accountCircle Ashton C
Very average to say the least
I Believe the Kia Optima has sub par seats that make it uncomfortable to sit in and is not interesting to drive as opposed to other vehicles of its class. Additionally it is very hard to fit even four people in the car without it feeling cramped or as if there should be more room in the car.
accountCircle Jean H
It's reliable, looks nice, quiet. Good acceleration.
It looks nice. Good gas mileage. Compact size. Nice shape.
accountCircle Claudette C
Others should know that it's fast and very dependable.
I like that my car is comfortable. It is also stylish. I also like that it has good acceleration.
accountCircle Terri A
It needs a tune up. It also needs a new windshield.
I like that my car is reliable. I don't like how cheap it is and how often things go wrong. I like that the mileage is low.

Kia Optima Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX
170 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
car
EX
170 HP 24-24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Kia Optima Owner Reviews

4.03
31 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 35%
4 stars 35%
3 stars 26%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Lisa S on March 28, 2021
Awesome review of 2005 Kia optima.
Very reliable, very little features. Good running car for long trips and long drives. Good gas mileage. Easy to fix and cheap on parts. Make sure you buy a 4 cyl as the 6 cyl will be hard on gas. Very comfortable and good for long car rides and sleeping. Can fit a family of 5.
accountCircle Jennifer H on March 26, 2021
Kia Optima, nice family car.
My Kia is safe, reliable and fun to drive. It has power windows, locks and seats. The sunroof is a really nice feature. The factory radio has very nice sound quality. There are two cup holders in the front and an armrest with cup holders in the back. The back seat has plenty of space, which accommodates my son's car seat quite nicely.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Bobbie S.

It is a dependable vehicle. Does well in the snow & good gas mileage. An overall good family car. It has dual airbags. People in both the front & the back seats would be comfortable with the way both heat & cool circulate through the car. The car is low maintenance. As long as you do the regular maintenance, the car will run forever. With this being a family car with many safety features, the insurance cost is low.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Bobbie S.

I prefer an SUV to a car. I sit way too low in the car. This makes difficult to see. It also has tinted windows, which I do not like at all. I will not have them in another car. There is no sunroof in the vehicle, that will be a must in my next vehicle.

Ranks #7 Midsize Cars by Owners

The 2005 Kia Optima has an average owner rating of 4.03 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 14 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
4.37
2
car
4.32
7
car
4.03

Ranks #8 Midsize Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Kia Optima has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #8 of 15 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
34 MPG
2
car
34 MPG
8
Tie
car
27 MPG

Is The 2005 Kia Optima A Good Car?

It is an excellent vehicle that offers a ton of great features at an affordable price. It gets good gas mileage, is smooth to drive, it has a high safety rating, and it does not require specialty... Read More
Whitney B.
The 2005 Kia Optima is overall a good vehicle. It has a nice 'get up n go' and drives quite smoothly. As long as the owner cares for the vehicle properly (I.e. the usual oil changes, brakes, or any... Read More
Tara M.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Kia Optima?

It is an incredibly reliable vehicle, but it has had some issues with the sensors here in the last few months. It is 10 years old so some issues are to be expected.
Whitney B.
The 2005 Kia Optima is a very reliable car. It'll definitely get you to and from your daily activities and more. It doesn't give you much in the way of problems; just remember to fill the gas tank!
A C.

Is The 2005 Kia Optima A Good Value?

Brand new it cost around $20,000, but we bought ours used for $5,000. It is an excellent value for the amount of car you get, as far as features and relatability go.
Whitney B.

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Frequently Asked Questions

2005 Kia Optima: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: There are two trims to the 2005 Kia Optima. First is the base version of 2.4 L inline 4, and takes about 4.5 quarts of the 5w-20 synthetic oil. The other variant is 2.7 L v6 and with the requirement of 5w-20...

What kind of oil does the 2005 Kia Optima use?

Answer: The kind of oil the 2005 Kia Optima uses iS5w-20. Your oil needs to be changed out someday. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles or so is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be problems with the...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety