Overview & Reviews

For 2005, the Optima wears clear turn signal lenses up front, the sunroof on the EX gains a one-touch opening feature and the optional leather seats get new stitching.

• Low price, pleasant highway ride, refined V6, lots of storage space, excellent warranty.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 66.00

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  Glad We Got It... - 2005 Kia Optima
  By MLegend - June 8 - 8:23 pm

  So far, so good. The very first week, we took it on a round trip of 500 miles and it averaged right at 30 mpg. That should increase somewhat as the engine breaks in. We feel we got a good deal on the car. The warranty and extras are what sold me as compared to what the local Toyota dealer was willing to give us. With the price of gas continuing on an upward spiral, were glad we got the 4-cylinder engine. Its got enough zip for us.

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  Best in class - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Harv - August 10 - 4:20 pm

  Very pleased with this car. Handles very well but not a sports car. comfortable and very quiet. Great warranty.

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  The Kia that kept on going... - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Satisfied Owner - March 15 - 10:03 pm

  We have owned this car for four years now, out of it we have had to take it to the shop 3 times in the last year. Thankfully the Bumper to Bumper waranty cover it. So far the struts had to be tightened, the driver side door lock regulator (I had to crawl out of the passenger side for days! LOL!) and I had to have the passenger window motor replaced because it was noisey. All of these have been minor repairs, we are finally nearing 50,000 miles and it has never let us down, stranded or anything to that affect. No one believes how fast this car can actually go, but on a trip to Georiga after we first got it, I got it up to 137 MPH and it handled very well. Better than my 98 Z28.

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  Not THAT Impressed... - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Not THAT Impressed.. - October 15 - 12:10 am

  Just bought my Kia Optima used not new. Im used to a sports car so handling is very different, seems jerky to me. Much smoother ride (shocks/suspension) than my old Camaro, but doesnt handle corners/turns well. My first impression is "where is all my gas going?" Just appears to guzzle it. There is a hitch with initial start, kinda jerks when moving from a stand still. Interior is very nice, wood grain, stereo, seating etc. My 64" bros had plenty of leg room in back seat. I still have trouble finding the turn signal, seems too high on steering column. :) Overall its a nice car, just a big transition for me coming from a sports car to a 4 door sedan.

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  Dont get hit! - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Brad Zimmerman - September 14 - 1:30 pm

  Overall, car was good looking and fun to drive. Lots of pick up for a 4 cylinder. Comfortable on long trips with ok mileage (29 hwy). 2 days after I got it, battery was dead - faulty alternator was replaced. Then, battery failed. After that, the car was trouble free. Then, I was rear ended by an SUV at about 20 miles an hour. My car was pushed into the car ahead of me. This low speed collision caused $17,000+ damage to the Optima, totaling it. My 8 month old car with 6500 miles on it was totaled with this small wreck! The body shop said repair parts for Kias are overpriced and hard to get, sometimes requiring a long wait for the parts. The car did protect me as I wasnt hurt.

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  Excellent car! - 2005 Kia Optima
  By prodigit - July 19 - 12:03 pm

  Bought it in 2012, second hand, for $3000. Cant complain. A little low on MPG though... Very luxurious, but after 50k miles starts to have lots of issues.

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  I Really Like This Car! - 2005 Kia Optima
  By Mark in Cinti - April 17 - 4:23 am

  Ive had this car for about seven months now, and Im surprised at how much I like it. It is comfortable, smooth, powerful enough, and incredibly easy to drive. I have owned and driven a good number of luxury cars, but right now, Im more pleased with my Optima than any of them. Well see how it goes over the long haul, but Im still smilin today! Definitely go with the EX V6 with leather.

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  Great Car For The Money - 2005 Kia Optima
  By ltp - March 17 - 8:10 am

  I have only owned this car for a month but can already tell Im going to like it very much. Lots of power, every bell and whistle, good handling, tight build, and a GREAT stereo (Infinity system). Even a leather interior and all for under $21K. Lots of car for the money.

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  Dependable Car - 2005 Kia Optima
  By SafetyFirst - March 8 - 5:43 am

  I purchased my 2005 Kia Optima from a friend in June 2007 and it had almost 30k miles on it. I was in school and couldnt afford to get the 30k scheduled tune-up (shame on me). I did get regular oil changes and tire rotations. Only once did the car need to go to the shop and the problem was an accelerator sensor that was covered by the warranty. I never broke down in this car during the three years/45k miles I put on it. I believe the gas mileage to be great and the car felt solid. I just recently traded it in with 72k miles on it and bought a 2009 Kia Optima with 12K. I purchased a second Kia because I was so impressed with the reliability.

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  Best car I have owned - 2005 Kia Optima
  By 4Dr EXV6 Sedan - January 15 - 4:36 pm

  I can not understand why this car is not very popular. Have driven it for a year and has never failed me. A point that motor writers do not mention is that this car drives on low octane as well as high octane gas and if required can easily be converted to LPG.