Overview & Reviews
The Optima gets several revisions for its third year on the market. Most obvious is its new front-end styling, which replaces the Optima's reserved countenance with a more upscale European look -- double light clusters call to mind the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Other changes include new wheel designs, and inside, a new center stack, new door panels and fresh seat fabric. A manual transmission will no longer be available on the four-cylinder SE model; all automatic four-cylinder models will offer Sportmatic manual-shift capability. The LX model now comes with cruise control and a CD player (at the expense of the cassette deck). The SE will include automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Homelink and Infinity speakers; a wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel is now part of the Leather Package. Lastly, engine horsepower ratings have been lowered following parent-company Hyundai's announcement that it had misstated outputs (the Optima is a corporate twin of the Sonata), but the engines themselves are unchanged.
- Excellent warranty, pleasant highway ride, lots of bang for your family sedan buck.
User Reviews:
Showing 51 through 60 of 63.00-
Worst Nightmare - 2003 Kia Optima
By Disappointed - August 28 - 5:53 pmEveryone says foreign cars are better. I would say to them dont include kia in the mix. Brand new alternator twice in 14 months, had to replace just about everything on it so far and have only 76,000 miles on it. Sound system is horrible it skips like a cd player and the cd player hasnt worked since the first week i bought it. Alarm hasnt worked for 2 years it goes off whenever it wants to when its set. And the parts are so expensive its stupid! I would NEVER recommend a Kia to anyone stick to toyota or honda.
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This Kia Will Turn Heads! - 2003 Kia Optima
By optimumclass - August 11 - 2:00 amI bought the Optima two months ago, and absolutely love it! Previously I owned a Mercedes-Benz 300SD, and the Optima turns just as many heads, and is very fun to drive!
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WE LIKE IT ALOT - 2003 Kia Optima
By CLAY - July 30 - 10:00 amWEVE OWNED ACCORDS AND CAMERYS AND THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THEM. THE RIDE IS BETTER, THE TRANSMISSION ISNT AS GOOD, THE STYLE IS MUCH BETTER AND THE WARRANTY BUMPER TO BUMPER PUTS THE OTHERS TO SHAME. 5YRS. TO SAVE $8,000 DOLLARS OVER THE ACCORD AND CAMERY AND GET A COMPARABLE CAR IS GREAT.
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If I could only have a do over... - 2003 Kia Optima
By mamanichole - May 8 - 10:05 amI bought my KIA with only 3,000 miles on it in late 2004. It was great until I ran out of warranty time, once that happened the car started falling apart. The timing belt went at less than 70,000 miles causing me to replace the whole engine (in 2010). For the past 2 years the car has decided to cut down when I am driving. It spent 3 months in a KIA Dealership repair shop and they still do not know what is wrong with it. How can a KIA Repair shop not know how to fix its own cars? They now say I need to spend another $1200 just to see "If that is the real problem." I loved my car during the first 5 years, but I wish I could go back and traded it at 4 years.
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Great Used 2003 Optima - 2003 Kia Optima
By Ace Shot - April 9 - 8:36 amBought this car with 26,000 miles and 11 months left on the factory 5 year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty! It had only minor issues (power window switch and power locks) and the dealer made the repairs for free, under warranty. Fun to drive it with its "sportmatic" transmission. I like putting it in manual shift mode from time to time to pass slower cars, or to perform better on hills. I used to think it was a gas guzzler, until I changed my driving habits: If I dont stomp on the gas in the city, and on the highway I speed up slowly and drive 80 mph or less, I get very good gas mileage. Performs very well and looks very nice. I got a lot of bang for my buck with this car.
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Optima satisfies - 2003 Kia Optima
By wayneroe - December 29 - 10:00 amIve owned a Cadillac Sedan dElegance and a Lincoln Town Car adn a Chrysler Minivan. This car rides and drives as good as any of them and the quality is better than the Town Car and far superior to the minivan (if it should have a problem I fully expect KIA to fix it - Ford refused to fix problems with my Town Car). I love my Optima.
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Good car, could be improved - 2003 Kia Optima
By Bob A - November 20 - 1:46 amI didnt like the horn, the mushy suspension, the fuel economy, and it could have had more power. V-6 is average and the 4 cylinder is inadequate. I also think it tries to be good at being both a luxurious car, and a sporty car, and ends up not being good at either. Buyers should get a choice which car they want. Dealer support is horrible. I took my car back at 12k, with a squealing belt and got a song and dance about the belt being a "wear & tear" part. I thought at 12k, there shouldnt be any wear, and bumper to bumper should include the belts. For a $10 belt, that dealer lost a customer.
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Efficient, Zippy with a few Quirks - 2003 Kia Optima
By Cathy - November 6 - 7:10 pmOverall a great car. Fuel efficient, outstanding pickup, comfortable, love the Speedtronic shift to manual on steep roads, nice sound system. Downside: paint around exterior mirrors vanished after 3 years, had to get them repainted. There are also a few electrical quirks. Radio sometimes goes on/off over bumps, The radio antenna wouldnt retract when shutting off car, instead it would go up/down in a confused fashion until I started the car and turned off radio first. Mysteriously resolved itself. Had problem with passenger interior door lock misaligning and trapping passenger inside-got it fixed 3 times, but was warranteed No mechanical problems in 4 yrs, just new battery & tires.
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great for the money - 2003 Kia Optima
By joesue - August 28 - 2:00 amcar came with problems but the dealer fixed then without questions and quickly
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Great Ride - 2003 Kia Optima
By bozpop - August 9 - 8:53 pmAt 190000 miles has been a great reliable car. Standard maintenance and very regular oil changes. Today will buy 4th set of tires. Get 25-26 MPG mainly freeway driving.
