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 1 through 10 of 63.00

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  You Get What You Pay For - 2003 Kia Optima
  By James - August 17 - 2:43 pm

  We purchased this car used and we know why the original owner sold it. Although the car drives great, the car has had many electrical problems and the transmission started slipping just after we bought it. Each time we put it in the shop it takes two days to get it back. Electrical problems include headlights, remote entry, radio, and battery draining down if not driven daily. Also, we have had the emissions worked on several times. The steering growls like it is out of fluid but it isnt and the dealer cant find the problem. We like the way it drives but with all the electrical problems, would like to get rid of it. We paid way too much for it, no resale!

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  Not the best - 2003 Kia Optima
  By P.R. - October 5 - 10:00 am

  this is supposed to be a car that gets very good gas mileage, but what i have found is that there should be a law that makes the manufacturer state the real mileage that the car gets. over- all the car does have good looks on the exterior. i have found several rattles that are very annoying on the interior.

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  Lack of response - 2003 Kia Optima
  By Wanda Malinski - August 28 - 10:00 am

  New car checklist has not been completed. Kia Motors and dealership has not responded to my inquiries. Dealership made out 2 bill of sales with two different sets of figures, both which are incorrect. Minor problems have not been fixed by dealer.

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  Buy american - 2003 Kia Optima
  By thomas frye - August 26 - 7:20 pm

  Had problems with ac, tried to have door locks fixedseveral times never could find problem. In my opion Kia not much help, seems all work should be done at Kia dealers only. Will only buy American only, have owned VW, Toyota

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  Worst Nightmare - 2003 Kia Optima
  By Disappointed - August 28 - 5:53 pm

  Everyone 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.