Price
Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata has a starting price that is just below the price of the 2019 Kia Optima. The base price for the Sonata SE is $22,300, while the Optima LX starts at $22,900. They both cost the same in their highest trim; the Sonata Limited 2.0T is $31,900, as is the Optima SX.
Compared to other models in the midsize sedan class, the Sonata is at the lower end of the price spectrum. The Optima has a starting price that is closer to the segment average.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
Since the two midsize sedans use the same powertrains, you might expect their mileage to be identical. However, the 2019 Hyundai Sonata beats the fuel economy of the 2019 Kia Optima with every available engine.
With the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Sonata earns EPA-estimated mileage of 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Base Optima models with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder are EPA-rated at 25 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway. The most powerful Sonata is more fuel-efficient than the most powerful Optima – 23/32 mpg city/highway vs. 21/30.
The most efficient versions of both cars come with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Again, the Optima notches a small victory – 28/37 mpg city/highway vs. 27/37.
If you're looking for even better mileage, you might consider the Sonata Hybrid or Optima Hybrid. They both receive EPA mileage estimates of 39 mpg in the city and the mid-40s on the highway. There are also plug-in hybrid versions of both models.
You can beat the fuel economy of both models if you choose the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2019 Kia Optima
The Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata seat five adults comfortably. The front seats of both are roomy and supportive enough for long drives. The sedans even have plenty of legroom for adults in the back seat, though the roofline of the Sonata can cut into the headroom for taller adults. For that reason, the Optima gets the win here.
Interior Materials and Quality
Winner: Tie
The interiors of both sedans feature high-quality interiors with pleasant, if not exciting, designs. While the interiors of the cars have improved considerably from past generations, so have their competitors’ cabins. Lower trims are a bit more plain, while upper trims are downright luxurious.
Durable cloth seats come standard, with leather optional. Midrange models add heated front seats, and top trims include front seats that are both heated and ventilated. A panoramic sunroof is available on the Optima.
Features and Options
Winner: 2019 Kia Optima
The Optima has a few more standard features than the Sonata and only costs $500 more in its base trim ($22,900 vs. 22,300). Features that are standard in the Optima and not in the Sonata include a power driver’s seat, heated side mirrors, and lane keep assist. The Optima also has an 8-inch touch screen. The Sonata’s is 7 inches.
Additionally, the base Optima is available with more optional features. You have to jump up to the $23,950 Sonata SEL before you can order options.
Both earn plaudits for their user-friendly infotainment systems.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata beats the 2019 Kia Optima’s cargo space, but not by much. The Sonata can carry 16.3 cubic feet of cargo in its trunk. Cargo room in the trunk of the Optima is 15.9 cubic feet. The difference is smaller than the size of a grocery bag.
Both sedans come standard with 60/40-split back seats that fold down, opening a passage into the cabin for longer objects. Both are available with a hands-free trunk lid that can detect the key in your pocket and open automatically.
Reliability
Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
At this time, J.D. Power predicted reliability data has not yet been released for the 2019 Sonata or the 2019 Optima.
However, the 2019 Optima is mechanically similar to the 2018 Optima, which scored a three out of five on J.D. Power’s predicted reliability scale. That’s average for the class.
The 2019 Sonata is almost identical to the 2018 Sonata, which scored 3.5 out of five. That’s slightly above average and gives the Sonata the win.
Hyundai and Kia protect your wallet with two of the best warranties in the industry. Every model comes with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Acceleration
Winner: Tie
The two sedans feature the same powertrain combinations and they are roughly the same weight, so neither car runs circles around the other. In our rankings of midsize cars, the Kia and Hyundai sedans are rated midpack for their performance. The base engines have sufficient power around town. A 245-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine is the most powerful option in both models.
Ride Quality and Handling
Winner: Tie
Both sedans provide smooth, predictable handling over less-than-perfect surfaces, but they lack the corner-carving prowess of rivals like the Mazda6.
The Optima and Sonata feature electronic drive mode selectors that allow drivers to match throttle response and other performance parameters to their style of driving and road conditions.
Safety
Winner: 2019 Kia Optima
The Optima wins this contest because it has slightly better safety ratings and features than the Sonata. The Optima has a slightly higher crash test score in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) rollover test, car seats are easier to install in the back of the Optima (according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)), and the Optima comes standard with more safety features. (Both the Sonata and Optima come standard with blind spot monitoring, but the Optima also has lane keep assist.)
The Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata each aced the IIHS’ safety testing, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest rating possible.
The 2019 Optima has already been tested by both the IIHS and the NHTSA. The 2019 Sonata has not. We used the 2018 Sonata’s scores for comparison, since the 2018 and 2019 models are almost identical.
The Winner Is …
2019 Hyundai Sonata
The 2019 Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata are both strong contenders in the fiercely competitive midsize car segment. Though Kia refreshed the Optima for 2019, the Sonata’s lower price, larger trunk, and superior fuel economy and reliability move it just ahead of the Optima in our rankings of midsize cars and into a win in this head-to-head comparison.
The 2019 Optima has more standard features, including more standard safety features. It also has distinctive styling that you may – or may not – prefer to the Sonata’s more understated look. Still, for all-around competence, you can’t beat the Sonata.
Unless, of course, you look at the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, both of which rank higher than the Sonata. The Mazda6 and Ford Fusion are also top-ranked options. All four are more fun to drive than the Sonata and Optima, and the Camry and Accord were both redesigned more recently.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
Despite a wealth of excellent models, sales of midsize sedans are lagging as consumers abandon the segment to buy crossovers and SUVs. Manufacturers, are trying to keep their sales up with generous new car deals.
You can see some of the best incentives on our financing incentives page and lease incentives page. Each month, the expert researchers and journalists of U.S. News & World Report comb through the multitude of car deals to find offers that can save you thousands of dollars.
Buyers can also save an average of more than $3,000 off MSRP by using our Best Price Program. We work with local dealers to get you guaranteed savings off the cost of a new car.
2019 Hyundai Sonata vs. 2019 Kia Optima: Head to Head
- Price - Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
- Fuel Economy - Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
- Seat Comfort - Winner: 2019 Kia Optima
- Interior Materials and Quality - Winner: Tie
- Features and Options - Winner: 2019 Kia Optima
- Cargo Space - Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
- Reliability - Winner: 2019 Hyundai Sonata
- Acceleration - Winner: Tie
- Ride Quality and Handling - Winner: Tie
- Safety - Winner: 2019 Kia Optima
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Optima vs. Sonata: Sibling Rivalry
The 2019 Kia Optima and 2019 Hyundai Sonata are two of the higher-rated sedans in our rankings of midsize cars, earning scores just below the segment-leading Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Both the Sonata and Optima are smart choices with low starting prices, long warranties, and a history of high safety ratings.
Under the skin, the two sedans are similar, as Kia and Hyundai are sister companies. The Optima and Sonata share powertrains and many other components. The Optima was just refreshed for the 2019 model year, and the Sonata received a refresh for 2018. In both cases, the cars got updated styling and new tech features.
Which one is best for you? On the following slides we’ll break down the differences between the two models using the criteria that buyers in the midsize sedan class consider most important. The cars earn similar overall scores, so your decision may come down to personal preference.
We frequently update our scores as we get new information, so the scores you see on the following pages may not match those in our rankings.