If you're looking for a midsize sedan, then you probably already know what a jungle it is out there, with a crowded field of candidates vying for your attention. If your shopping process were anything like the petting zoo, you'd have a lot of goats headed your direction looking for pellets. Which is why it's nice to have two vehicles from the same class but with different approaches put side-by-side to assist you with your search, the 2016 Kia Optima vs. 2016 Ford Fusion.
Ford makes the Mustang muscle car, and the 2016 Fusion borrows some of this approach, with a stocky underbelly and a broad berth, while the 2016 Optima borrows its style from the understated European sport style, and offers an athletic, spring-coiled look that is easier on the eyes. Thanks to the 2016 Optima's lower curb weight in base models (3,219 pounds to the Fusion's 3,431), it's also easier on your wallet, with 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway in base models, which easily bests the 2016 Fusion's 22 mpg city, 34 mpg highway.
Read more here about the Kia Optima's Features
2016 Kia Optima | Vs. | 2016 Ford Fusion |
25, 37 | Base MPG (city, highway) | 22, 34 |
185 / 245 | Base HP / Top HP | 175 / 240 |
Yes | KBB.com Best Buys of 2016 - Midsize Sedan? | No |
Yes | 2016 IIHS Top Safety Pick? | Yes |
6 (10 maximum in top-line trims) | Standard Speakers | 4 |
10-yr/100k-mile limited powertrain, 5-yr/60k-mile bumper-to-bumper | Warranty Coverage | 5-yr/60k-mile limited powertrain, 3-yr/36k-mile bumper-to-bumper |
$15,535 (Friendly Kia VIP) | Price | $19,700 (The Competition) |
So far we've seen how the 2016 Kia Optima gets you better fuel economy and offers eye-catching design, but it also has great features on the inside, like an ample 104.8 cubic feet for passengers and a standard six-speaker audio system that can ramp up to a 10-speaker Harman/Kardon work of art in top-line trim levels. The 2016 Fusion, on the other hand, has a less-voluminous audio system with four speakers standard. The Fusion also has less power underneath the hood with 175 HP in base models, while the 2016 Optima sees that and raises with 185 HP in base models.
It's all these advantages – power, space, audio, and more – that helped the 2016 Kia Optima make Kelley Blue Book's Best Buys of 2016 list, and it's a great buy on the Friendly Kia lot, with an available VIP Price starting at less than $16,000. So if you're looking for the ultimate midsize sedan, come and get it at Friendly Kia, 5819 US Highway 19 in New Port Richey, FL. We also serve the Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg area, as well as Trinity, Tarpon Springs and Spring Hill. If you plan on purchasing a new or used car, please take advantage of our trade-in policy and our exclusive partnership with Kelley Blue Book KBB.com's Trade-In Marketplace/Buying Center.