Kia Optima vs. Honda Accord

Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews

Kia Optima

$471
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Honda Accord

$400
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Overall Reliability Rating

4
Excellent
The Kia Optima Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 8th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $471 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Optima.
4
1
2
Excellent
The Honda Accord Reliability Rating is 4.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 1st out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $400 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity and frequency of repairs are both much lower than other vehicles, so the Accord is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.
Cost
Average annual repairs total
$471
inexpensive
expensive
$400
inexpensive
expensive
Frequency
Average annual repair shop visits
0.2
not often
very often
0.26
not often
very often
Severity
Percentage of annual repairs that are urgent
12%
not urgent
urgent
9%
not urgent
urgent

Overall Car Ratings & Details

5 (7)
4 (23)
3 (16)
2 (4)
1 (2)
The Kia Optima ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in fuel economy.
“I HAVE OWNED TIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS IT HAD 13,000 ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT WERE AT 80,000 NOW AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE REPLACED IS THE FACTORY BATTERY AWESOME CAR I HAVE BEEN A ASE MASTERTECH FOR YEARS...”
“I HAVE OWNED TIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS IT HAD 13,000 ON IT WHEN WE GOT IT WERE AT 80,000 NOW AND THE...”
5 (31)
4 (103)
3 (66)
2 (30)
1 (9)
The Honda Accord ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in interior.
100% of reviewers would recommend this car.
“Awesome car! Smooth ride and excellent acceleration. Mine has 300,000 miles and still runs like a champ. Easy to fix and easy on the wallet. Parts are cheap and generally in stock. I dislike...”
“Awesome car! Smooth ride and excellent acceleration. Mine has 300,000 miles and still runs like...”

Vehicle Comparison Rundown

The Kia Optima and the Honda Accord are both midsize, four-door sedans. Both come with front-wheel drive.

The engines in the Kia Optima and the Honda Accord are comparable. The Optima has standard engine with 185 horsepower and an optional 245-horsepower engine. The standard engine in the Accord has 192 horsepower, with an option of 252 horsepower. For a greener power source, the Optima has both a hybrid version and a plug-in hybrid version. The Accord also offers a hybrid version.

In terms of interior and trunk space, the Kia Optima is the clear leader here. The Optima has 104.8 cubic feet of interior volume and 15.9 cubic feet of space in the trunk. The Accord has just 93.1 cubic feet of interior volume and 13.4 cubic feet in the trunk.

The Honda Accord does offer some advantages. It’s a brand-new design on a brand-new platform this year, while the Optima was all-new back in 2016. The Accord also offers the latest driver assistance technologies as standard equipment, including adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning. The Accord is very smooth and refined, setting a new bar for midsize sedans.

We suggest you drive both the Kia Optima and the Honda Accord. See if the Optima’s superior space is the deciding factor, or if the latest technology built into the Accord is more to your liking.