The 2013 Kia Optima has been named the “most affordable” midsize sedan by Cars.com, an online resource for buying and selling new and used cars.
“The Optima topped the list because of its combination of great features, low price and impressive estimated five-year fuel cost,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com’s editor-in-chief. “With an estimated $9,750 in fuel cost over five years, the Optima topped out at just $32,975, which is more than $3,000 lower than the average midsize sedan for the same period of time.”
The Kia Optima LX finished fifth on the list with a total cost of $34,650, $1,675 more than the Optima.
Taking into account specific features and the five-year estimated fuel cost, Cars.com compiled a list of 10 midsize sedans, ranked from most to least affordable, with the Kia Optima taking the top spot. Contenders had to be equipped with equipment like automatic transmission, cruise control, a USB connection, Bluetooth, power windows, a power driver’s seat and a rearview camera.
Other 2013 and 2014 vehicles on the list – in order of affordability – and their total costs are:
Nissan Altima SV, 33,620; Honda Accord Sport, $33,980; Mazda6 Touring (2014), $34,490; Ford Fusion Hybrid SE (2014), $34,740; Subaru Legacy (2014), $35,535; Chevrolet Malibu 1 LT, $35,760; Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE $35,910, and Ford Fusion (2014), $36,290.
“The midsize sedan remains one of the most popular segments in the U.S.,” said Olsen of Cars.com. “They serve as great cars for families, commuters, road trippers and more.
“Because of this, carmakers offer a dizzying amount of styles and options, but with differing content that can make it hard for shoppers to compare apples to apples. That’s why we’ve put this list together, so that shoppers can understand where the most value is before they head to their dealer.”
“Providing an outstanding product with world-class design, quality, features and safety at an equally outstanding price is central to the Kia brand promise,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing and communications, KMA. “The results of the Cars.com Most Affordable Midsize Sedan ranking clearly highlight Kia’s commitment to providing the best value to our customers.”
Kia Optima finished second behind awardee Volkswagen Passat in the 2013 JD Power APEAL rankings. For report on APEAL rankings see our Aug. 6 post at The Open Road blog.
The APEAL study looks at which brands have the most appealing cars based on sales figures, dealer inventory, brand loyalty, transaction and trade-in prices, and incorporates results from participants who gauged their vehicles on 77 different attributes, delivering a score out of 1,000 points.
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Written by:
James Mayfield is the Director of Content at Santander Consumer USA and has been creating content on financial topics for more than 10 years. In addition to writing for the Santander, RoadLoans and Chrysler Capital blog sites, his work has…
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