Honda Civic vs Kia Optima
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2020 Kia Optima
Overview
| Spec | Honda CivicLX | Kia OptimaLX |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | LX | LX |
| Body style | Sedan | Sedan |
| Drivetrain | front wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | continuously variable-speed automatic | 6-speed shiftable automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2020 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Honda CivicLX | Kia OptimaLX |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $24,695 | $23,390 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $23,822 | $10,488 (best) |
| Median listing price | $27,850 | $14,117 (best) |
| Highest listing price | $28,907 | $18,000 (best) |
| For sale now | 22 (best) | 8 |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Honda CivicLX | Kia OptimaLX |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 36 MPG (best) | 29 MPG |
| City MPG | 32 MPG (best) | 25 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 41 MPG (best) | 35 MPG |
| Fuel tank | 12.4 gal | 18.5 gal (best) |
Performance
| Spec | Honda CivicLX | Kia OptimaLX |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 150 hp | 185 hp (best) |
| Torque | 133 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 2 L | 2.4 L (best) |
| Cylinders | I4 | I4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Honda CivicLX | Kia OptimaLX |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Cargo volume | 14.8 cu ft | 15.9 cu ft (best) |
| Curb weight | 2,875 lbs (best) | 3,230 lbs |
| Ground clearance | — | 5.3 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 107.7 in | 110.4 in (best) |
| Length | 184.8 in | 191.1 in (best) |
| Width | 70.9 in | 73.2 in (best) |
| Height | 55.7 in | 57.7 in (best) |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Honda CivicLX | Kia OptimaLX |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 4 / 5 ★ | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Rollover | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | None reported | None reported |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Honda Civic | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LX $24,695 MSRP(Currently comparing) | LX $23,390 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | Sport $26,695 MSRP | S $24,890 MSRP |
| 3 | Sport $27,895 MSRP | SE $26,390 MSRP |
| 4 | Sport Hybrid $29,395 MSRP | EX $27,190 MSRP |
| 5 | Sport Hybrid $30,595 MSRP | EX $29,310 MSRP |
| 6 | Si $31,495 MSRP | EX Premium $30,190 MSRP |
| 7 | Sport Touring Hybrid $32,395 MSRP | SX $32,190 MSRP |
| 8 | Sport Touring Hybrid $33,595 MSRP | EX $36,090 MSRP |
| 9 | Type R $47,395 MSRP | — |
Live inventory
Honda Civic22 for sale
See all
New2026 Honda Civic
Sport
Meteorite Gray Metallic•Black4 mi$27,022MSRP $27,890Rancho Santa Margarita Honda
Santa Margarita, CA
Used2024 Honda Civic
Touring
Aegean Blue Metallic•Black42,293 mi$26,412Rancho Santa Margarita Honda
Santa Margarita, CA
New2026 Honda Civic
Sport
Crystal Black Pearl•Black4 mi$28,222MSRP $29,090Rancho Santa Margarita Honda
Santa Margarita, CA
Used2024 Honda Civic
EX-L
Meteorite Gray Metallic•Black21,052 mi$25,733Rancho Santa Margarita Honda
Santa Margarita, CA
New2026 Honda Civic
Sport
Platinum White Pearl•Black4 mi$28,300MSRP $29,545Rancho Santa Margarita Honda
Santa Margarita, CA
Used2025 Honda Civic
Sport
Meteorite Gray Metallic•Black19,188 mi$25,110Rancho Santa Margarita Honda
Santa Margarita, CA
Kia Optima8 for sale
See all
Used2019 Kia Optima
SX
Snow White Pearl•Black50,346 mi$17,446Phil Smith Mitsubishi of Lighthouse Point
Lighthouse Point, FL
Certified2019 Kia Optima
S
Snow White Pearl•Black69,814 mi$14,734Greensboro Auto Center
Greensboro, NC
Used2020 Kia Optima
LX
sangria•black114,297 mi$10,488Secret City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Oak Ridge, TN
Used2020 Kia Optima
LX
Horizon Blue•black119,032 mi$12,500Mccarthy Chevrolet Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Certified2019 Kia Optima
S
Platinum Graphite•black45,738 mi$17,000Fred Anderson Kia Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
- Used
2020 Kia Optima
SE
Passion Red•black38,701 mi$18,000Stanley Wood Chevrolet
Batesville, AR
Honda Civic vs Kia Optima FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Honda Civic or 2020 Kia Optima?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Honda Civic vs 2020 Kia Optima on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Honda Civic or 2020 Kia Optima?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2020 Kia Optima starts lower at $23,390. Live Honda Civic listings start at $23,822. Live Kia Optima listings start at $10,488.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Honda Civic or 2020 Kia Optima?
- The 2020 Kia Optima leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,390).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Honda Civic or 2020 Kia Optima?
- The 2026 Honda Civic leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (49).
- Which has better electricRangeMi: 2026 Honda Civic or 2020 Kia Optima?
- The 2020 Kia Optima leads on electricRangeMi in this comparison (28).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Honda Civic or 2020 Kia Optima?
- The 2026 Honda Civic leads on horsepower in this comparison (315).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Honda Civic vs 2020 Kia Optima?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Honda Civic (5/5 NHTSA overall); Kia Optima (5/5 NHTSA overall).