Kia Optima vs Suzuki Kizashi 03/30/2011
The Kia Optima got some national exposure when Blake Griffin dunked over the car on national television, but is it worth a purchase? We compared it against a similarly-priced budget sedan, the Suzuki Kizashi, to see which one offered drivers the better value.
Both cars retail for $19,000, but theres a significant difference in the warranties. The Kizashi comes with a 7 year/100,000 mile powertrain pledge, but Kia one-ups the competition with coverage for 10 years/100,000 miles.
The models are similar in that they both have 2.4-liter inline-four engines, but the Kia's simply produces better numbers. The Optima receives 200 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA-rated 24/35 mpgs. Suzuki's Kizashi lags behind in every department, with 185 hp, 170 lb-ft of torque and just 21/31 mpgs.
In terms of standard features, we have to give the edge to the Kizashi, as it comes with dual climate control and keyless ignition. However, the Kia does have Bluetooth and satellite radio. Either way, most of the features are only available on more expensive trim levels.
Overall, the Optima is the better value, as it has a longer warranty and increased performance for the same price.