Kia Optima vs Volkswagen Passat (2020)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$200
- Optima: 11 hp more, 0.4 s quicker to 60.
- Passat: 3.5 in more rear legroom, 28 lb-ft more torque.
- Optima wins 4 of 12 measures.
- Price: about the same.
| Measure | Optima | Passat | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $24,115 | $23,915 | About the same |
| Horsepower | 185 hp | 174 hp | Optima |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 206 lb-ft | Passat |
| MPG combined | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | About the same |
| Cargo, max | 15.9 cu ft | 15.9 cu ft | About the same |
| Cargo, seats up | 15.9 cu ft | 15.9 cu ft | About the same |
| Rear legroom | 35.6 in | 39.1 in | Passat |
| Front legroom | 45.5 in | 42.4 in | Optima |
| Length | 191.1 in | 193.6 in | Not scored |
| Width | 73.2 in | 72.2 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 3,230 lb | 3,325 lb | Not scored |
| Towing | N/A | 1,000 lb | N/A |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | About the same |
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | 5.4 in | About the same |
| 0-60 mph | 7.5 s estimate | 7.9 s published | Optima |
| Basic warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | Optima |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Optima LX FWD $23,390 | Passat S FWD $22,995 | $395 |
| Passat S FWD $22,995 | Optima LX FWD $23,390 | $395 |
Cost to run
About the same over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Optima | Passat |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $24,115 | $23,915 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,422 | $1,422 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $8,533 | $8,533 |
| Total, 6 years | $32,648 | $32,448 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Optima wins.
No single weight change flips the winner.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About the same | |
| MPG | About the same | |
| Power | Optima | 6% |
| Space | About the same | |
| Towing | N/A |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree