BMW 3 Series vs Kia Optima
The Optima costs less to run, by the official figures: about $30 a year less in Australia.


Side by side
Specs are for each car's newest version. The better figure is in green.
A typical year's fuel
- Australia
- $1,533
- $1,501 (better)
- New Zealand
- $1,850
- $1,811 (better)
- United Kingdom
- £1,124
- £1,100 (better)
- United States
- $1,429
- $1,399 (better)
Official figures
- Uses
- 5.7 L/100km
- 5.6 L/100km (better)
- On a full tank
- 1,031 km
- 1,071 km (better)
Space
- Seats
- 5
- 5
- Boot
- 480 L (better)
- 450 L
- Towing, braked
- 1,600 kg
- –
- Length
- 4,709 mm
- 4,905 mm
- Weight
- 1,495 kg
- 1,460 kg
Engine
- Engine
- 2.0 L 4-cylinder turbo petrol
- 2.5 L 4-cylinder petrol
- Power
- 135 kW
- 142 kW (better)
- Torque
- 300 Nm (better)
- 246 Nm
- Gearbox
- 8-speed automatic
- 8-speed automatic
- Drive
- RWD
- FWD
Safety
- ANCAP
- ★★★★★
- ★★★★★
- Euro NCAP
- ★★★★★
- ★★★★★
- Airbags
- 8 (better)
- 6
A typical year: New Zealand 11,000 km (Ministry of Transport's average for a light vehicle); Australia 11,100 km (ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use average); United Kingdom 11,265 km (DfT National Travel Survey average of about 7,000 miles); United States 21,726 km (FHWA average of about 13,500 miles). Real costs depend on how and where you drive. Work out a particular trip.
3 Series or Optima?
Which is cheaper to run, the BMW 3 Series or the Kia Optima?
The Kia Optima: about $30 a year less in Australia than the BMW 3 Series at today's average prices and a typical year's driving.
Which uses less fuel, the BMW 3 Series or the Kia Optima?
The Kia Optima, at 5.6 L/100km (50 mpg UK, 42 mpg US) to the BMW 3 Series's 5.7 L/100km (49 mpg UK, 41 mpg US), by their latest official figures.
Which has the bigger boot, the BMW 3 Series or the Kia Optima?
The BMW 3 Series, at 480 L to the Kia Optima's 450 L, for their newest versions.
Each on its own
Other comparisons
What will the drive cost?
Roadtrip works out the fuel or charging cost of any drive for your exact car, finds the cheapest stations on the way, and splits it between everyone in the car.
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