BMW 218I vs Kia Optima

The Optima costs less to run, by the official figures: about $60 a year less in the US.

Kia Optima

Side by side

Specs are for each car's newest version. The better figure is in green.

BMW 218IKia Optima

A typical year's fuel

United States
$1,459
$1,399 (better)
New Zealand
$1,889
$1,811 (better)
Australia
$1,565
$1,501 (better)
United Kingdom
£1,147
£1,100 (better)

Official figures

Uses
40 mpg
42 mpg (better)
Also
5.8 L/100km
5.6 L/100km (better)
On a full tank
543 miles
666 miles (better)

Space

Seats
5
5
Boot
–
450 L
Length
4,526 mm
4,905 mm
Weight
1,405 kg
1,460 kg

Engine

Engine
1.5 L 3-cylinder turbo petrol
2.5 L 4-cylinder petrol
Power
103 kW
142 kW (better)
Torque
220 Nm
246 Nm (better)
Gearbox
7-speed dual-clutch
8-speed automatic
Drive
FWD
FWD

Safety

ANCAP
–
★★★★★
Euro NCAP
–
★★★★★
Airbags
–
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.

218I or Optima?

Which is cheaper to run, the BMW 218I or the Kia Optima?

The Kia Optima: about $60 a year less in the US than the BMW 218I at today's average prices and a typical year's driving.

Which uses less fuel, the BMW 218I or the Kia Optima?

The Kia Optima, at 5.6 L/100km (50 mpg UK, 42 mpg US) to the BMW 218I's 5.8 L/100km (48 mpg UK, 40 mpg US), by their latest official figures.

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.

Rated 4.7 by drivers · 700,000 downloads

The Roadtrip app showing a drive into London that costs £4.81 each, with fuel prices along the way