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2006 Kia Optima Owner Ratings & Reviews

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3.5
Overall
2 Reviews

2006 Kia Optima - Nice Features. Brake Pads Tend to Wear.

KMD
Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Overall
3.0
Value
3.0
Performance
3.0
Style
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
2.0
Reliability
3.0
The 2006 Kia Optima gets great gas mileage, has a lot of nice features including a sun roof and large trunk, and handles well. However, it seems like I'm replacing the brake pads on the vehicle every year making for costly maintenance. Overall I'm satisfied with this vehicle. It suits my needs commuting to and from work.
Story
I've taken my dog to the dog park multiple times in the car. She seems to really love it.
Pros
The seats are comfortable. The vehicle gets great gas mileage. It also handles pretty well in rugged conditions such as rain and snow. Most of the car has not needed significant maintenance over the last ten years which is a blessing. The sounds system is decent. The sunroof is a great addition for the fall and spring.
Cons
The car is small for a family trip, which is to be expected with a sedan. It's tire pressure gauges vary widely between the seasons. Moreover, I've now had to replace the brake pads to the same tire two times in two years which indicates to me that there is something wrong with the brakes that needs to be resolved.

2006 Kia Optima - A reliable and inexpensive car

Mike B.
Bellingham, Washington
Overall
4.0
Value
5.0
Performance
3.0
Style
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
4.0
Reliability
5.0
I like to purchase cars that seem to be valued at less than their reliability relative to their price in the market. This Kia has certainly fit into that category. It has been a great commuter car, very reliable, no major issues and I was able to purchase it for about a third of what a comparable Honda or Toyota would have fetched. I highly recommend this car if you are looking for a similar "deal" in a used car purchase. I have not had to make any major repairs up to this point. For a midsize sedan, this car is pretty close to ideal in my opinion. It was around the mid 2000's when Kia began a 100,000 mile warranty program. This greatly boosted my personal view of their reliability. By 2006, I don't think the perception of the public had changed to reflect the true value and reliabilit... (more)
Story
The side mirrors are retractable. I was parking in a very small spot next to a large shrub at a friends house. When I left, I rubbed the car against the shrub and it retracted my passenger side mirror so that I couldn't see out of it. Thankfully another driver alerted me to this very quickly, but I had to laugh at my mistake.
Pros
It does pretty well on gas, especially on the highway. It handles well in all types of weather unless you are driving really aggressively. The body has held up well at this point in the life cycle of the car.
Cons
The car does not give you the smoothest ride of all time. That being said, it also isn't the worst. If you are looking for a car with a lot of bells and whistles, you should look elsewhere. This model of Optima is a no frills kind of vehicle. Additionally, the CD player was toast by the time it got to me, so you should plan on an alternate form of music unless you want to be stuck with the radio.

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