“The 2020 Kia Optima is a great choice for the safety features, design on the exterior, rebates, and gas mileage that will impress you!”
2020 Kia Optima: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest change for the 2020 Kia Optima is expanded standard safety and convenience technology across much of the lineup. It is otherwise a light update that carries over the design and major mechanical pieces from the 2019 refresh.
About the 2020 Kia Optima
4th generation Optima (2016-2020), final U.S. model year; second year after the 2019 refresh and immediately before the all-new 2021 K5.
Kia positioned the Optima as a style-forward midsize sedan that mixed sleek looks with a lot of standard equipment for the class. The big draw was getting useful safety tech, easy smartphone integration, and a polished cabin without moving into a luxury badge. The range also gave shoppers several personalities under one model name: straightforward 2.4-liter gas trims, quicker turbo versions, and fuel-saving hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
The 2020 Optima ranges from the straightforward LX and sport-styled S to the comfort-focused EX and newly separate EX Premium. EX Premium adds navigation, premium audio, a panoramic sunroof, and ventilated front seats, while SX stands out with a 245-horsepower turbo engine and sport-tuned suspension. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid EX versions combine electrified powertrains with leather, heated seats, wireless charging, and added driver-assistance features.
What changed, by category
Styling
The new SE trim adds a dressier look with gloss-black 18-inch wheels, a black mesh grille, and other black exterior accents.
Safety
Gas LX and S trims add pedestrian detection to their forward collision braking systems. Automatic emergency braking becomes standard on EX, while the Hybrid EX and Plug-In Hybrid EX gain additional standard driver-assistance equipment.
Tech
Wireless phone charging becomes standard on gas EX and SX and across the EX-badged hybrid models. EX Premium becomes a separate gas trim with built-in navigation, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and additional comfort equipment instead of remaining an option package.
2020 Kia Optima specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Hybrid, 2.0 Liter / 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.6 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.6 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 6-Spd w/H-Matic | Automatic, 6-Spd w/H-Matic / Automatic, 7-Spd Dual-Clutch w/H-Matic | Automatic, 6-Spd w/H-Matic | Automatic, 6-Spd w/H-Matic | Automatic, 6-Spd w/H-Matic | Automatic, 7-Spd Dual-Clutch w/H-Matic |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Hybrid / Plug-In Hybrid / Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 24 mpg | 27–40 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | 27 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 32 mpg | 37–45 mpg | 32 mpg | 32 mpg | 30 mpg | 37 mpg |
| Horsepower | 185 hp | 178–202 hp | 185 hp | 185 hp | 245 hp | 178 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 140–195 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft | 178 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft | 195 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 15.9 cu-ft | 9.9–15.9 cu-ft | 15.9 cu-ft | 15.9 cu-ft | 15.9 cu-ft | 15.9 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Electric Range | 28 (Plug-In Hybrid) | |||||
| MPGe Combined | 101 (Plug-In Hybrid) | |||||
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ||||||
| Alarm System | ||||||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | ||||||
| Automatic High Beams | ||||||
| Automatic Leveling Headlights | ||||||
| Blindspot Sensors | ||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | ||||||
| Rear View Camera | ||||||
| Alloy Wheels | ||||||
| Fog Lights | ||||||
| LED Headlights | ||||||
| LED Tail Lights | ||||||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | ||||||
| Panorama Moon Roof | ||||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | ||||||
| Rear Spoiler | ||||||
| Remote Control Liftgate/Trunk Release | ||||||
| LCD Instrument Cluster | ||||||
| Navigation System | ||||||
| Premium Audio | ||||||
| Satellite Radio | ||||||
| Smartphone Interface | ||||||
| Subwoofer | ||||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | ||||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | ||||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||||||
| Folding Rear Seat | ||||||
| Rear Air Conditioning | ||||||
| Heated Front Seats | ||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | ||||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | ||||||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | ||||||
| Leather Seats | ||||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | ||||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | ||||||
| Power Driver Seat | ||||||
| Power Steering | ||||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | ||||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | ||||||
| Remote Start | ||||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | ||||||
Frequently asked questions
Was the 2020 Kia Optima redesigned?
No. The 2020 Kia Optima carries over the design and major mechanical pieces from the 2019 refresh, with most updates limited to trims, safety features, and convenience technology. It is the final model year of this Optima generation before the 2021 Kia K5.
Which trims were added to the 2020 Kia Optima lineup?
The EX Premium and SE gas trims were added for 2020. EX Premium turns a former option package into a separate comfort-focused trim, while SE pairs the 2.4-liter engine with leather, heated front seats, and black exterior accents.
What safety features changed on the 2020 Kia Optima?
The 2020 gas LX and S add pedestrian detection to their forward collision braking systems, and automatic emergency braking becomes standard on EX. The Hybrid EX and Plug-In Hybrid EX also receive additional standard driver-assistance equipment.
Which 2020 Kia Optima gas trims have standard wireless phone charging?
The 2020 gas EX, EX Premium, and SX have standard wireless phone charging. This is a key convenience upgrade for the EX and SX compared with 2019, and it is built into the newly separate EX Premium trim.
Is the 2020 Kia Optima meaningfully different from the 2019 model?
Only modestly. The 2020 model is the better fit if pedestrian detection on LX or S, standard wireless charging on EX or SX, or the new SE and EX Premium trims matter to you; otherwise, its basic design and major mechanical components are largely the same as in 2019.
2020 Kia Optima Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2020 Kia Optima.
4.1
2020 Kia Optima
(163 reviews)
“I love the car overall, I only have two features on my Kia Optima I'm annoyed about. One downside being the cars back seats can not be pulled down for trunk access into car. Second downside of the Kia Optima is the front seat is not automatic, a 2020 car should have certain features that don't result in my manually pumping my cars seat up.”
“Kia seems to be a good car at this point, seats could be more comfortable and it would be helpful for the side mirrors to help with glare from other vehicle lights.”
Sources
- kiamedia.com — Optima / 2020 / Whatsnew
- kiamedia.com — Models / Optima / 2020
- kiamedia.com — Optima Hybrid / 2020 / Whatsnew
- kiamedia.com — Optima Phev / 2020 / Whatsnew
- kiamedia.com — Models / Optima / 2019
- kiamedia.com — Models / K5 / 2021
- kiamedia.com — Optima / 2020 / Features
- kia.com — Us / Brochures / Brochure Optima 2020
- kiamedia.com — Optima Hybrid / 2020 / Features
- kiamedia.com — Optima Phev / 2020 / Features
- kiamedia.com — Optima / 2020 / Pricing