Compare: Kia Optima vs Nissan Altima

Kia Optima vs Nissan Altima: Match Your Manassas Lifestyle to a New Midsize Sedan

In Manassas and Woodbridge, the midsize is understandably a very popular choice--it's practical, fuel-efficient, and convenience, while still offering the style and comfort that you want in a four-door commuter in the Washington DC area; two of the top contenders in Virginia are the Kia Optima and the Nissan Altima. But which one is right for you? Whether your daily drive is just a few minutes around Fairfax and or Chantilly, or an hour outside of Falls Church, you want something that really matches well with your lifestyle.

Explore Nissan Altima vs Kia Optima specs and information here, or visit Brown's Manassas Kia in VA to browse new Optima sedans for sale and compare to competitors for yourself.

Comfort and Interior Options

Take a look at two of the top trim levels for each vehicle--the Kia Optima SXL Turbo and the Nissan Altima 3.5 SR--to see the range of features available to you. If comfort, connectivity, and premium features are top of your priorities list, you'll want to look deeper into the package options available on the powerful Optima. Kia's midsize sedan offers more standard features on higher trim levels, like heated front and rear seats, memory settings for exterior mirrors and driver's seat, automatic dual-zone climate control, a ten-speaker sound system, leather seats, and a lot more; it's harder--and more expensive--to get all of those features on even the pricier Altima models.

Powertrain and Engine Performance

At base power levels, both Optima and Altima offer a practical four-cylinder engine, with comparable horsepower and torque--though the Optima boasts better fuel economy in the city, and the Altima bests the Optima in highway mpg. Upgrade to higher trim levels (Turbo Optima sedans, or Altima 3.5 models) for boosted performance from both of these cars. The Altima swaps out its standard powertrain for a 3.5-liter V6 engine, while the Kia Optima prefers to trade out for a responsive, fun-to-drive 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Optima Turbo has higher torque than the 3.5-liter Altima.

Cost and Warranty

These two sedans are very comparably-priced, with the Altima costing you slightly more at starting price than the Optima; but the value of Kia Optima vs Nissan Altima goes beyond just initial cost. If you prefer to think about the long-term, Kia's standard warranty may be a big deciding factor when you make your choice to buy or lease a new sedan. The Optima is protected by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic new-vehicle warranty, while the Altima is only covered by Nissan's 3-year/36,000-mile basic new-vehicle warranty, with a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty--that's a lot less coverage than Kia offers.