Toyota Prius vs Kia Optima

The 2019 Kia Optima, while not as groundbreaking as its 2011–2015 predecessor, still managed to capture attention with its appealing design. The car featured a trademark tiger-nose grille, sassy fender-vent trim, and an available black panoramic glass roof. With a variety of trim levels, buyers had options to find the right look at the right price. However, the availability of interior colors was limited, making it challenging to find the perfect combination. Prices ranged from $22,900 for the base LX to $35,790 for the SX Turbo with the luxurious Limited Package. A separate plug-in hybrid model topped $42,000 with all options included.

The 2020 Toyota Prius retained its iconic jellybean-like shape, optimized for aerodynamics. Despite its hatchback design, Toyota made visual tweaks to give it a more sedan-like appearance. The Prius continued to look contemporary with its futuristic style, especially in the cabin, which featured a central location for instrumentation and gauges. Trim levels included L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited, each offering a range of features from basic amenities to advanced technology and luxury touches. The Prius also celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special 2020 Edition, limited to 2,020 units, featuring unique dark exterior accents.

The 2019 Kia Optima offered five different engines, including hybrid powertrains. The base LX and sporty S trims had a 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the mid-grade EX Turbo featured a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 178 hp. The hybrid model returned 41 mpg in combined driving, and the plug-in hybrid offered up to 28 miles of pure electric range. The SX Turbo trim, tested with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, produced 245 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. It provided smooth, linear acceleration and featured a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The car averaged 23.5 mpg during testing, just shy of the EPA's estimate of 24 mpg. The SX Turbo trim also had a unique rack-mounted steering system, sport-tuned suspension, and larger front brakes, offering a firm yet comfortable ride.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. The Prius AWD-e variant added a second electric motor for the rear wheels, operating up to 43 mph. The Prius offered three drive modes: EV, Eco, and Power, each catering to different driving needs. The unique shifter design and Engine Braking mode provided additional control, especially useful in mountainous regions. The Prius delivered smooth and confident acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and conventional power. Its low center of gravity contributed to sharper handling, making it an engaging drive despite its primary focus on efficiency.

The 2019 Kia Optima excelled as a daily driver, offering comfort, simplicity, and ample storage. The controls were logically laid out and easy to use, with buttons and knobs limiting the need for touchscreen interaction. The Optima boasted a spacious 15.9-cubic-foot trunk and numerous storage cubbies. The front seats offered various power adjustments, heating, and ventilation options. The backseat provided impressive legroom, good thigh support, and a comfortable backrest angle. Rear air-conditioning vents and quick-charging USB ports added to the convenience. The Smart Trunk feature automatically opened the trunk lid when standing behind the car with the key fob, though it could be turned off if needed.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its compact platform, offering deep door pockets, a large tray area between the front seats, and helpful sub-trays around the center console. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, with good headroom and legroom. The rear seats also provided ample space, though taller drivers needed to be cautious when getting in and out. The Prius offered 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, depending on the model. The hatchback design made loading and unloading items easy, enhancing its practicality.

The 2019 Kia Optima came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display, UVO technology, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, voice recognition, a USB port, and a reversing camera. Higher trims added satellite radio, UVO eServices, and a smartphone app for remote access to vehicle functions. The SX Turbo trim included a navigation system, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with easy-to-navigate menus and flexible voice-recognition technology.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with a sensible menu layout, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable, tablet-like layout. This screen included Apple CarPlay but lacked Android Auto. The Prius also offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display (HUD), and a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel provided critical readouts and hybrid drivetrain status, with many menus accessible via the steering wheel's directional pad.

The 2019 Kia Optima included a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Rear parking-assist sensors and a driver-monitoring system were also standard. Optional features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a surround-view camera system. The Optima received top ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, making it one of the safest family-size cars available.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front-and-rear parking sensors, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" accolade from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to average scores in certain crash tests and headlight performance.