Buyer's guide comparing the Kia Optima vs Dodge Dart: Similar cars with comfortable interiors and excellent fuel economy.
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Reviews of individual cars can be great, but when you're shopping for a mid-size economy sedan, nothing beats a head-to-head Kia Optima vs. Dodge Dart comparison. In many ways, these are similar cars. Each has a comfortable interior, both have good safety ratings and both will reliably get you where you're going.
This Buyerlink buying guide is intended to help you sort through what are sometimes very subtle differences between models, hopefully bringing you to a better understanding of what these two worthy vehicles have to offer in the areas of miles per gallon, prices and overall cost of ownership.
Power: What's under the hood?
If you aren't careful, it's possible to get carried away by impressive-sounding engine specs that really have nothing to do with performance. Your best bet here is to contrast engine capacity with the power each engine delivers, as this will tell you something useful about its efficiency.
The Kia Optima comes to this comparison with an advantage in power over the Dodge Dart. The Dodge has an efficient 2.0L engine, which is good for 160 hp at 5,500 rpm, while the Kia is equipped with a larger 2.4L engine block, which will deliver a somewhat more impressive 200 hp.
In this case, a comparison of raw power can be misleading, as neither of these cars is intended for high performance or hairpin turns. They will, however, sometimes need the muscle to accelerate to safety, and either of these cars will do the trick nicely.
Economy: How many miles per gallon?
Horsepower is great, but the real selling point of cars in this class has always been fuel economy. The smaller engine of the Dodge really pays off when it comes to mileage. With an average 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, the Dart has narrowly edged out the Kia Optima's 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
Price: What's the bottom line?
The Dodge Dart also wins over the Kia Optima when it comes to pricing. The MSRP of the Dodge is $19,995, while the Kia tips the scales at $21,350, $3,155 more than its rival.
Here, you're paying for that larger engine and slightly sportier performance, which is a real difference that can make up for the higher sticker price.When you're out shopping for the proverbial "sensible car," you could do a lot worse than either of these models.
Get local price quotes for the Kia Optima vs Dodge Dart now!
They are very close in size, weight and performance, as well as being very close in the areas considered above. Use Buyerlink to find local estimates and set up test drives to complete your Kia Optima vs. Dodge Dart comparison.