Best Used Kia Sedan - Rio, Optima, Amanti

Korea has seen its reputation on the worldwide automotive stage grow in stature with each passing model year, thanks to the innovations and dedication to quality shown by pioneering companies like Hyundai. When Kia, later to be acquired by Hyundai, first broke into the North American market in 1994 it was with a sole offering, the Sephia sedan. While the company had seen its vehicles take to American highways throughout the 1980’s after being re-badged as Ford Festivas, the Sephia was pure Kia and would remain their only sedan sold in that market until the company was taken over by their larger domestic competitor in 1998.

The car business is a difficult one, especially for automakers positioned at the very bottom of the price spectrum. Hyundai knew from long experience that in order for a brand to gain traction it had to expand its product lineup, and this lead them to share several of their own platforms with Kia in order to build up the company’s lineup in the United States. The primary focus was on hatchbacks and sedans – no coupes, no convertibles, nothing but pure economy and value for buyers looking to buy a very inexpensive, brand new automobile.

Kia sedans now cover almost the entire range of sizes and classes typically found in any major manufacturer’s showroom. While their parent company has pushed towards gaining more acceptance as a premium car company, Kia has instead focused on leaving the memories of the Sephia’s poor build quality and safety rating behind and enticing buyers with extensive warranty protection and feature-heavy cars at rock bottom prices. The primary appeal of a Kia sedan is based around the fact that buyers can find excellent interior volume, decent performance and a very complete list of standard equipment at prices that dramatically undercut the competition. For those willing to trade in brand recognition for thrift, Kia can offer buyers with a great way to stretch their dollar.

On the used market, Kia sedans run the gamut from barebones subcompacts to surprisingly well-appointed semi-luxury vehicles that compare favorably to heavyweights like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in terms of comfort and style. This article takes a look at the three best Kia sedans currently available on the used market and discusses their features, their specifications, and what they each specifically have to offer to those searching for a bargain on a four-door automobile.

2006 – 2007 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is the company’s bread and butter entry level vehicle. This re-design of the subcompact sedan is the first to use a re-purposed Hyundai platform, borrowing the chassis and the mechanicals of the popular Hyundai Accent. The Rio’s exterior styling is quite different from that of its Korean cousin, and it is also priced slightly higher. The Rio’s primary charm is it fuel economy and its affordability.

Despite its low-market position, the Rio is a well-built car that displays great engineering along with many of the hallmarks typically found in more expensive vehicles. The only engine option is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 110 horsepower and features variable-valve timing. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 4-speed automatic can be had as an option on higher trim levels. The 2006 – 2007 Kia Rio is quite conservative when it comes to fuel consumption, and drivers can expect to see 35 miles per gallon while cruising on the highway and 32 miles per gallon in city traffic.

The Kia Rio can be configured as a feature-free, stripped down commuter, without any power accessories or creature comforts. However, for not very much more money it can also be had with popular options like air conditioning, a decent stereo system, and power everything, making it quite versatile for buyers on a budget. Anti-lock brakes are not standard equipment but are highly recommended, while six airbags help the tiny car meet passenger safety requirements. The Rio is as big on the inside as several of the larger compact sedans offered by Japanese competitors, but it does not possess the same level of interior refinement. While drivers are definitely made aware by the passenger compartment’s materials that the Rio is an inexpensive automobile, it does provide an adequate level of fit and finish.

The 2006 – 2007 Kia Rio is a decent used sedan for those shopping the lower tiers of the subcompact market and who are not interested in paying more for a brand name like Toyota or Honda.

2006 – 2007 Kia Optima

In 2006 Kia’s mid-size sedan, the Optima, went in a different direction from the Hyundai Elantra to which it had historically been linked. While the two vehicles continued to share the same mechanical components, the Optima switched over to a homegrown platform that was distinct from Hyundai’s. This change coincided with a re-positioning of the Optima as a somewhat upscale economy sedan.

The base Kia Optima comes with a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower and which can be paired with a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. Moving on up to the next trim level finds a 170 horsepower V-6 that churns out a decent 181 lb-ft of torque. The larger motor is only available with the automatic tranny, and while the vehicle is certainly not a rocket ship, it does provide adequate acceleration and passing power that should please the vast majority of buyers. Fuel economy hovers around 30 miles per gallon on the highway for both drivetrains.

The Optima does not attempt to compete with flash or style when it comes to interior appointments. Switchgear is functional and logically laid out, but it doesn’t possess any particular personality or verve. Hard plastic unfortunately abounds, making some parts of the car seem cheap, but in general the Optima feels quite solid from any of the vehicle’s five seating positions. The Optima falls near the middle of the mid-size sedan field when it comes to overall passenger room, which means the vehicle is quite comfortable when fully crewed during short trips. Despite its low cost, there are plenty of features to be found on the sedan as standard equipment, and depending upon which model is ordered buyers could find themselves with a CD/MP3 player, cruise control, and a leather wrapped shifter and steering wheel along with optional leather seats.

The 2006 – 2007 Kia Optima is a used sedan which provides Accord and Camry-like functionality at a different pricing strata. While build quality may feel a bit lower than a Japanese sedan, the Optima is a good choice for those who value utility over style.

2004 – 2007 Kia Amanti

To some, the idea of a luxury car from an automaker which has always prided itself on providing economically priced vehicles might seem a bit strange, but the Kia Amanti is not afraid to ask somewhat of a premium over the other vehicles in the company’s lineup. With a larger platform originating from the previous-generation Hyundai XG, the 2004 – 2007 Kia Amanti is an attractive, competent near-luxury sedan.

Kia has made a real effort to exceed buyer expectations when it comes to the overall craftsmanship involved in the Amanti’s construction. This is most obvious in the interior, where the vehicle outshines any previous Kia offering. The company has clearly studied not only the layout and design of other luxury cars on the market, but they have also learned how to use tasteful restraint when applying interior accents and trim. The vehicle can be had with upscale heated leather seating, a trip computer with LCD monitor and all of the standard power options. Both front and rear accommodations are quite spacious, exceeding in some areas even the dimensions of more established full-size sedans. The Amanti never feels as inexpensive as its purchase price would suggest.

There is only one engine available in the Amanti, a 3.5-liter V-6 which provides 200 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque. The sedan’s relatively heavy 4,000 lb curb weight limits the vehicle’s sportiness and imposes somewhat of a fuel mileage penalty, but the 2006 – 2007 Kia Amanti is comfortable to drive and never feels out of breath in everyday situations. The four-door sedan uses a 5-speed automatic with a Sportmatic feature that allows the driver to manually shift the transmission.

Some buyers in the high-end used sedan market are only interested in the cachet associated with the brand name of the vehicle that they choose to buy, but for those who prefer to take advantage of a substantial number of luxury features at a low price the 2006 – 2007 Kia Amanti makes a compelling option.