Used 2016 Kia Optima for Sale nearCharlotte, NC

How much does the 2016 Kia Optima cost?

Prices have softened 9.98% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 920 listings available, which suggests you should have a workable selection to compare.

Is the 2016 Kia Optima a good car?

Yes — the 2016 Kia Optima earns a 4.89/5 user rating and an 8.83/10 expert rating. The model scores 10/10 across Look and feel and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its stylish design, comfort, smooth ride, and excellent fuel economy. The overview also points to a polished, well-rounded midsize family sedan that feels more energetic in Optima Turbo spec, especially for everyday driving. That makes it a strong fit if you want a family sedan that emphasizes refinement and a more premium feel rather than just basic transportation.

The market also shows 26.8% of listings as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2016 Kia Optima reliable?

Owners rate it 4.89/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary also highlights reliability alongside comfort and style, and it describes the car as dependable with a smooth, trouble-free ownership experience. The expert review adds that Kia’s warranty coverage makes ownership relatively worry-free, and it notes favorable predictions for ownership costs. Kia also includes roadside assistance for the first 5 years or 60,000 miles.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is making sure the specific car has been maintained well, since a strong warranty reputation does not replace a careful inspection of the individual vehicle.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Kia Optima?

At 53% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and confirm whether any prior damage was repaired properly. A pre-purchase inspection is especially important on this model because condition can vary meaningfully from one listing to another. Pay close attention to trim-specific equipment, since lower trims can feel limited in features.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base LX model is the least expensive, while the LX 1.6T, EX, and SX add more equipment and features. Lower trims can feel limited, so you should compare comfort and convenience equipment carefully before choosing.
• Powertrain: The Optima SX and SX Limited use a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The engine is tuned for better fuel economy and drivability, and it feels more responsive at lower rpm.
• Safety package: A reversing camera is standard. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on the SX Limited and optional on other trims. If you want more advanced safety equipment, you need to move up to the LX 1.6T, EX, SX, or SX Limited.
• Infotainment: Kia’s Your Voice (UVO) eServices system includes navigation, voice recognition, a wireless smartphone charging pad, Android Auto, and connected services. It is standard on the SX and SX Limited and optional on the LX 1.6T and EX.
• Fuel efficiency: The turbocharged engine returned 25.3 mpg on the expert test loop, with 27.9 mpg on a cross-town freeway-heavy drive and 19.4 mpg in city and suburban driving.

Which 2016 Kia Optima trim should I buy?

The 2016 Kia Optima is offered in 4 trim levels: LX, LX 1.6T, EX, and SX.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, so it makes sense if you want the lowest price and are comfortable giving up some of the nicer features that make the Optima feel more upscale.
• LX 1.6T: This is the best-value choice if you want a stronger feature mix without jumping all the way to the top trims. It also opens the door to more available safety and tech equipment.
• EX: Choose this if you want a more comfort- and convenience-focused setup and are willing to pay more for a better-equipped daily driver.
• SX: This is the right pick if you want the most upscale and fully featured version of the standard lineup, especially if you value the strongest tech and safety content.

The SX Limited adds even more equipment, including blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, plus surround-view monitoring.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Kia Optima?

The market looks selective rather than overheated, so you can shop with some leverage if you compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 26.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 920 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.98% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 53.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $9,253, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Kia Optima's resale value?

The current average of $9,475 sits slightly below last year's $10,525.

That decline suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer today but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. If you buy at a strong price and keep the car in clean condition, you can reduce the impact of that softer market. Well-equipped, well-maintained examples should hold up better than neglected ones because shoppers still respond to the Optima’s styling, comfort, and fuel economy.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.89/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Kia Optima safe?

The 2016 Kia Optima earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

Every 2016 Optima comes with a standard reversing camera, and Kia also made blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert standard on the SX Limited and optional on other trims. If you want more advanced safety equipment, you need to move up to the LX 1.6T, EX, SX, or SX Limited. The SX Limited also adds automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Kia also strengthened the car’s structure to improve small-overlap frontal crash performance, which is a useful sign if you are comparing used family sedans and want a model with a strong safety focus.

Should I buy a 2016 Kia Optima or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 26.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 53% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.98% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.89/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• In expert testing, the redesigned 2016 Optima stands out for styling, interior design, safety, and infotainment, and the Turbo version is described as especially responsive in everyday driving.

The bottom line: The 2016 Optima is the better choice if you want the redesigned model’s polished feel, strong safety focus, and broad appeal at a softer used-car price. If you are especially price-sensitive, you can shop aggressively for the best-condition example and prioritize trims with the features you actually want, since lower trims can feel sparse.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.