Used 2016 Kia Optima for Sale nearMesa, AZ

How much does the 2016 Kia Optima cost?

Prices have softened 8.47% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 964 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare across trims and conditions.

Is the 2016 Kia Optima a good car?

Yes — the 2016 Kia Optima earns a 4.9/5 user rating and an 8.8/10 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 midsize family sedan that aims to be a benchmark, with strong safety and infotainment systems and a lively feel in everyday driving. For you, that means this is a strong fit if you want a family sedan that emphasizes design, comfort, and well-rounded daily usability. Good and great deals make up 29.0% of the market, so there are still some attractive listings to pursue.

Is the 2016 Kia Optima reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

Owners specifically praise its reliability, and the review summary also points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience with strong comfort and fuel economy. Kia’s warranty coverage and roadside assistance add to the sense that ownership is designed to be relatively worry-free. The expert review also describes favorable ownership-cost expectations and an improved quality-and-dependability outlook. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is making sure the specific car you choose has been maintained well, since condition and history will matter more than the model’s overall reputation.

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

At 53.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should run a vehicle history report before you commit, then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection so you can check for prior bodywork, uneven wear, and any signs of deferred maintenance. Focus especially on how the car presents in person, since condition can vary meaningfully from one listing to the next. If you’re comparing multiple cars, put the cleanest history and best maintenance record at the top of your list.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base LX model is the most stripped-down choice, while the LX 1.6T, EX, SX, and SX Limited add more safety-related equipment and available UVO eServices features. Lower trims are also called out for limited features, so you should pay close attention to equipment gaps if you want a more complete ownership experience.
• Powertrain: The Optima Turbo uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission, paddle shifters, and Drive Mode Select settings for Eco, Normal, and Sport. The performance notes emphasize stronger low-rpm responsiveness and a drivability-focused tune.
• Safety package: Every 2016 Optima has a standard reversing camera. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on the SX Limited and optional on other Optimas. The SX and SX Limited also add adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, while the SX Limited includes automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.
• Infotainment: Kia’s UVO eServices system includes navigation, voice recognition, a wireless smartphone charging pad, Android Auto, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium Surround Sound audio system, Bluetooth streaming, Internet radio, song tagging, and USB 2.1 quick-charge ports. Connected services are free rather than subscription-based.
• Fuel efficiency: The performance notes cite 25.3 mpg on the test loop, with 25 mpg in combined driving and 32 mpg on the highway.

Which 2016 Kia Optima trim should I buy?

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

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, and it makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the redesigned Optima. It’s the trim most likely to leave you wanting more equipment, especially if you care about the richer safety and infotainment content highlighted elsewhere in the lineup.
• LX 1.6T: This trim adds more capability than the base LX and is a better fit if you want a more complete feature set without jumping all the way to the upper trims. It’s a sensible middle-ground choice for shoppers who want value without going fully premium.
• EX: The EX is a strong value-oriented upgrade because it can be paired with Kia’s UVO eServices system, which brings navigation, voice recognition, wireless charging, Android Auto, and connected features. If you want the best balance of equipment and price, this is the trim to focus on first.
• SX: The SX is the better pick if you want the more performance-oriented and better-equipped version of the Optima, including the turbocharged engine and available advanced safety and tech content. It suits you best if you care more about driving feel and premium features than minimizing purchase price.
• SX Limited: This is the most fully equipped version, with standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, plus automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Choose this one if you want the most complete safety and convenience package.

The safety-package note to keep in mind is that blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard only on the SX Limited and optional on other trims.

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

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 29.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 964 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.47% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 53.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $9,222, 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 $9,368 sits slightly below last year's $10,234.

That tells you the market has softened, which can help you as a buyer now but may also mean a future seller has less pricing power than before. If you plan to resell later, the current trend suggests you should buy carefully and avoid overpaying today, because the market has already moved down from where it was a year ago. Strong condition and a clean history will matter even more if you want to protect value on the back end.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, 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 makes blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert available across the lineup, with standard fitment on the SX Limited. The SX and SX Limited add adaptive bi-Xenon headlights, and the SX Limited goes further with automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Kia also says it upgraded the structure to improve small-overlap frontal crash performance, which is a meaningful safety-development note for this model year.

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:

• 29.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 53.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.47% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The expert review says the redesigned Optima is the standard-bearer of the midsize family sedan segment and highlights its strong styling, safety, and infotainment.

The bottom line: If you want the redesigned Optima’s styling, comfort, and strong feature set, the 2016 is the one to target. If you’re especially price-sensitive, you can shop patiently and focus on the cleanest, best-maintained examples, since the market still offers some room to negotiate.

How does the 2016 Kia Optima compare to the 2016 Hyundai Sonata?

Our experts score the 2016 Kia Optima 8.8/10 and the 2016 Hyundai Sonata 7.8/10. The Optima comes across as the more compelling all-around pick here, especially if you value styling, safety, and infotainment. The Sonata has a slight edge in fuel economy and a lower average used price, but the Optima offers stronger expert and owner satisfaction signals. If you want the better-equipped and more highly rated sedan, the Optima is the one to lean toward.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.