Used 2019 Kia Optima for Sale nearColumbia, SC

How much does the 2019 Kia Optima cost?

Prices have softened 7.92% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,427 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare on price and condition.

Is the 2019 Kia Optima a good car?

Yes — the 2019 Kia Optima earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 9/10 expert rating. The model scores 10/10 across Form and function and Cost effectiveness.

Owners consistently praise its great value, stylish design, numerous features, smooth ride, and safety options. The overview also points to a roomy interior and a wide range of engine choices, which helps explain why it works well as a family sedan rather than a niche pick.

With 30.7% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have a meaningful chance to find one that fits your budget well.

Is the 2019 Kia Optima reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback also points to a car that feels dependable in everyday use, with praise centered on value, smooth driving, and features that make it easy to live with over time. The expert evaluation reinforces that impression by describing the Optima as a strong value with competitive pricing and a well-rounded ownership proposition.

Kia’s warranty reputation and value-oriented positioning further support the case for long-term ownership confidence. For used buyers, the main risk is less about outright durability and more about finding a well-kept example that has been maintained consistently.

What should I look for when buying a used 2019 Kia Optima?

At 53.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has had bodywork or shows uneven panel gaps, tire wear, or paint mismatch. Because this model is often bought for value and safety, condition matters a lot: make sure the safety systems, infotainment, and ride quality all work as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base LX includes important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems, while higher trims add features such as satellite radio, UVO eServices, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, navigation, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. If you want the best value, look closely at the trims that add the features you’ll actually use rather than paying only for appearance upgrades.
• Powertrain: The standard gas lineup includes a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder in the LX and S, plus a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder in the EX Turbo and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in the SX Turbo. The 2.4-liter setup is the mainstream choice, while the turbo engines add more punch and the SX Turbo is tuned for smoother, stronger acceleration.
• Safety package: Every Optima has standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking-assist sensors, and a driver-monitoring system. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go is available, and a surround-view camera system is also offered on higher trims.
• Infotainment: Standard equipment includes an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, voice recognition, a USB port, and a reversing camera. Higher trims add satellite radio, UVO eServices, navigation, HD Radio, and a premium audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The hybrid powertrain returns 41 mpg in combined driving, and the plug-in hybrid offers up to 28 miles of pure electric range before switching to hybrid operation.

Which 2019 Kia Optima trim should I buy?

The 2019 Kia Optima is offered in 4 trim levels: LX, S, EX Turbo, SX Turbo.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, but it still includes the core safety tech and the standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost way into the Optima without giving up the essentials.
• S: This trim adds satellite radio and UVO eServices, making it a smart step up if you want more connected features without jumping too far in price. It’s a strong value choice for shoppers who want a little more convenience and tech.
• EX Turbo: This is the best-value trim if you want a more efficient turbocharged engine along with satellite radio and UVO eServices. It gives you a better blend of everyday performance and equipment than the base trims.
• SX Turbo: This is the most upscale gas trim, with the 245-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, sport-tuned suspension, navigation, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. Choose it if you want the most power and the richest feature set.

The safety package is broad across the lineup, so your trim decision mostly comes down to how much power, tech, and luxury you want.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2019 Kia Optima?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory and deal activity to make comparison shopping worthwhile.

• Deal availability: 30.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,427 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.92% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 53.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $11,695, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2019 Kia Optima's resale value?

The current average of $11,695 sits slightly below last year's $12,701.

That decline suggests the Optima has become more affordable for used buyers, which can make it easier to move later if you buy at the right price. For a future seller, the key takeaway is that the market has already adjusted downward, so your best resale outcome will depend on condition, mileage, and how well the car has been maintained.

Because the model still has broad appeal as a roomy, well-equipped midsize sedan, a clean example should remain easier to market than a less practical alternative. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2019 Kia Optima safe?

The 2019 Kia Optima earns top ratings across the board from IIHS except for child safety seat LATCH anchor accessibility, which is rated Acceptable rather than Good. It also earns four-star ratings for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision, and five-star ratings in every other NHTSA test, including rollover resistance.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Every Optima includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking-assist sensors, and a driver-monitoring system. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go is available, and a surround-view camera system is also offered on higher trims.

The main caveat is that the front passenger frontal-impact result is lower than the rest of the federal ratings, so safety-conscious used buyers should pay close attention to trim equipment and verify that all driver-assistance systems are functioning properly.

Should I buy a 2019 Kia Optima or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2019 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2019 if:

• 30.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 53.3% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.92% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2019 Optima stands out for its stylish looks, wide range of engine choices, roomy interior, and sophisticated safety technologies.

The bottom line: The 2019 is the right pick if you want a well-equipped midsize sedan with strong value and broad safety coverage, especially now that prices have eased. If you’re more price-sensitive, you can still shop aggressively within this year’s range and focus on clean-history examples with the features you care about most.

How does the 2019 Kia Optima compare to the 2019 Hyundai Sonata?

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