2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2019 Kia Optima, while not as revolutionary in design as its predecessors, still managed to capture attention with its appealing aesthetics. The car featured a distinctive tiger-nose grille, stylish fender-vent trim, and an optional black panoramic glass roof, offering a variety of trim levels to suit different tastes and budgets. However, the availability of interior color options was limited, with black being the predominant choice. The price range for the Optima spanned from $22,900 for the base LX model to $35,790 for the SX Turbo with the Limited Package, with a separate plug-in hybrid model exceeding $42,000. The SX Turbo trim, without the Limited Package, boasted a sleek blacked-out exterior, 18-inch aluminum wheels, red brake calipers, and a striking white pearl paint, giving it a sporty appearance. Inside, the black leather with red inserts, flat-bottom steering wheel, and upgraded instrumentation added to its racy appeal. Despite its allure, the Limited Package upgrade was preferred for its luxurious touches, including chrome accents and quilted Nappa leather, all for under $37,000.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was lauded as one of the best-looking cars on the market, despite not being a sports or luxury car. Available as both a sedan and a hatchback, the latter was particularly striking with its clean rear quarter panel and sharply raked rear window, reminiscent of sports car taillights. The interior was equally impressive, with a dramatic design featuring forward-positioned cupholders and a seamless integration of technology. The Mazda3's cabin was compared to that of a luxury vehicle, with its clean, uncluttered spaces and high-quality materials. The driving experience was enhanced by a low, sports car-like seating position, with controls enveloping the driver, including a controller dial for the 8.8-inch MazdaConnect infotainment system. The Mazda3 offered various trims, with the Premium trims featuring leather seats, a power moonroof, and adaptive headlights. The Premium Hatchback, with its burgundy-and-black leather interior, was particularly noteworthy, though the base hatchback was also highly recommended for its value.

The 2019 Kia Optima offered a range of five engines, including hybrid options. The base LX and sporty S trims were equipped with a 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the mid-grade EX Turbo featured a 178-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The hybrid models provided impressive fuel efficiency, with the hybrid returning 41 mpg in combined driving and the plug-in hybrid offering up to 28 miles of electric range. The SX Turbo trim, tested with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, delivered smooth, linear acceleration. A 6-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with four driving modes available: Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart. The Smart mode adjusted vehicle behavior based on driving style, while Sport mode was ideal for spirited driving. The SX Turbo trim featured a unique rack-mounted steering system, providing better feel, though it lacked crispness on mountain roads. The sport-tuned suspension offered a firm ride, smoothing out speed humps effectively. Overall, the Optima SX Turbo was enjoyable to drive, though not a true performance sedan.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower, paired with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The car offered front-wheel drive or the newly available all-wheel drive (AWD), though AWD was only available with the automatic transmission. The SkyActiv-G engine provided responsive acceleration, athletic handling, and composed ride quality, making it a great commuter car with potential for driving enthusiasts. The most efficient version was the FWD automatic sedan with the Premium package, achieving 27 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The AWD hatchback was the least efficient, returning 24/32/27. The sedan with AWD returned 25/33/28, while the hatchback with FWD and manual transmission returned 25/35/29. The test model achieved 28.2 mpg in combined driving. The upcoming SkyActiv-X engine promised diesel-like power and efficiency while running on gasoline, but the current SkyActiv-G engine was already impressive.

The 2019 Kia Optima excelled as a daily driver, offering comfort, simplicity, and ample storage. The controls were logically arranged and easy to use, with buttons and knobs reducing reliance on the touchscreen infotainment system. The Optima boasted a spacious interior, with a 15.9-cubic-foot trunk and numerous storage cubbies. The front seats offered various power adjustments, with available heating and ventilation. The standard leather upholstery looked good but felt stiff, while the Limited Package upgrade provided luxurious Nappa leather and additional features. The backseat offered impressive legroom and comfort, with rear air-conditioning vents and quick-charging USB ports. The Smart Trunk feature was convenient for hands-free access, though it could open unintentionally. Overall, the Optima was practical, comfortable, and easy to live with, especially with the SX Turbo's Limited Package.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan offered 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While the hatchback's cargo space was serviceable, it couldn't match the Kia Soul's 61 cubic feet. The Mazda3's low, sports car-like seating position was comfortable for front-seat passengers but made rear-seat accommodations tight, especially for taller individuals. The center console featured a deep tray and a center bin, though the armrest design was criticized for its awkward operation. Despite these drawbacks, the Mazda3 was comfortable for daily commuting, though other vehicles might offer better utility for carrying gear.

The 2019 Kia Optima came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display featuring the latest UVO technology, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, voice recognition, a USB port, and a reversing camera. The Optima S and EX Turbo trims added satellite radio and UVO eServices, which included 9-1-1 Connect emergency response. UVO eServices relied on the smartphone's data plan, offering remote access to certain vehicle functions via a smartphone app. The SX Turbo trim included a navigation system, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the font choice was unique. The voice-recognition technology was flexible, though not a natural system.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured an 8.8-inch screen running the MazdaConnect infotainment system, with crisp graphics and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system was entirely remote-controlled, with no touchscreen functionality. Mazda claimed rotary dial controls were safer, though this decision was controversial. The test model included a head-up display with excellent graphics and a digital instrument panel. The infotainment system required hands-on testing to determine user preference, as it differed from traditional touchscreens.

The 2019 Kia Optima offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Rear parking-assist sensors and a driver-monitoring system were also standard. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a surround-view camera system. The Optima's advanced safety features were effective and customizable, contributing to its top-notch crash-test ratings. The IIHS awarded the Optima SX Turbo top ratings, except for child safety seat LATCH anchor accessibility, which received an Acceptable rating. The federal government gave the Optima 5-star ratings in all assessments, except for a 4-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 hatchback came standard with i-Activsense, a suite of driver-assistance features including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and driver-attention alerts. However, these features were not standard on the base sedan trim, requiring the Select Sedan trim for inclusion. The hatchback's large C-pillars created significant blind spots, and the auto-engage parking brake system was unintuitive. The electronic parking brake engaged automatically and released when the accelerator was pressed, but the process was not straightforward. The owner's manual provided a bypass method, but it was complex.