2019 Kia Optima vs 2019 Toyota Prius

The 2019 Kia Optima, while not as groundbreaking as its 2011–2015 predecessor, still managed to capture attention with its trademark tiger-nose grille, sassy fender-vent trim, and available black panoramic glass roof. The variety of trim levels allowed buyers to find the right look at the right price. However, the availability of interior colors was limited, making it challenging to find the perfect combination. Prices ranged from $22,900 for the base LX to $35,790 for the SX Turbo with the luxurious Limited Package. The plug-in hybrid model topped $42,000. The SX Turbo trim, with its blacked-out exterior, machined-face 18-inch aluminum wheels, red brake calipers, and white pearl paint, looked like a stealthy sports sedan. Inside, black leather with red inserts, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and upgraded instrumentation added to its racy appearance.

In contrast, the 2019 Toyota Prius was not known for its looks. The fourth-generation Prius, introduced in 2016, had an extroverted design that some argued hurt its sales. Despite this, the Prius offered a simple solution for daily driving. The 2019 lineup included L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited trims, with prices starting at $23,770 and going up to $32,200, excluding the $930 destination charge. The AWD-e system was an additional cost. The XLE AWD test car, painted in Electric Storm Blue, featured an Advanced Technology Package with a head-up display, aluminum wheels, and other upgrades, bringing the price to $32,146. The interior had a centralized control layout, with a digital instrumentation strip and a joystick-style gear selector. The gloss black interior trim, however, was a dust magnet.

The 2019 Kia Optima offered five different engines, including hybrid powertrains. The base LX and sporty S trims had a 185-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, while the mid-grade EX Turbo featured a 178-hp, 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models were also available, with the former returning 41 mpg in combined driving and the latter offering up to 28 miles of pure electric range. The SX Turbo test car had a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 245 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. The 6-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with four driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart. The car averaged 23.5 mpg on the testing loop, just short of the EPA’s estimate of 24 mpg. The SX Turbo trim had a unique rack-mounted electrically assisted steering system, providing better feel at the wheel. However, the steering lacked crispness on mountain roads, and the brakes heated up and faded under heavy use. The sport-tuned suspension offered a firm ride, but excess body motion reduced confidence on twisty roads.

The 2019 Toyota Prius combined a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor to produce 121 horsepower. The optional AWD-e system added a 5-kilowatt rear electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The rear motor powered the wheels up to 6 mph and provided extra traction up to 43 mph. The AWD-e system resulted in lower gas mileage, with the standard FWD Prius getting 52 mpg in combined driving and the AWD-e version getting 50 mpg. The test car averaged 48.6 mpg. The CVT handled power to the front wheels, with a dashboard-mounted joystick for transmission controls. The Prius offered a good ride and decent handling, with instant torque from the electric motors in Power mode. The EV driving mode allowed for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph. The Prius was quiet in urban environments but had more road noise on the freeway. The AWD-e system was not cost-effective compared to snow tires, and the car rolled slightly after choosing Park.

The 2019 Kia Optima provided comfort, simplicity, and ample storage for daily driving. Controls were logically laid out and easy to use, with buttons and knobs limiting interaction with the touchscreen infotainment system. The Optima had a spacious 15.9-cubic-foot trunk and plenty of storage cubbies. The front seats offered various power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The standard leather was stiff, but the Limited Package offered Nappa leather and additional luxury features. Backseat legroom was impressive, with good thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle. Rear air-conditioning vents and quick-charging USB ports were also provided. The Smart Trunk feature automatically opened the trunk lid when standing behind the car with the key fob, though it could be turned off. Overall, the Optima was easy to live with, offering comfort, practicality, and a touch of luxury with the Limited Package.

The 2019 Toyota Prius had comfortable seating for four adults, with manual height adjustment for the driver’s seat but not the front passenger’s seat. Both front seats were heated, as was the steering wheel. Rear passengers had a tall cushion with good thigh support and decent legroom, but no air conditioning vents. The XLE and Limited trims had SofTex leatherette upholstery, which trapped sweat on hot days. The Prius offered up to 27.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seat, or 24.2 cubic feet in the LE, XLE, and Limited trims. Folding the rear seat down provided up to 65.5 cubic feet of space, or 62.7 cubic feet with AWD-e. These figures were comparable to small crossover SUVs, making the Prius a viable alternative for those not tackling challenging terrain.

The 2019 Kia Optima came with a generous standard infotainment system, including an 8-inch touchscreen display, UVO technology, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, voice recognition, a USB port, and a reversing camera. The S and EX Turbo trims added satellite radio and UVO eServices, which ran on the smartphone’s data plan. The UVO eServices included a smartphone app for remote access to vehicle functions and remote start. The SX Turbo trim added a navigation system, HD Radio, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a unique font choice and flexible voice-recognition technology.

The 2019 Toyota Prius limited its most impressive infotainment system to the Limited trim, which included an 11.6-inch touchscreen, navigation, Entune App Suite, JBL sound system, satellite radio, and Safety Connect subscription services. The XLE AWD-e test car had the standard 6.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and a CD player. The flush glass surface and stubby knobs gave it a sophisticated look. The test car also had wireless smartphone charging. The Prius' instrumentation was housed in a horizontal strip below the windshield, with a mix of modern and outdated displays. The Advanced Technology Package included a head-up display, adaptive headlights, and a Hybrid System Indicator. The Prius lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though it did have a CD player.

The 2019 Kia Optima included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems as standard, making it a great value for a family-size car. Standard features included 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 worked well, with subtle lane-keeping assist technology. The car received top ratings from the IIHS, except for child safety seat LATCH anchor accessibility, which was rated Acceptable. The federal government gave the Optima 5-star ratings in every test assessment, except for a 4-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision.

The 2019 Toyota Prius also included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies as standard. The Toyota Safety Sense collection included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The LE trim added a blind-spot-monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, and an Intelligent Clearance Sonar system with parking assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist systems worked unobtrusively, and the automatic high-beam headlights were effective. The Prius received a 5-star rating from the federal government, with a 4-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact crash. The IIHS gave the Prius a Top Safety Pick rating, with small overlap front passenger frontal impact protection rated as Acceptable.