2016 Kia Optima vs 2016 Volkswagen Passat

These two sedans seem to be forgotten cars in their segment, but they are both solid alternatives to the more mainstream picks. www.autoguide.c...
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[@TheSirUno]

How on earth is an analog clock a joke? It's just plain classic, practical, and tasteful looking. Still have them on cars costing $200K and up.

[@Lion-dr7uv]

TheSirUno I use the analog clock in my Passat all the time

[@joecampbell2529]

You lost me when you criticized the analog clock, that's nice touch.

[@Lion-dr7uv]

Joe Campbell I agree.

[@swiizzie5220]

right

[@JJPhilosophy]

Agreed. Definitely more so classic style

[@dootdoot1867]

-1 for making fun of Analog clock. Those are classic.

[@lefty1999]

+DootDoot yeah a joke you know like Mercedes S class and Rolls Royce

[@mattmolloy636]

DootDoot Some analog clocks are tacky and unnecessary. Think Chrysler Town & Country 😂 Do the Bentley/ RR/ MB 600 Maybach vehicles have analog clock with mechanical movement? Or is it all battery operated with no guts?

[@ayubkhan-sb2ts]

A DootDoot

[@CarBoy108]

DootDoot bently has an optional analogue clock which costs more than the car itself

[@dblockvillin]

DootDoot I was thinking the same thing what an idiot

[@mdossantosd]

The KIA appeals to people who use the word "fancy". The VW appeals to people with class, taste and appreciation for a quality product. The KIA is for those that think eating as much trash food as they can at Hometown Buffet is the way to go, the VW is for those that dine at a nice local Italian restaurant with table service.

[@DRAGONIKification]

+M DOSD Lol))))VW and quality cant be in one sentence,VW is unreliable,ugly piece of shit.

[@Pillowthingy]

Ok... what are you trying to prove??

[@bobtee5069]

volkwagen is for those who cant spend on an audi but wants a german car. fukkk wv is so ugly..plain and boring look. sorry its true. and kia is number 1 this yr on quality and reliability on jd motor u.s.a . they were number 2 last yr behind porsche now they are number. they never seen in 27 yrs that a non luxury brand ever passed the rest of the automakers. and kia is living lroof. haters going to hate.

[@mckensiehoggle4149]

I like how they choose 2 totally different cars. You have a $35,000 Kia loaded and a $22,000 Volkswagen standard grade. The Kia has a v6 motor in it and the Volkswagen has a 1.8 liter. I drive a 2007 v6 Volkswagen and to this day it still will get up and go and will leave other cars in its dust. Volkswagen is a great dependable car.

[@mckensiehoggle4149]

Sorry Kia has a 2. Something

[@AsianBlackR3501]

No, KIA has 4 cylinders turbocharged, Dumb ass!

[@minnesnowtan9970]

I was planning on getting a Jetta but I got a '15 Passat. Old man car? Children, use your words to say what that really means. Otherwise you sound like you're still having parent issues. My Passat has three pedals, not just two like most Americans buy. Paddles shifters are as sporty as an xbox, but if you are a real driver then you know how to finesse a clutch and pass anything. As for the clock being a joke, it actually has a couple of pointers (called "hands", yeah, it's strange) and these pointers in conjunction with the 12 number dial (round gauge) actually indicate the time. You don't need a digital display to know the time, and once you learn to use it, a quick glance is all you need. People often call things that they don't understand "a joke". From August 2015 to June 2016, my overall fuel economy has been 31.7mpg. That includes a Minnesota winter, but the car was garaged. And it covered about 20,000 miles. I have done curves marked 25mph at 40mph with no roll or hint of tire squeal. When going through 50 or 55mph sections of freeway construction, I get 45+ mpg in cruise control and some of my 25 mile trips have averaged over 40 mpg. On those same trips, I have "merged" onto a highway just as the traffic had a green light, so rather than try to find a place in that crowd I just shift to third and floor it, passing the lead cars while I am in the acceleration lane. I'll soon be at 65 or 70mph, and then I'll be on the main road and gently shift it into high gear and set cruise control. A great balance of power and economy, especially with the third pedal.

[@carstonjohnson9860]

I swear, there is something magical about that little 1.8 liter in the VW. It is so much more powerful than you'd ever expect if you haven't driven one. Both are fine cars though, it just depends if you want bang for the buck or refinement. It would be nice if something offered both at the same time.

[@jamesg2818]

what the hell is autoguide talking about? Kia is the same thing as hyundai and they typically sell the same. The comment about them being not well known is a thing of the past. They are more then relevant..

[@jaredshelton4718]

Definitely.... especially more than VW

[@ayeealbores4629]

Will go for Volkswagen Passat. Solid car indeed. The feel of experiencing decent driving is just unbeatable!! I love my VW Passat!!

[@ssr1680]

Where's the vr6 passat with 280 horsepower?

[@diezel5267]

Yeah, it seems like they compared the higher level kia against a more standard trim level passat. Also, Volkswagen build quality is (hands down) superior to kia

[@kpag3030]

The Passat STARTS at 36,000... The Kia starts around 23,000. It's fully loaded at 37,000. That's so much car for the money in that class

[@Smallyardguy]

Kelly Pagano get your facts right lol. Passat starts at 22500 bro go online and check the facts before commenting

[@kpag3030]

@@Smallyardguy did I hurt your feelings or something because I was wrong? Lol. Relax bro. I misunderstood the video. They SAID the Passat starts under 36,000 and the Kia at this trim is around 37,000. They meant both cars were top trim. I made a mistake. Oh my!!

[@GranDaddo]

US Passat is waaay different than EU Passat. Drove company Passat two months ago and it was just superb on 5hrs drive.

[@76carmel]

I think the VR6 (VW's V6 engine) version of the Passat should be compared to the Kia Optima SX (the trim with the 2.0L Turbo). And the 1.8 Turbo Inline--4 of the Passat would go with the normally aspirated 2.4L Inline-4 in the Optima LX and EX (their top sellers).

[@mrgibbz101]

I agree cause this line up is sooo unfair

[@brandonfriesen5389]

So the Passat lost because: -It feels like your an old man(classy, no?) -Steering is a little dead on centre And the Kia won because: -It feels sporty -Looks good Buyers who want midsize cars, do not care about sportiness. They care about fuel economy, practicality, and value. All attributes that these guys said the Passat is better at, so no AutoGuide, you're wrong. -Sincerely a Mazda6 owner.

[@kokopuffs5789]

Yeah and this new Optima has better value than the Passat or a Mazda 6

[@brandonfriesen5389]

jorge romani Not from this test. Passat has a lower base price and has more features. Even on the 28,000 mid level trim, it has adaptive cruise control as standard. The Kia needs to be $35,000+ to have adaptive cruise.

[@kokopuffs5789]

Base price of the optima is $22140 and the Passat is $22440 making the optima $300 cheaper

[@freddyr439]

Kias have no resale value. They have even less than a chrysler. That is for a reason. Look up engine shavings Kia Hyunda 60k mi

[@melonbarmonster]

+Freddy Ramirez you're stuck in 2008

[@juliusjones1154]

You will be old one day and you won't get old man vibes. These people compared a top line Kia to a bottom line Passat.

[@hbcaptain1]

Julius Jones..Owe both. Passat is a much more refined car and sporty as hell. Kia fast & sloppy. They can go by looks. I go by what car maintains it's composure in severe driving. Passat doesn't skip a beat, precise and agile. Kia is downright scary, definitely get you in trouble.

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

casey myers have you even ever driven a KIA?

[@hbcaptain1]

killnetic bane You'll learn when when you grow up and get some miles under your belt. Lol....you always know when the person on the other end is a millenial LMAO!

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

Casey I'm not necessarily and old timer but I'm definitely not a millennial. Before enrolling into a university I used to work as a professional driver in my country (with all the special licenses that comes with that). I've driven cars, suv's, utility trucks, busses, lorries (semi trucks), etc. And those I did not drive for commercial purposes, i drove them during test drives. The reason I asked you if you've actually driven a KIA is because KIA is one of the few brands I've never actually driven, but your claims that they are "downright scary, definitely get you in trouble" seemed pretty hard to believe, especially since the other i was cruising in a corolla at 180 kph (112 mph) and a got overtook by a fancy look KIA sedan as if i was standing still. The way it moved passed me... it looked very smooth and composed, no drama at all. Are you sure your experience on KIA is not based on some entry level KIA Picanto?

[@jaredshelton4718]

@@hbcaptain1 Volkswagen sucks. You've never even driven a Kia

[@herczeus9341]

Really? Every other review says the Optima is way ahead of the Passat in every imaginable way!

[@Vencarter]

test drove both, including the 2016 honda civic. totally fell for the kia as soon as i started driving it, hot damn they've stepped up their game so much. i freaking love it, mine isnt even loaded and id still take it over that vw.

[@molo1706]

For a moment i thought i was watching vehicle virgins lol

[@hbcaptain1]

These two don't have a clue. Own both cars, I like the Kia but it doesn't come close to the refinement of the Passat. Ride, handling, braking, noise level, engine drivability, gas mileage are all better with my Passat. And it's more fun too drive! The Kia is fast but disappointing with numb steering and brakes. Never quite sure where it's headed and where it's going to come to a complete stop. The Passat is precise with great feedback, you always know exactly what the car is going to do every time. Passat wins hands down. No plans to get rid of Fast & Sloppy, but when the time comes the Kia is gone. VW stays!

[@sxyaeprep]

I drove a Optima and bought the Passat. On the Optima test drive, something broke in the steering. When you turned the wheel it would have a popping fealing. Immediate turn-off. The dealer was so embarrassed. Also the steering was horrible and felt dead weight in the Kia. When looking at 1-2 year old Optimas,, the button labels were already wearing off.. I perfer my 2014 Passat 1.8T to a 2014 Optima (Turbo WAS NOT available). With a Kia.. You get cheap bells and wistles. With the Passat you get intelligent manufacturing and quality. As i told my friend..Kia wil give you a cool lighted cup holder, while a Passat gives you better engineering.

[@still34u]

What people don't realize, is that the Passat was actually replaced by it's brother CC and Passat itself fell down a step. So - if you are trying to compare apples to apples, you should have compared the CC instead of the Passat.

[@elevationair82]

Those of you saying Kia has a poor reliability or use poor quality materials are living in the past. Either you've never owned or even been in one. Don't base your judgments from '90s or early 00's Kia's. Honda Accord or Toyota Camry? Please. This isn't the 90's.

[@jacques2007smith]

40 seconds into this and I'm mad. How are you going to test an upgraded engine Kia engine vs a base engine VW. Starts off as BS...... Moving on to another review.

[@jakefedele4421]

First issue, that's the base engine in the Passat, and the up-level engine in the Kia.. I guarantee if they had gotten a Passat with the VR6, the test would've gone completely different... This is an annoyingly biased review. Don't get me wrong I love the Kia, awesome headlights, the panoramic sunroof is sick but they missed a lot of key points here.

[@charleyjackson6086]

"Old man vibe"? What a lazy, stupid, condescending comment. May the ghost of Carroll Shelby haunt your dreams.

[@RagingBad]

She should've said old woman's car

[@darrelljones6726]

Charley Jackson that car definitely has old man vibes

[@jaredshelton4718]

I agree with her on that. VW makes old man cars

[@terranceparker8990]

I've driven both and I preferred the quality and Audi(esque) refinement that I felt in the Passat. If I needed a long term value car I'd go Kia just because of the warranty. There is NO question the Passat out performs the Kia in the driving category (Corners and/or Cruiser) hands down. The little 1.8 turbo engine feels so smooth that it feels much bigger than it really is. You can barely feel the gears changing. (Engineering) The B7 Passat is 2 inches smaller than the A6 Audi built on the same platform and shares the same entry level engine although it has been slightly detuned and still it delivers 38mpg U.S. with plenty passing power. With the emissions scandal in there rear view it remains to be seen if it will help to stabilize the sagging resale value of this particular VW product which currently is one of there worse.

[@heyitsme939]

put that led lightning package on the Passat and that thing is one sexy car.

[@vikk5459]

The Passat is honestly the most boring car I've seen ever. The interior looks identical to a Jetta's with the exception of some wood trim, and that teeny tiny engine couldn't keep up with the Optima if it tried, and the Optima has WAY more features than the Passat. Can't believe the Passat won this one.

[@drinkingthatkool-aid3193]

It's just to make VW not feel so bad about diesel gate.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

+Vikk 54 "...the Kia is the better pick. The Optima has a better drive, an interesting interior, and feels more youthful. Because of that, we prefer it, because it makes a bold statement." If people watch the video to the, the Kia won. That said, I'd still take the VW any day over a Kia...just without the wood trim. The VW looks much, much classier. You could show up to a nice function without being embarrassed by a garish looking (in comparison) vehicle, or have to tell people you arrived in a Kia. But that is exactly the difference between the two, as mentioned in the video. The Kia is more youthful and aggressive, the VW is more laid back, muted, and comfortable. It's just personal taste. Both are good cars. Just depends what you want, which is cool.

[@liyanxu]

+Vikk 54 It is just about personal preference

[@bobtee5069]

+Jween Tech for a good cheap german cars sure it might replace audi for a minute .youre mixing up the names vs quality and price. i rather come out with a kia optima than old style vw look cuz i cant afford an audi. cmon things changed. when can we all say now that kia is a damn nice car and reliable than honda and toyotas cuz they topped 1 on jd quality list in usa. no excuse.

[@AlienBros]

bob tee Agreed. I just got a 2016 Optima EX and love it. People hate on Kia for literally no reason. I bought it over the Acura ILX and the Lexus is200t because in all honesty it felt better to drive and more luxurious. It's sad that I am even saying that. Next car will be the Kia Stinger though. That will be super nice.

[@kevman949]

The cars starting at 36 and 37 thousand dollars? Is that just a terrible error are or those Canadian prices?

[@AutoGuide]

+Kev erino Those are the starting prices for the top trim levels we tested. Base Optimas and Passats start at around $22K.

[@kevman949]

Just shocked that two mainstream midsized could have ever gotten to those prices regardless of options...especially since the Passat doesn't even have the V6.

[@urafudgehead]

+Kev erino Dunno about the Passat, but you can get most of the same stuff in the Kia Optima SX closer to 34k. The 37k adds the nappa quilter leather option and a few other niceties. I would definitely wait 2 or 3 years and pick either of these two up used with 26k miles or so. They just depreciate SO fast. Great buys used.

[@PremierAutoMan86]

+Kev erino Crazy, but you can load up a V6 Camry XLE, V6 Accord Touring, or any top trim midsize into the mid to upper $30k range :/

[@drinkingthatkool-aid3193]

+Kev erino Passat has a V6, specifically a VR6 where cylinders are offset

[@SushiBandit28]

Just wanted to say that you compared a higher performance Optima to a base Passat. That's why the Passat felt "boring" to drive.

[@thiagolima7344]

number 1 in word , number 1 in Europe, number in China ... VOLKSWAGEN !!!!

[@71vwdriver]

I think that "old man looks" are more classy. Wood trim, the aluminum accents and the clock are all elegant touches. I think the Kia has a much more interesting design, but the VW is probably better built. But I can't really judge until I drive both.

[@MewCat100]

Why are you guys straining your voices? Just talk normally.

[@DUB2DY4]

FYI - there's also a V6 option, as well as an R Line package with looks that would destroy that Kia.

[@melonbarmonster]

No one buys top trim for either cars. You guys need to do these reviews with bottom trim

[@M4NA5]

Damn, sylvester and tweety back at it again with car comparisons!

[@nabeilaab3183]

i had passat and Kia optima , there is noway you compare Kia with passat ,,, passat is far far better

[@MandusahRamirez]

I Miss AutoGuide but, watching this Review makes Me Realize why AutoGuide isn’t around anymore..

[@yippie6862]

Wood finish and an analog clock give her old man vibes! I guess Mercedes, Audi, and Bentley are old man too?? I'll take understated styling any day. No old man sugar daddy's for this gal. :)

[@RagingBad]

She's a dumb ass

[@FIFAracer]

Prefering a sedan, because it's more sporty? That's like saying: "I love the Lambo, because of the nice backseats..". I mean, come on.. For a sedan it's important to be pratical, economical, cheap and good for journeys.

[@liyanxu]

+FIFAracer agree

[@BIGJBIGEBIGC]

Here's my way at looking at these two cars, the Kia is kinda like that awesome looking quality furniture you see for a cheap price and you get excited to buy it cause of the price, the you get it and over a short period of time you realize hmmm okay this thing is breaking down quite faster than it should. Meanwhile you have the Passat, a decent looking chair, gets the job done fine, cost just as much as the Kia, yet last tons longer, and outlast that cheap but good looking vibe. If you want to look at reliability, chose the Passat, if you're not blind you'll agree that you've seen plenty of old Passats still going on these streets vs the new Kia's that still have to prove themselves.

[@bobtee5069]

i drove the optima 2014 for 2 yrs now... wow!! impressed. smooth ride and did not regret it. 5yrs warranty . by the way kia is number 1 this yr on quality and reliability on jd motor u.s.a . they were number 2 last yr behind porsche now they are number 1. they never seen in 27 yrs that a non luxury brand ever passed the rest of the automakers. and kia is living lroof. haters going to hate.

[@sstevenn1212]

simple, informative, and overall well done. That is why I prefer auto guide over various other car channels.

[@jeepthing98]

I know this video is years old as I type this ( June 2023) but as others noted, the entire video became irrelevant when he called the analog clock a "joke." That touch is to elevate the interior for people who actually enjoy some class in their cars. Maybe for people who can't read an analog clock it would be a "joke."

[@rickb.341]

nowadays any nerd with a computer can make a car video.. its best to do your own research on this stuff.

[@jasonlemon7362]

I have both a 2017 kia optima and a 2015 TDI Passat. both are great cars

[@Moisi547]

Saying an analog clock is a joke means you call that in a rolls Royce a joke! There is also a difference between smooth drive and better practicality in its segment (passat) and sporty but noisy drive (Kia).You totally judged this review on personal preference of styling and not performance and quality! How can a car be more practical, smooth driving, better fuel economy and even cheaper;qualities which all fits cars of its segment, be less better than that which has none of those qualities.Disappointed!

[@ckloh5938]

Auto Guide you should compare Volkswagen Passat 2017 HighLine TSI to Kia Optima 2017 Full Spec you can't compare a Entry Level Passat

[@zeuslinux]

In Brazil Passat is sold with a 2.0 TSI engine with 220 hp, the same used in Golf GTI.

[@carolyngoebel-games8633]

why is the analog clock a joke? can you not tell time unless it's printed out for you. you two are the joke!

[@imhs81]

Yes! Optima could be best looking asian sedan out there! Keep it up!

[@seanliu3652]

I still think Mazda6 wins.

[@imhs81]

+Tianshuang Liu no. the 6's grill is ugly. looks like you haven't seen this new model yet

[@cassiocm]

I think it was a bit apples to oranges here. A better comparison would have been the Kia with the 1.6T vs a lower trim Passat but still with the 1.8T. Or the V6 Passat. What do you think?

[@resentertainment1990]

VW passat looks so much better then the KIA...old man vibes? What a joke!

[@jay-uo2bi]

No, Passat is bland and boring looking imo. Kia stands out.Though, looks and sound is always very subjective.

[@danc1197]

I'll take door #3. The Mazda 6. There is no comparison. the features of kia, the reliability of VW, And looks better than all.

[@justrandomthings319]

Optima > Passat. Better engine. Better interior. Better looks. Better features.

[@gs98999]

At 4:30 they say the passat has no trouble keeping up with the kia. Passat has 75hp less. So I wouldn't say better engine, also passat has an optional 280hp engine which they don't seem to know about In the vid.

[@xplaur]

2016 Passat? Bitch please! Look at the Real Brand new Passat available on the EU market and then come back!

[@FiredEmpire]

+Laurentiu Dumitru I bet the Euro Passat can't cross the pond because they never get it match the US's strict gas emissions without cheating.

[@xplaur]

+averagejoe Here we go, another marketing victim! To have an idea, the Euro6 is way more restrictive than those California rules and guess what, more than 70% of cars there are diesel, so.....

[@lee541982]

There is nothing wrong with being an old man's car. Sometimes it's a compliment, meaning this product keeps tradition.

[@whitb003]

They said the Passat starts at 36k, I looked it up and that is the top end price... it starts at 22k. The Optima starts at 21k and tops out at 34k. I am not sure where they got those numbers. I would never pay 37k for a Kia or a Volkswagen.

[@whitb003]

***** lol, yeah that could be it.

[@infamous_MB]

there's nothing more boring than a Volkswagen

[@Wasabi9111]

What is the quietest mid sized sedan out there? The Camry, Passat, etc?

[@antrod8014]

I couldn't go past the 1:00 mark. Your lisp was too much to handle for me.

[@mayowaolugboji3576]

You can't really call this a fair comparison. The difference in power between the two engines are too wide apart. And same with the price range. The SE/SEL V6 Passat is the car you should've used. It's on par with the SKL Optima in price, features and power.

[@kireatanasov6387]

I hate to criticize but how can you compare to competing cars and get one top spec and the other mid tier. I'm not cheering for the Passat but that Kia coats $37000, for that money you can get vr6 Passat with equivalent equipment and that car can do laps around the Kia. Instead we get two cars that have a price difference of close to $10000. Get serious guys if your not going to do it right just don't do it at all, otherwise your just embarrassing yourselves.

[@dwevors]

WRONG! The quality of the Volkswagen far exceeds the Kia!!! Really?

[@uwish7]

Does the optima have a 60/40 fold down

[@keodease2]

Yes

[@donshin6717]

optima is better.

[@jamesT008]

I wonder how u compare Kia Optima with VW Passat in firstplace? Qlity, Luxry, Performance etc r unmachable

[@Wbrooks01]

To be a fair comparison, they should have used the SEL V6 on the Passat.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Great video! Both are great choices but I think I would have the Passat! :)

[@abdbach379]

You can clearly see which brand sponsored this video.

[@tomwebber9377]

hahahaha...sorry. kids. you have no idea what a 'big' car really is. You've been raised being driven around in minivans and SUV's your whole lives. My first car could be melted down and used to make 3 Kia Optima sedans. I've driven the Kia, the Hyundai and the VW. I chose the VW #1 for the solid feel of the structure. The vault like 'thunk' of the door when it closes tells me that it's going to do very well in the event of an impact. #2 the ride comfort. Being in a quiet environment makes the entire experience much more pleasant. #3 value. I feel as though the overall value of the VW is greater. If you have to offer a 10yr warranty to bring people in the door (although you will more than likely never use it, Kia/Hyundai are just that good), it still comes off as more of a gimick than a necessity. VW backs it all up with 3/36 & 5/60 which should be good enough for anyone.

[@ricorob100]

The 100k warranty is a limited power train warranty "limited!" A five year 60k basic limited warranty, that includes a five year 100k limited perforation warranty. They include a lot of limited in their warranties which is the reason they also have one of the highest complaints per vehicle for their deceiving warranty coverage for cars that seem to have tons of quality issues from electrical, to motor issues! Not a VW fan either, but after all of the issues with my families Kia we'll never buy their junk again.

[@chaz13748]

We just bought a Optima 3 days ago, with an unlimited motor train warranty, 60,000 miles bumper to bumper. And their new thing is the interior, you can burn with a cigarette or spill juice, rip something open. And it's replaced for 7 yrs guarantee. Their warranty moto now is "the car should still look like new up to 7 yrs from purchase date" and yes all these are signed legal documents. Check out their new plans with the new lineup

[@amyjoke]

True we got it today

[@jay-uo2bi]

What an idiot brainwashed by Germans! Kia is very high quality and now I personally like the clunk of closing doors on Hyundai/Kia's more tbh. Also, NO, a nice thumping door does NOT mean it's going to do well in an impact. Take an Audi/Mercedes from decades ago, a nice quality door thump however a old Audi/Mercedes from decades ago will easily perform MUCH worse than a Kia Picanto, Mazda 2 even a Spark/Barina! The ride comfort? Sure, the Passat might be more comfortable BUT the Kia offers performance so in that regard it's what you WANT, some like myself want something quick and that can go around a corner without rolling heaps. But, many purely want a comfortable cars and don't care at all about how quick it can get upto speed so that argument is irrelevant. Value????? Ughh, Kia and Hyundai always win hands down in this regard. You gave no reason why the VW offers better value but rather 'I feel...' You must be rich, again brainwashed by Germans or have NEVER owned or wanted to ever buy a car because 10 year warranty is a FANTASTIC peace of mind for buyers spending 10's of THOUSANDS on their new car. VW back it up with half as much, which is just, WORSE and knowing VW's reliability, your gonna want a big warranty.

[@DEALZ7]

I'd rather the Passat.. ijs... I could never owned a Kia

[@julianmorales5013]

the Kia is a lot nicer after all it was designed by the past chief designer of Audi

[@banstaman]

I'm glad that the Optima [Sonata as well] have really refined their driving characteristics from being among the worst handling to near the top of the class, however, I'm disappointed that the new Optima just looks so soft, it looks like an older Buick compared to what it used to be.

[@Sca408]

i could really care less about going fast and not being able to beat a crx, i like the passat

[@funtimeswithtom4108]

I currently have a 2015 KIA Optima EX with tech package and I can honestly say it is a very good, quality car. If I had any complaints I would say it is noisy and the 2.4l engine has no power whatsoever. I am in the market to trade it in, tech package has way too many things I don't use or care about, so I looked into the 2017 Optima LX 1.6l turbo with the value package and the 2017 Volkswagen Passat R line model and I am buying the Passat. I love the KIA (although the new merlot leather interior that comes with the value package is really tacky) but I found the Passat to feel better built and of higher quality. The interior was quieter and it had more get up and go. The KIA does give you more for the price but I am willing to give up a couple of comfort items for a bit better quality.

[@ssr1680]

What happened to VW vr6 passat?

[@MewCat100]

Where did you dopes get your prices and features lists? You really screwed up.

[@ttroygotknife]

Why is kia one trim higher than the passat? Try compare with VR6 sel passat ?

[@pappiricki]

Euro Passat wins on steering precision against the Optima and the US Passat model lose the test.. Why do you have in the US a total different car?

[@VictorMartinez-eu3zl]

Why can't Volkswagen make a different, and beautiful car for once...

[@jaredshelton4718]

Because VW🤮

[@MadOgre]

Oh they do... it's called Audi.

[@jaredshelton4718]

@@MadOgre no

[@jreddick112]

unfair review they could've got the passat v6

[@ColossalWreck]

the male host is bugging me with his Sylvester the cat impersonation. it's like a lisp but sounds wet

[@christopherjeffers485]

I have a. 2015 Kia. And while the car is amazing. I would take a Passat over a more luxury quieter feel. The Kia does have a loud road noise but that's about it. The new Kia's however shit on the Passat on reliability. I know as long as I keep my maintenance up to date on my Kia I should be good for a long time. The Passat? I don't know not so much imo

[@resentertainment1990]

I've had a 04, 07, 12, and now 16 Passat and never had any major issues with any of them...now my mom had a 2005 Kia Optima and it was a POS. Kia may have changed by now but their reliability was awful around that time.

[@TheAk47fish]

Having driven both of these cars but ending up with a Mazda 6, the Kia really let me down. The interior is WAY to loud. I felt like I was driving with the windows down that's how loud it is. And the steering on the Kia is way to touchy. It's super light, which some people might like I don't personally, and it darts around with the slightest of movements and not in a good way. If you sneeze while driving it you'll hit a wall. The passat on the other hand had slightly heavier steering and I can see what she means about the numb spot in the steering, but the Kias steering never gains any weight while cornering and the passat gets very heavy steering. The trims that they compared are also way off. That's the top of the line Optima and the second to bottom of the line passat. The top of the line passat is a 3.6 liter VR6 engine making 280 hp. Along with it being a lower trim the passat also has a bunch of safety features standard and it has android auto and apple carplay as standard. The interior on the passat is SO much quieter it isn't even fair to compare the two. I can see where she gets the old man vibe from but I see more young people driving passats and more old people driving optimas. The ride on the passat is also 10X better than the Kia. The passat has more headroom upfront and in the rear. More leg room up front and in the rear. And over all is a much roomier car. The passat also holds its value better come time to sell.

[@Doggieman1111]

VW > Kia

[@SY-ve5qm]

If u guys think Mazda 6 is the closest competitor for the look with optima, why can u do a comparison between?

[@Tully3674]

Just rented a Passat for the weekend in New York. Terribly disappointed with it. Ingress/egress not good (sit too low for a sedan). Saw two gaps in the front dash were unacceptable (for a car with 12,000 miles). Also had an intermittent cough with the engine when first accelerating. One good thing about the car was it had a spacious rear seat. Haven't been in an Optima but have driven an Azura and was impressed with its build quality and overall ergonomics.

[@mb013962]

fuel economy?

[@audiwankenobi361]

2 great cars!...I'm totally with VAG but HP will take my money no doubt.

[@13MattAlex]

How are you going to even compare a Volkswagen to a Kia? Compare a Kia to another lower class vehicle, like a Honda. You two obviously can't appreciate Volkswagens/Audi's elegant design, so you call parts of the vehicle a "joke" and "old man feel."

[@sxyaeprep]

A analog clock as a joke? I think it looks so much better then having no clock at all like the Optima! I Looked at Optima SXL, and they were all 1 year old and some of the descriptions on much used buttons such as the power window buttons was already wearing off! The Optima yes gives you nifty red outlined cup holders, however, I would rather have the quality of the VW. I feel like kia makes a decent product but waxes the hell out of it while VW has much more engineering into it and thats what your paying for. Love my Passat SEL Premium. Only complaint is the Navi system can be slow and thats a known issue.

[@RagingBad]

Shut up fan boy

[@davidhamilton506]

I just watched some strange video of someone instructing how to change the Kia logo badge for a weird looking K design on the front, rear and wheel caps of a Kia Optima. What the hell is that all about?...

[@reichsfuehrerniveacreme]

Every once in awhile I come across these cases of extraordinary unconscious bias . . . and this is one of those time. These two reviewers used the phrase "old man" three times in connection with the Passat. You do realize there are people in the world who are older than you, right? And you do realize that not everything is designed for millennials, right? Who do you think buys midsize sedans? 20 year olds? I'm now going to check out your review of the Camry to see if you said the same thing. If you didn't, you just don't like German cars.

[@mr.vander9947]

Passat = NUMBER 1 nice luxury ride !!

[@jaiizwaii89]

Bull shit comparison

[@Flying_in_my_dream]

Why would you guys let people who know nothing about cars and have poor tastes do reviews?

[@ihababbas9863]

Wrong comparison between the Optima which has the SXL trim versus a regular TSi

[@MarcG7424]

You don't have a clue about classic designs specifically the analog clock

[@Bimmer_Bob]

This test is hardly a valid comparison. They are, in US dollars, comparing a (msrp) $29K Passat to a $35K+ Optima. Why didn't they compare a V6 Passat Premium? I'd also like an explanation from them about what they mean by "old man car".

[@kylegoodman5196]

Kind of a wrong comparo here. Should've compared the Optima EX with the 2.5L NA engine with the Passat, or brought the V6 Passat to compete with the powerhouse 2.0L turbo Optima.

[@sxyaeprep]

I wonder how much Kia paid them to make this. Watch other reviews and the kia was towards the end and the Passat was in the top 3

[@eugn86]

The new Passat hasn't arrived?

[@cstm39]

kia makes a bold statement? please

[@farism5313]

I think it does

[@RagingBad]

Please tell me who makes a bold statement? Camry? Gtfo

[@1969cmp]

And with the Stinger around the corner.....😉