Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Kia Optima VS 2015 Ford Fusion Near Phoenix, AZ

The Optima has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Fusion doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Optima and the Fusion have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Optima is safer than the Ford Fusion:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Optima is safer than the Ford Fusion:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Optima comes with a full 5 year/60,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24 hour roadside assistance. The Fusion’s 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Optima 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ford covers the Fusion. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Fusion ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Optima has a standard 600-amp battery. The Fusion’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2014 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

The Optima has more powerful engines than the Fusion:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Optima 2.4 4 cyl. is faster than the Ford Fusion 1.5 ECOBoost:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Optima Turbo is faster than the Ford Fusion 2.0 ECOBoost:

On the EPA test cycle the Optima with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Fusion FWD with its standard engine (23 city/34 hwy vs. 22 city/34 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Optima uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Fusion with the 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Optima has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Fusion FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Optima has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Fusion AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 17.5 gallons).

For better stopping power the Optima SX’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Fusion:

The Optima stops shorter than the Fusion:

For better maneuverability, the Optima’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Fusion’s (35.8 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

The Optima has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear hip room than the Fusion.

The Optima has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Fusion doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Optima’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Fusion SE/Titanium.

Both the Optima and the Fusion offer available heated front seats. The Optima EX/SX also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Fusion.

Both the Optima and the Fusion offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Optima EX/SX has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Fusion S doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Optima is less expensive to operate than the Fusion because typical repairs cost less on the Optima than the Fusion, including $16 less for front brake pads, $39 less for a fuel pump and $11 less for a power steering pump.

The Kia Optima has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Optima second among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Fusion isn’t in the top three.