How safe is the Kia Optima?
Drivers of the 2019–2020 Kia Optima died at a rate of 80 per million registered vehicle years, 87% higher than the average of 38 for all vehicles. That makes it one of the riskiest vehicles on the road for its driver: it ranks 112th of 127 vehicles, safer than 12% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
This is the most recent IIHS data for this model, covering 2019–2020 models. It doesn't appear in the newer 2023 study, often because it was redesigned or discontinued.
Where the Kia Optima sits among all 127 vehicles
Kia Optima (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 38
The rate is based on a moderate amount of data, so treat small differences from nearby vehicles with caution.
Vehicles ranked near the Kia Optima
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | Ford Mustang GT coupeSports car · Midsize | 77 | 13 |
| 110 | Chevrolet Camaro convertibleSports car · Large | 113 | 13 |
| 111 | Chevrolet TraxSUV · Small | 74 | 13 |
| 112 | Kia OptimaCar · Midsize | 80 | 12 |
| 113 | Ford Mustang convertibleSports car · Midsize | 97 | 11 |
| 114 | Chevrolet ImpalaCar · Large | 80 | 10 |
| 115 | Kia Rio sedanCar · Mini | 122 | 10 |
How it compares with other cars
Among the 30 cars ranked, the Kia Optima is 17th. The safest cars are below. See all cars.
| Cars rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet BoltCar · Small | 8 | 83 |
| 2 | Toyota Camry hybridCar · Midsize | 19 | 68 |
| 3 | Toyota Prius PrimeCar · Small | 23 | 60 |
| 4 | Ford Fusion hybridCar · Midsize | 25 | 53 |
| 5 | Subaru WRXCar · Small | 38 | 40 |
| 17 | Kia OptimaCar · Midsize | 80 | 12 |
Common questions
Is the Kia Optima a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Kia Optima is one of the riskiest vehicles on the road for its driver. Its driver death rate of 80 per million registered vehicle years is 87% higher than the average, and it ranks 112th of 127 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Kia Optima compare with other cars?
It ranks 17th of 30 cars. The safest is the Chevrolet Bolt, with a rate of 8.
Why is this different from the Kia Optima's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.