Few class rivals can match the sporty driving experience you’ll get in the 2020 Ford Fusion. It delivers a solid performance with a spacious interior, and offers comfort and style on your ride. The 2020 Kia Optima is another midsize sedan to compare, but there are some notable differences that will make the Ford Fusion your choice. Let’s explore the differences in Brighton Ford’s comparison guide.
Design and Safety Features
The 2020 Ford Fusion is an appealing four-door sedan that offers plenty of modern safety and technology features. Its upscale cabin design that remains quiet at highway speeds, makes it a strong competitor in its class. The well-weighted steering and agility lets it tackle twists and turns with composure; and you won’t have to sacrifice comfort with Fusion’s smooth ride and comfortable seating. The large trunk helps you transport all your needs, with 16 cubic feet of cargo space.
The 2020 Kia Optima is a comfortable midsize sedan that seats five people in two rows. It features an upscale cabin full of premium materials, but it still struggles to stand out in its class. It comes standard with cloth upholstery and synthetic leather upholstery is available, as well as heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Kia offers 15.9 cubic feet of cargo room in its trunk.
Entertainment System
The base Fusion comes well-equipped with voice-activated SYNC interface and Ford’s MyKey. Available features include a user-friendly SYNC 3 infotainment system, an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hot spot, navigation, two USB ports, Bluetooth, satellite radio, a six-speaker audio system, an available 11-speaker premium audio system, and an available 12-speaker Sony audio system. These features come standard in the trims above the base S trim. It’s standard Ford Co-Pilot360 protection package, with blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, rear view camera, and forward automatic emergency braking has made this model a step above most; all while retaining its affordable base price.
The Optima features the UVO infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a USB port, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and a six-speaker sound system. Safety features that come standard include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a pre-collision warning and braking-system, lane change assist, a rearview camera, and lane departure warning.
Price, Fuel, and Range
The Fusion pricing begins at $23,170 for the Fusion S and ranges to the top of the line Fusion Titanium, starting at $34,450. Ford gives you three four-cylinder options: the base 175-horsepower, a 181-horsepower turbo-four, and a 245-horsepower turbo-four. These turbocharged variants make for a quicker and more enjoyable drive. It also earns points for its smooth ride and handling, as well as available all-wheel drive. For a midsize sedan, the Fusion gets good gas mileage with 23/34 mpg in the city and highway, when equipped with the 181 hp turbocharged engine.
The Kia Optima’s base price starts at $23,390 for the LX trim and ranges to a starting price of $32,190 for the SX trim. The base LX trim comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission that makes 185 hp; and the EX trim gains a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The SX trims feature a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 245 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. It’s not the most agile vehicle in its handling and the seven-speed has trouble finding the right gear. The base engine is a little slow, while the dual-clutch automatic paired to the 1.6-liter engine is slow to respond and jerky at low speeds. The range-topping 2.0-liter engine, meanwhile, consumes more fuel than similar engines. The 2020 Kia does not offer all-wheel drive. The base engine gets an estimated 24/32 mpg in the city and on the highway. The 2.0-liter turbo-four will lower gas mileage to 21/30 mpg city/highway.
Overview
The 2020 Ford Fusion is good at many things, including attractive styling, comfortable seating, and great performance. While the 2020 Kia Optima is a similar design and style, the Fusion offers better handling and all-wheel drive with its comfortable driving experience. Come see for yourself at Brighton Ford.