BMW M Models vs Kia Optima
What's the difference?

BMW M Models

$114,900 - $299,900

2025 price

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Kia Optima

$14,670 - $22,990

2018 price

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Aston Martin Vanquish

Lamborghini Aventador

Maserati Quattroporte

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Summary

2025 BMW M Models

2018 Kia Optima

By Andrew Chesterton

By Matt Campbell

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 6, 3.0L

Inline 4, 2.4L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

10.2L/100km (combined)

8.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Brutal performance
Tons of kerb appeal
No-compromise approach to speed

Very roomy
Great ownership plan
Decent price

Dislikes

Uncomfortable in the city
Hard-edged seats a necessary evil
Fuel bill will be sizeable

Removed some good stuff to lower price
Not as good looking as pre-facelift model
A bit basic inside

2025 BMW M Models Summary

To say the BMW M4 CS is a hot ticket in Australia is something of an understatement.

Consider this. There is an even more expensive one, the M4 CS Edition VR46 – at a cool $346,900 – and it sold out in less than an hour. Now, granted, Australia only got four examples, but still, demand was running hot.

That car makes this one, the regular M4 CS, seem like an absolute steal. It's only $254,900 (yes, the word 'only' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence), and it shares the same upgrades, and makes the same monstrous power, as the VR46 – for Valentino Rossi’s 46th birthday – only it does it for around $100K less.

See? A bargain. At least, that's how I'd be justifying it to myself if I had a quarter of a million burning a hole in my pocket.

So, this or a Porsche 911? Read on.

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2018 Kia Optima Summary

There are plenty of reasons why you should still consider a mid-sized sedan like the Kia Optima. I’m sure there are… just let me think about this for a sec…

Okay, so this part of the market is dying. A decade ago, sedans like this were really popular, but now there are heaps of alternative options. Yep, people are going for mid-sized SUVs rather than mid-sized sedans like this.

But that doesn’t mean models like the just-updated 2018 Kia Optima are without their reasons for being. I’m just not sure the facelift has made it more appealing to look at…

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Deep dive comparison

2025 BMW M Models 2018 Kia Optima

Verdict

Brutal, bruising and utterly brilliant, the M4 CS will be an acquired taste due to its no-compromise approach, but those willing to take the leap will find a performance car like few others at their disposal.

Verdict

If you travel long distances, want a good amount of space and don’t want to pay big bucks for a new car, then yeah, maybe there is a reason sedans like this will hang around for a while longer.

Sure, the appeal of sedans mightn’t be as strong as it once was, but models like the Kia Optima prove they still have a reason to exist.

BMW M Models vs Kia Optima What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

BMW M Models vs Kia Optima
What's the difference?