Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Honda Civic vs Kia Optima

What's the difference?

VS
Honda Civic
Honda Civic

$47,200 - $72,600

2024 price

Kia Optima
Kia Optima

$16,888 - $29,689

2018 price

Summary

2024 Honda Civic
2018 Kia Optima
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 2.4L
Fuel Type
-

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.9L/100km (combined)

8.3L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Price, maybe
  • Limited availability
  • Likely a swansong

  • Removed some good stuff to lower price
  • Not as good looking as pre-facelift model
  • A bit basic inside
2024 Honda Civic Summary

Before we dive in, this isn’t your typical road test. 

That’s because there’s no road, per se. Instead, the majority of what you’re about to read comes from The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

You’ve read the headline, though, so you’re probably putting it all together: a Honda Civic Type R on a well-liked race track must be bliss. Let’s find out.

A very quick catch-up for those not in the know. The Honda Civic Type R (or CTR if you like) is the brand’s only performance model on sale after the demise of the NSX supercar. 

The current (FL5) CTR is a little over a year old, having been launched internationally in late 2022, but has only been on Aussie shores for a little while. In fact, we’ve already reviewed it for the road, back in April.

But Honda Australia was keen to get media behind the wheel in a setting it says the CTR thrives in - a racetrack. Its predecessor was a car loved almost universally, can this one live up to the new standard?

View full pricing & specs
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…

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2024 Honda Civic 2018 Kia Optima

Change vehicle