Kia Optima vs Audi S8
What's the difference?

Kia Optima

$14,670 - $22,990

2018 price

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Audi S8

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2021 price

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Maserati Quattroporte

Mazda 6

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2018 Kia Optima

2021 Audi S8

By Matt Campbell

By Peter Anderson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.4L

Twin Turbo V8, 4.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

8.3L/100km (combined)

10.2L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Very roomy
Great ownership plan
Decent price

Technical extravaganza
Elegant looks
Punchy V8

Dislikes

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

Tricky to find a space big enough
Pricey
Short warranty

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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2021 Audi S8 Summary

Big sedans are not in vogue at the moment and huge luxury sedans were on the way down before the humble Commodore and Falcon departed the upper end of the sales charts. The Germans, who have always done a spectacular job of these flagship sedans, cheerfully persist with these cars.

Absolutely loaded with fascinating technology that bleeds its way down to the more mainstream models, they represent the zenith of the brand's innovation and style. The A8 is certainly that.

What it isn't, is particularly sporty, but after two years since its launch, V8 power has reached the fourth-generation super-sedan to deliver the latest iteration of the iconic S8.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Kia Optima 2021 Audi S8

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.

Verdict

The S8's existence is a source of joy for me because it's not a huge SUV. Yes, it's a huge sedan but it's a reminder that the technological flagship is alive and well, at least in Germany. And the important thing about these cars is the way the toys filter down through the rest of the range. That used to take years but we're seeing this cool stuff a lot more quickly, right down to the A1.

The S8 punches, and punches hard in this rarefied part of an already shrunken section of the market - the twin-turbo V8 matches its German rivals, it's lighter and it's as well-stacked as any of the three. What it doesn't do, however, is shout about itself the way the other two do. It's the incognito choice.

Kia Optima vs Audi S8 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Optima vs Audi S8
What's the difference?