Kia Optima vs Volvo S60
What's the difference?

Kia Optima

$14,670 - $22,990

2018 price

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Volvo S60

—

2024 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

2024 Volvo S60

By Matt Campbell

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.4L

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

8.3L/100km (combined)

1.4L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

—

Electric range

90 km

Battery capacity

18.80 kWh

Seating

Likes

Very roomy
Great ownership plan
Decent price

Elegant proportions and styling
Feature-laden
Superb on-road driving experience

Dislikes

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

Sedate cabin compared to rivals
Works best as a four-seater
Not a lot of storage options

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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2024 Volvo S60 Summary

Sedans have long been supplanted by SUVs as the family favourite but they still have their charms for those drivers who like something that feels more dynamic on the road.

Enter the limited edition Volvo S60 Recharge Black Edition which sees the return of a plug-in hybrid powertrain for Volvo’s only sedan.

I’ve been family-testing the PHEV variant to see just how practical a sedan is for the modern family, and whether it's rivals, the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C200 have anything to worry about.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Kia Optima 2024 Volvo S60

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 Volvo S60 Recharge Black Edition proves sedans can still be sexy and an excellent family car, providing your family is on the smaller side. I only have one kid, so it's perfect for our activities and gear. It’s wonderful to drive and has a great features list but it's not without its quirks.

My son thinks it looks cool, and we enjoyed bellowing out a few renditions of the original Batman theme song this week. He has had a lot of comfort in the back seat, too.

Kia Optima vs Volvo S60 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Optima vs Volvo S60
What's the difference?