Performance
When looking at any kind of vehicle, even a midsize sedan, it is important to consider the engine options that it has to offer. Both the 2020 Ford Fusion and the Kia Optima have pretty similar engine choices overall, which is good for you no matter what you want. With the Fusion, you have three different standard engines to choose from, including more torque than the Optima can offer, along with both a standard hybrid and plug-in hybrid engine available.
2020 Ford Fusion Engines
Let us start off by looking at the engines in the 2020 Ford Fusion and see what are available. The standard engine in the Fusion is a 2.5L I-4 engine that offers up to 175 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Then there is an available 1.5L EcoBoost I-4 engine at higher trim levels, which provides up to 181 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. If you want the best overall power and performance with the Fusion, however, then there is a 2.0L EcoBoost I-4 that delivers an impressive 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque.
For non-standard options with the Ford Fusion, you have two engines to choose from. You can go with either a standard hybrid or a plug-in hybrid engine, both of which provide up to 188 hp combined and 129 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the real benefit of these fantastic engines is their amazing fuel economy thanks to their hybrid design. They both offer an estimated combined 42 mpg, with more than 25 miles of electric-only driving range and well over 600 miles of total range on a full charge and tank of gas.
2020 Kia Optima Engines
The 2020 Kia Optima also has three standard engines available, as well as both a standard hybrid and plug-in hybrid to choose from. The standard engine is a 2.4L I-4 that is fine, but nothing particularly exceptional. There is also a turbocharged 1.6L I-4 engine available and a turbocharged 2.0L I-4 is offered on the highest trim. This turbocharged engine gives you 245 hp just like the most powerful engine in the Fusion, but it offers just 260 lb-ft of torque, which is less than the Fusion.
Much like the Fusion, the Optima is available with either a standard hybrid or plug-in hybrid engine. In either case, the engine is quite comparable to what Ford has to offer, without really setting itself apart in any significant way. In other words, the Kia Optima is fine, but not exceptional, and when compared to all of the great options on the Ford Fusion, it comes up short.
Trims and Options
One of the best parts of buying a new car is being able to customize it to have everything you need. That is why the trim levels available on a vehicle are so important, because they make it easy to get the features you really want. And in this regard, the 2020 Ford Fusion definitely puts the Kia Optima to shame.
2020 Ford Fusion Trims
In terms of standard trim levels, the Ford Fusion has four for you to choose from. It starts with the S trim, which includes the Ford Co-Pilot360 safety package, the standard engine, and great features like push-button start and a 4-inch digital driver display. From there, you can choose the SE trim, which includes more comfort and technology features, or the SEL, which takes things even further with added luxury items like a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Finally, the Titanium gives you all of the best features the Fusion has to offer.
What is really fantastic, however, is that the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims are also available with the hybrid engine. That means you can choose the features you really want and need, and pick either a standard gas engine or a hybrid. If you prefer a plug-in hybrid, then this is available with a special Titanium trim level that has great overall features and functionality.
2020 Kia Optima Trims
The 2020 Kia Optima has some good standard trims, giving you five different options to choose from, plus a special edition. That is a good amount of customization – though these are only available with the standard gas engines for the Optima. If you want a hybrid engine, then there is only one trim available, same for the plug-in hybrid. That is a lot less flexibility than the Ford Fusion and really limits the features they offer with a hybrid engine.
Interior Features
Inside both the 2020 Ford Fusion and the Kia Optima, you will find a lot of great features. As you might expect, much of what you can get depends on which trim level you look at, just like with any other vehicle. With that in mind, however, there are some key ways that the Ford Fusion goes a step further to give you more.
Top-End Features
For example, the Fusion Titanium, which is its highest trim, features a pair of 4-inch digital driver displays to relay information to you while driving. It also comes with customizable ambient lighting, heated and cooled front seats, and a 10-way power front passenger seat with power lumbar. The entertainment system in the Fusion is also exceptional, with the Titanium giving you 12 speakers throughout the interior for excellent sound.
While the Kia Optima has some good features, it simply comes up short. Even looking at the highest trim of the Optima, the SX, you only get a single 4-inch driver display. It has an 8-inch Infotainment screen like the Ford Fusion Titanium, but a 10-speaker sound system that is good, but not as impressive as Ford’s offering. The Optima has ambient lighting available, but you have only six colors to choose from with it, while the Fusion has seven customizable colors. These kinds of points can be found all throughout the interiors of these two vehicles, and repeatedly demonstrates that the Fusion is a better option.
