2003 Kia Optima for sale
None for sale by us right now: rent one for a week first, or ask us to find one. Rated 10.2 to 11.2 L/100 km combined (EPA). 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
- For sale by us
- 0
- Combined
- 10.2 to 11.2 L/100 km
- Recalls
- 2
For sale
We do not have a 2003 Kia Optima for sale right now. We are a rental company: rent one for a week to try it, or tell us what you want and we look for one for you.
2003 Kia Optima specs
| Spec | Powertrain 1 | Powertrain 2 | Powertrain 3 | Powertrain 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4L 4-cylinder | 2.4L 4-cylinder | 2.7L 6-cylinder | 2.7L 6-cylinder |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 4-speed automatic | 4-speed automatic | 5-speed manual |
| Fuel | Regular gas | Regular gas | Regular gas | Regular gas |
| City | 11.8 L/100 km | 12.4 L/100 km | 13.1 L/100 km | 13.1 L/100 km |
| Highway | 8.7 L/100 km | 8.7 L/100 km | 9.4 L/100 km | 9.0 L/100 km |
| Combined | 10.2 L/100 km | 10.7 L/100 km | 11.2 L/100 km | 11.2 L/100 km |
| CO₂ | 240 g/km | 251 g/km | 263 g/km | 263 g/km |
| Cost to drive 100 km | $15.81 | $16.59 | $17.36 | $17.36 |
2003 Kia Optima: every figure
| Figure | Powertrain 1 | Powertrain 2 | Powertrain 3 | Powertrain 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2.4 L | 2.4 L | 2.7 L | 2.7 L |
| Cylinders | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| MPG city (US) | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
| MPG highway (US) | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 |
| MPG combined (US) | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| MPG combined (Imperial) (converted from the US figure) | 28 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
| Luggage volume (litres converted from EPA's cubic feet) | 368 L (13 cu ft) | 368 L (13 cu ft) | 368 L (13 cu ft) | 368 L (13 cu ft) |
| Fuel cost a year (EPA) (EPA: 15,000 miles at its fuel prices) | US$2,900 | US$3,050 | US$3,200 | US$3,200 |
| Fuel cost for 20,000 km (at $1.55 a litre) | $3,162 | $3,318 | $3,472 | $3,472 |
Sources: fuel use, MPG, CO2, electric range, battery, charge time, luggage volume and the annual fuel cost are the US EPA's (fueleconomy.gov). Imperial MPG, litres, inches and pounds are converted from those figures. Figures no free source publishes for this car (power, torque, acceleration, top speed, fuel tank, towing) are left out.
What to check when buying the 2003 Kia Optima
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. Ask the seller for proof each one was fixed; a dealer can check it by the VIN.
- Owners filed 141 complaints with NHTSA, most often about latches/locks/linkages (53), structure (26) and electrical system (25). Have those parts checked before you buy.
| Campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V183000 | 2009-05-27 | suspension:front | KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (KMC) IS RECALLING 36,538 MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 OPTIMA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA,... |
| 04V180000 | 2004-04-12 | fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly | SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR. |
Source: NHTSA (US) recall campaigns and owner complaints for this model year.
The 2003 Kia Optima for buyers
We are a rental company, not a dealer, so there is no 2003 Kia Optima for sale by us right now. For anyone shopping for the 2003 Kia Optima, here are the facts that matter.
Recalls and complaints
Ask for the service records and check open recalls by the VIN. A private seller in Ontario must give you a Used Vehicle Information Package. There are 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on file; a dealer can check by the VIN whether each was done. NHTSA has 141 owner complaints on file, mostly about latches/locks/linkages, structure and electrical system.
The numbers in plain words
It is powered by the 2.4L 4-cylinder, with front-wheel drive. It runs on regular gas. With front-wheel drive, the weight of the engine sits over the driven wheels, which helps in winter.
At 10.2 L/100 km combined, a 300 km drive takes roughly 31 litres of fuel. The fuel for 100 km comes to about $15.81 at our price setting. The EPA estimates US$2,900 a year in fuel for 15,000 miles.
Space and size
Its car body is low and settled, with a separate trunk. With 368 litres of luggage space by the EPA's measure, it takes about two large suitcases and a few soft bags.
Best uses
It suits anyone who needs a car for a few days, a week or a month without buying one. It suits a stretch of weeks between selling one car and buying the next.
Drive it on your own roads
If the Optima is in our fleet, its page shows the rates; if not, a similar car helps you judge. Nothing is charged until we confirm the rental and you approve the offer. Load it with your things and park it where you park; then decide.
What it costs to run
The EPA estimates US$2,900 a year in fuel for 15,000 miles at US prices. Get an insurance quote for this exact model before you buy; rates differ a lot between models. A 1,000 km month costs roughly $158.10 at our price setting.
Year and trim
If two trims share a powertrain, the difference is equipment, which you can check in person. Write down the VIN of any car you consider; it unlocks the recall and service history. Set a budget that includes tax, licensing, insurance and the first set of tires.
Send a request
Tell us the model and the dates, and we reply with an offer.
Rent it for a week before you buy
A week of your own driving tells you more than a test drive: the commute, the parking, the fuel. Rent a 2003 Kia Optima from us first.
Find me this car
Tell us your budget and when you want to buy; we look for a 2003 Kia Optima for you and reply within one business day.
Buying the 2003 Kia Optima
Does CarmaCars sell the 2003 Kia Optima?
Not right now. CarmaCars rents cars; it sells one only now and then. Tell us what you want and we look for one, or rent one for a week first.
Can I rent a 2003 Kia Optima before I buy one?
Yes. Request it for a week (or longer, up to 365 days) and drive it as your own; nothing is charged until we confirm and you approve.
Does the 2003 Kia Optima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for it, in the table on this page. Ask for proof each was fixed.
What does the 2003 Kia Optima cost in fuel a year?
EPA puts it at US$2,900 a year for 15,000 miles at its fuel prices; at our price setting, 20,000 km cost about $3162.00.
Where do the figures come from?
Fuel use and fuel cost from the US EPA (fueleconomy.gov), dimensions and weight from NHTSA vPIC Canadian specifications, recalls and complaints from NHTSA. We leave out any figure no free source publishes.