Car financing: 2008 Kia Optima
None for sale by us right now: rent one for a week first, or ask us to find one. Rated 9.4 to 10.2 L/100 km combined (EPA). 3 NHTSA recall campaigns. CarmaCars is not a lender, dealer or lessor, and does not arrange financing or leases. We rent cars, and sell one only when it is listed for sale on this page with its price.
- For sale by us
- 0
- Combined
- 9.4 to 10.2 L/100 km
- Recalls
- 3
For sale
We do not have a 2008 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.
CarmaCars is not a lender, dealer or lessor, and does not arrange financing or leases. We rent cars, and sell one only when it is listed for sale on this page with its price.
2008 Kia Optima specs
| Spec | Powertrain 1 | Powertrain 2 | Powertrain 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.4L 4-cylinder | 2.4L 4-cylinder | 2.7L 6-cylinder |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic | 5-speed manual | 5-speed automatic |
| Fuel | Regular gas | Regular gas | Regular gas |
| City | 11.2 L/100 km | 11.2 L/100 km | 11.8 L/100 km |
| Highway | 7.6 L/100 km | 7.6 L/100 km | 8.4 L/100 km |
| Combined | 9.4 L/100 km | 9.4 L/100 km | 10.2 L/100 km |
| CO₂ | 221 g/km | 221 g/km | 240 g/km |
| Cost to drive 100 km | $14.57 | $14.57 | $15.81 |
2008 Kia Optima: every figure
| Figure | Powertrain 1 | Powertrain 2 | Powertrain 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2.4 L | 2.4 L | 2.7 L |
| Cylinders | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| MPG city (US) | 21 | 21 | 20 |
| MPG highway (US) | 31 | 31 | 28 |
| MPG combined (US) | 25 | 25 | 23 |
| MPG combined (Imperial) (converted from the US figure) | 30 | 30 | 28 |
| Luggage volume (litres converted from EPA's cubic feet) | 396 L (14 cu ft) | 396 L (14 cu ft) | 396 L (14 cu ft) |
| Fuel cost a year (EPA) (EPA: 15,000 miles at its fuel prices) | US$2,700 | US$2,700 | US$2,900 |
| Fuel cost for 20,000 km (at $1.55 a litre) | $2,914 | $2,914 | $3,162 |
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 2008 Kia Optima
- NHTSA lists 3 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 144 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags (58), engine (19) and power train (18). Have those parts checked before you buy.
| Campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V114000 | 2013-04-01 | exterior lighting:brake lights:switch | Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled... |
| 12V014000 | 2012-01-17 | air bags:frontal | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE... |
| 11V153000 | 2011-03-09 | power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift | KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2007. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SHIFT CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING TENSION IN THE CABLE. IF PRESENT, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE CABLE TO DETACH FROM THE SHIFTER... |
Source: NHTSA (US) recall campaigns and owner complaints for this model year.
The 2008 Kia Optima: before you buy
CarmaCars rents cars and does not sell the 2008 Kia Optima; this page helps you judge it before you buy one elsewhere. CarmaCars does not finance cars. Renting is not a loan, so there is no credit check to rent. Buying the 2008 Kia Optima is a big decision; here is the information we have.
What to check on the Optima
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. Look at the tires, brakes and battery; they are costly to replace. Check whether every recall was done, by the VIN, before you pay.
The figures, translated
The 2.4L 4-cylinder, paired with a 5-speed automatic, drives it. It runs on regular gas. Front-wheel drive is the usual layout for cars this size, predictable in the rain and the snow.
It is rated at 9.4 L/100 km combined; 300 km takes about 28 litres. In money, 1,000 km costs about $145.70 at our price setting. EPA puts its fuel cost at US$2,700 a year for 15,000 miles at US prices.
What the Optima is like
A car body like this keeps the weight low, so it feels settled on the highway. With 396 litres of luggage space by the EPA's measure, it takes about two large suitcases and a few soft bags.
When the Optima makes sense
It suits a weekend away when the train does not reach where you are going. It suits a work trip where a reliable car matters more than anything else.
Drive it on your own roads
Rent first, buy later: a week with the Optima answers the big questions. Renting first costs a fraction of the price of buying the wrong car. A week of your own driving tells you more than a test drive: the commute, the parking, the fuel.
Money matters
The EPA estimates US$2,700 a year in fuel for 15,000 miles at US prices. Ask what a set of tires costs for this trim; sizes and prices vary. At our price setting, 100 km costs about $14.57 in fuel.
Which one to look for
Ask the seller which trim it is; badges can be swapped and options vary. Write down the VIN of any car you consider; it unlocks the recall and service history. Decide what matters most first: fuel use, space, or the price you can pay.
Still deciding?
Ask about renting first, and buy with a clear head.
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 2008 Kia Optima from us first.
Ask us about the 2008 Kia Optima
Tell us your budget and when you want to buy; we look for a 2008 Kia Optima for you and reply within one business day.
Buying the 2008 Kia Optima
Does CarmaCars sell the 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Kia Optima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for it, in the table on this page. Ask for proof each was fixed.
What does the 2008 Kia Optima cost in fuel a year?
EPA puts it at US$2,700 a year for 15,000 miles at its fuel prices; at our price setting, 20,000 km cost about $2914.00.
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.