For 2019, the Kia Optima has received a fresh new look and a few safety features that now come standard on every trim. However, while the safety features are the same, there are several important differences between the four 2019 Optima trims. Each one has a different MSRP and feature list, so it’s important to know what their differences are before you decide which one you want. 
LX
As the base trim, the LX doesn’t have as many features as the other three, but what you get is impressive enough for a midsize sedan. The LX comes with a basic 2.4-liter I-4 engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and an available panoramic sunroof. Like the other models, this trim comes with an 8-inch touch-screen display, and it’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get some serious driver assistance features as standard equipment, including a rear parking sonar, a blind spot and rear cross-traffic warning, and a forward collision warning with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance.
S
The S trim comes with the same engine and transmission as the LX, but it adds a few sporty appearance upgrades like a rear spoiler and sporty black side sills. The S trim also comes with the Smart Key along with Smart Welcome door handle lights, the hands-free Smart Trunk, and the keyless push-button engine start. The infotainment system gets a satellite radio upgrade, the climate control gets a dual-zone automatic upgrade, and the seats upgrade to sport cloth with leatherette side bolsters.
EX
The EX is less sporty than the S, but it gets an upgraded 1.6-liter turbo engine that delivers almost as much horsepower in a much lighter package. It’s also the only trim to have a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Aside from that, the EX gets upgrades like leather seats, a heated front row, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance with Pedestrian Detection, and Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (which can slow down automatically even if it means coming to a full stop).
SX
The SX is the top trim for the 2019 Optima, and it combines aspects of the S and EX. It also comes with its own engine, a 2.0-liter turbo that offers 60 more horsepower than the LX engine. It also has unique features like LED lights with Dynamic Bending Light that points towards the turn when you spin the steering wheel, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and sport leather trim. The driver’s seat in the SX has two memory settings, the front row gets ventilation, and the gauge cluster comes with a larger color LCD display.
The 2019 Kia Optima is a midsize vehicle, but once you reach the EX and SX trims you start seeing features you’d normally expect on a full-size car. However, the Optima’s price is very reasonable when you look at everything the SX offers, and the LX has more than you’d expect from a base trim. Of course, the best way to know whether the Optima is right for you is still to go out and take it for a test drive.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.