The 2021 Kia Optima was unveiled in recent months and is yet to go into production, however, the current generation still has a lot to offer. Refreshed for the 2019 model year, the 2020 Kia Optima hangs with some of the best that the mid-size sedan category has to offer, including the formidable Honda Accord. Here are five ways in which we found that the Kia Optima beats out the top contender from Honda.

The advanced driver safety system is standard

Yes, we know that the Honda Accord comes with the brand’s driver-assist suite, Honda Sensing, as a standard feature. But that group of features doesn’t come with everything that the Kia Optima does. Kia’s suite of driver aids, called Kia Drive Wise, comes standard and it has a couple more nifty features like Park Distance Warning and Driver Attention Warning. The Accord is available with parking sensors as well, however, only on the top-level trims.

Lower starting price

As with any car, value is definitely important and Kia has always been for providing great value with all their models. The Kia Optima is no exception as the base LX trim level starts at $23,390. How much does the base Honda Accord LX cost? It’s priced at $24,020 and doesn’t even have the aforementioned safety features.

Plug-in hybrid model

Yes, we know that this isn’t exactly a feature of the Kia Optima that is better than the Accord’s, but it still belongs to the Kia Optima line. The Optima Plug-in Hybrid is a great option for those with a short commute as it can travel up to 28 miles on all-electric power before it switched over to the hybrid system. When it does switch over, it’s used a 2.0-liter engine that’s mated to an electric motor for a combined output of 202 horsepower and up to 41 mpg of combined driving.

Better warranty

We have called it out before and we’ll call it out again. At 10 years and 100,000 miles, the Kia has a better warranty. It’s a cheap shot at Honda and we know that the Kia/Hyundai warranty has been around forever, but we can’t stress it enough to any prospective car buyers that the warranty is important.

More engine choices

When it comes to car shopping, sometimes having more choices can be better. In the case of the Kia Optima, buyers can choose between three different engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and a stout turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. How many engine choices does the Honda Accord have? Only two. They’re great engines, though. More is just better.

Is the Kia that much better?

The Kia Optima is a great competitor to the Honda Accord and every other car in the segment. While it might still lack in some departments, the Optima has come a long way and we know that these five features might not be enough to sway anyone’s decision, however, they could mean something to some prospective buyers. If this isn’t enough to convince you though, then maybe the forthcoming, completely redesigned Kia Optima might suit you better.