Kia Optima build years & generations
The Kia Optima spans several build years and named generations (2012-2020). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.
Which year is which
Build years & generations, side by side
Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.
Built 2012
- Generation
- Mk3 (TF)
- Figures from
- cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2015
- Generation
- Mk3 (TF)
- Figures from
- cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with Mk3 (TF) and Mk4 (JF) cars built in the same years.
Built 2016
- Generation
- Mk4 (JF)
- Figures from
- cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with Mk3 (TF) and Mk4 (JF) cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2020
- Generation
- Mk4 (JF)
- Figures from
- cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.
By build-year group
How each group of build years performs
Each card shows MOT results for one group of Kia Optima build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.
Built2017-2020
Mk4 (JF) only
These build years are all Mk4 (JF), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 7 years old
15.5%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
5 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
8,999
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2017-2020
Mk4 (JF) only
These build years are all Mk4 (JF), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 7 years old
15.5%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
5 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
8,999
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.
Built2013-2016
A mix of Mk3 (TF) and Mk4 (JF)
These build years include both Mk3 (TF) and Mk4 (JF) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.
Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)
25.0%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)
Ages with data
8 to 12 years old
MOT tests counted
3,399
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2013-2016
A mix of Mk3 (TF) and Mk4 (JF)
These build years include both Mk3 (TF) and Mk4 (JF) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.
Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)
25.0%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)
Ages with data
8 to 12 years old
MOT tests counted
3,399
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.
Built2009-2012
Mk3 (TF) only
These build years are all Mk3 (TF), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 13 years old (latest age)
31.0%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (27.7%)
Ages with data
12 to 13 years old
MOT tests counted
845
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2009-2012
Mk3 (TF) only
These build years are all Mk3 (TF), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 13 years old (latest age)
31.0%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (27.7%)
Ages with data
12 to 13 years old
MOT tests counted
845
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 13 years old.