What Battery Does a Kia Optima take?

What kind of battery does a Kia Optima take?

Location Las Vegas, Nevada

At that place was a fourth dimension when the answer to the question of what battery the Kia Optima takes was a simple one. That time was the yr 2000, when just 97 Kia Optimas were sold in the United states (if anyone in the United states has a 2000 Kia Optima, please post a photo on Twitter and tag @optimabatteries so we can see it!). If those hen's teeth Optimas followed suit with the Sephias or Sportages of that era, they used a T5 battery, which OPTIMA batteries (no relation) has never manufactured. If they followed along with the Sportage of that vintage, it would exist either a Group 86 or 58, which OPTIMA Batteries besides does not brand. From there, things just get more complicated.

Starting with the 2002-03 model years, the Kia Optima used an H5 bombardment, which OPTIMA batteries likewise does not offer. Why doesn't OPTIMA offer these battery sizes? There are dozens of BCI battery grouping sizes, along with DIN sizes for European vehicles and JIS sizes for Asian vehicles. Some brands will look to capture every auction possible, even if it means catering to those 97 Optimas sold in the Usa in 2000. However, those batteries tend to exist at a much lower price point and won't offer nearly the performance or durability of an OPTIMA battery.

OPTIMA Batteries pursues the enthusiasts and while we know there are definitely Kia owners who are considered automotive enthusiasts (just look at that A1A edition Kia Optima droptop!), there needs to be an intersection of overall market size for a bombardment and a big enough cadre group of enthusiasts earlier nosotros generally launch a new battery size. From the 2002-15 model years, the Kia Optima typically used a Group 124R battery (which as you've probably guessed, OPTIMA Batteries doesn't brand), although at that place were some exceptions.

Kia Optimas in the 2014 and 2015 model years with a 2.4-liter gas engine used an H6, which OPTIMA offers in our DH6 YELLOWTOP. However, hybrid Kia Optimas use an H6R from the 2011 model year through 2020. Once over again, OPTIMA doesn't offer an H6R (the "R" typically indicates reverse termination of the posts), but it's possible our DH6 YELLOWTOP could fit in the same space, every bit long as the cables are long plenty to brand the connection or aftermarket cables are used. Otherwise, good luck finding an H6R battery!

As nosotros look dorsum at those early Kia Optima battery sizes, we see some fairly-modest batteries. A typical H5 bombardment weighs about 35 pounds and the 124R weighs just under twoscore pounds. However, things inverse dramatically with the 4th generation in 2016.

From that year forwards, OPTIMA Batteries now offered replacement batteries for the Kia Optima, including a DH7 YELLOWTOP for the 2016-2018 Optimas with a ii.4-liter inline four-cylinder and a DH6 for the smaller ane.six-liter engine in 2019 and 2020, as well as the ii.0-liter engine from 2016-2020. Kia also decided to change the battery on the 2.4-liter equipped Kia Optimas for the 2019 and 2020 model years to a DH6. So how are these DH6 and DH7 batteries a dramatic change from the previous batteries? Size, weight and reserve capacity.

The DH6 and DH7 batteries are significantly larger than those found in previous generations of Kia Optimas, fifty-fifty though the engine sizes aren't actually whatsoever bigger and in some cases, are even smaller! The reason the batteries got bigger wasn't near cranking power to beginning the engines, it was about reserve capacity to meet the increasing electrical demands of modern Kia Optimas. The OPTIMA DH6 weighs in at a hefty 54 pounds and the OPTIMA DH7 weighs even more at 60.5 pounds!

In that location's ofttimes a strong correlation between battery weight and reserve capacity and the DH6 YELLOWTOP and DH7 YELLOWTOP are rated at 72 Ah and 80 Ah, respectively. That'southward a far cry from the 50-60 Ah range of the smaller H5 batteries, only that'south what modernistic vehicles demand and what yous should look for when you supervene upon the battery in your Kia Optima.

Getting a battery with enough reserve capacity is the get-go stride, only making certain it has the ability you need, when yous need it, is the ultimate goal. That'southward why we recommend keeping your bombardment fully-charged whenever possible. For nearly batteries that ways a voltage level of at least 12.6 volts, only our OPTIMA YELLOWTOP batteries are fully-charged at about 13.0-thirteen.2 volts.

Keeping the voltage in your battery properly-maintained will maximize battery operation and lifespan, regardless of the battery you are using. We're so confident this is truthful, we'll add an boosted year of complimentary replacement warranty coverage to your OPTIMA bombardment, if you purchase an OPTIMA Digital 1200 battery charger from u.s. when you purchase your OPTIMA bombardment.