2012 Kia Optima: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

24 builds left the factory as a 2012 Optima, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 8 main configurations sell for $2,500–$17,995 today.

  • 8 main configurations
  • 30,278 vehicles built
  • 147 for sale right now
  • $2,500–$17,995 typical price range

Which Optima is yours?

Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.

Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.

Pick your Optima

What actually differs

GLS GL TOP GL · Full hybrid
Engine 2.4L 2.4L 2L 2.4L
Typical price today $6,995 $6,275 $8,500 $7,900
For sale right now 61 32 29 10
Vehicles built 9,363 8,070 5,612 3,840
Same on every 2012 Optima
  • Fuel Gasoline
  • Body Sedan
  • Doors 4-door

What people actually pay

201 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026
GLS
$6,995
GL
$6,275
TOP
$8,500
$2,425 $6,453 $10,480 $14,508 $18,535
Price trend

Median holding steady over the last 12 months.

2012 Optima price history →
Will it hold value?

A Optima typically keeps about 78% of its price over 5 years — a 5-year-old one runs about $5,439 today.

Optima depreciation by year →
Cost to run

22/33 mpg city/highway. Roughly $1,790/yr on fuel at 15,000 miles.

EPA estimate for the 2012 Optima

Safety, in plain English

NHTSA overall crash rating

★★★★★ 5 / 5

5 recalls on file for this model year — check any specific VIN before you buy.

What 5XXGM4A7-C means

5XX GM4A7 · C
5XX
the World Manufacturer Identifier Kia registered — assembled in the United States
GM4A7
together encode the Optima line — Sedan, 2.4L — as Kia filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
C
in position 10 — model year 2012
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
Real VINs from this run 5XXGM4A7 1CG022890 5XXGM4A7 9CG070511 5XXGM4A7 1CG006673
16 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific Optima?

Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.

2012 Kia Optima prices →