With
its replacement on the horizon, we arranged for a final drive with the midsizer
that made a lot of enthusiasts take a second look at a company that hadn't
previously held a great deal of appeal.
What is it?
The Optima is Kia's midsize sedan, riding on
the same platform as (and sharing powertrains with) the Hyundai Sonata. Our
2015 tester is an exception in that Hyundai overhauled the Sonata for 2015
(Kia's new Optima will be on sale later this year as a 2016 model year). You
won't find the Hyundai's new 1.6L turbo-four under the hood of an Optima until the revised model
appears, for example.
Our
tester is a naturally aspirated SX model. That means it's powered by a 2.4L
Gasoline Direct Injection engine making 192 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.
Power goes to the front wheels only via a traditional, six-speed automatic
transmission.
Inside and out
When
the new Kia Optima debuted in
2011, it may not have made the same splash as its Hyundai platform mate, but it
was still a hit. Its sporty but comparatively traditional styling drew the eyes
of buyers who preferred a more conservative, almost European look.
Four
years later, the outgoing Optima
still looks fresh. The signature grille sits out front, setting the tone for a
design that is light on curves. Small flourishes can be found here and
there--the pronounced fender vents and split five-spoke wheels provide a hint
of flash--but the bigger theme here is clean, sharp and sporty.
Inside,
the story is similar. The look is functional and high-tech. The story here is
feature content, as the Optima
has it in abundance. Our tester's optional SX Premium Technology Package adds
an upgraded Infinity audio system, HD Radio, UVO eServices (Kia's vehicle
communications system), navigation, a rearview camera, driver's seat memory,
heated and cooled front seats, heated outboard rear seats and back-up/blind
spot monitoring.
While
the Optima's
touchscreen offers controls for just about all of those features. Kia opted to
include redundant access to just about everything via traditional controls and
knobs--a plus in terms of ease of access, but a minus in cleanliness. Kia
managed to keep the button madness under control to an extent, but given how
many different systems this car comes with, it's virtually impossible to avoid
at least some visual clutter.
Does it go?
The Optima is a mixed
bag in the performance department. On the plus side, the 2.4L engine is plenty
robust to move the Optima down the road. The tires are reasonably grippy and
the Optima's curb weight is a segment-average 3,300lbs (give or take). So, the
Optima goes and sticks; what happens when the road turns curvy?
The SX
boasts a sport-tuned suspension which manages to keep the body relatively
well-controlled without too much of a ride penalty. That's the good news. The
bad? Steering feel. The road just doesn't come through, and compounding the
issue is a very artificial weight to the wheel itself. It's not that it feels
particularly under- or over-boosted, but the level of assist just doesn't ever
feel quite right.
This
flaw forces the driver to rely on his or her eyes rather than physical
feedback, taking away bandwidth that could normally be used to process other
sensory information. Kia's
midsizer has the on-paper chops to keep pace with the sportier cars in the
segment, but the driver would have to work much harder to do it. This has long
been the Optima's weakness, and hopefully one that will be resolved with the
forthcoming revisions.
Looking ahead
While
Hyundai decided to dial back the Sonata's exterior design for its all-new look,
Kia decided it was happy to
make small, evolutionary changes rather than a sweeping overhaul. Put our 2015
tester next to the upcoming 2016 model, and you can see that Kia believes it already had a
winning formula.
Under
the skin, however, things are changing more drastically. The SX model we're
currently testing will cease to exist for 2016. The SX badge will be reserved
for the two-liter turbo cars at the top of the range. A 1.6L turbocharged
engine will sit in the middle of the lineup, boasting a seven-speed,
dual-clutch transmission. While it will sport an LX badge, hopefully it will
carry on the current SX's legacy as the fun Optima for less money.
Leftlane's bottom line
The
2015 Kia Optima is on its way out, but it's still a competent, feature-rich
package. The steering leaves a bit to be desired, but for the buyer who cares
about bang-for-the-buck, the outgoing Optima is a steal.
2015 Kia Optima SX base price, $25,790;
SX Premium Technology Package, $4,600; Cargo Mat, $95; Destination, $825
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