WASHINGTON
— The midsize sedan class is dominated mostly by Honda and Toyota so how do you
stand out? Kia took the
more-for-less money approach. Kia
offers a choice of a base 192hp four-cylinder or a 274hp turbo engine that
should have no problem keeping up with traffic.
Lately,
Kia has been known for offering
a lot of bang for the buck and the 2015 Kia Optima might be even more of a
bargain this year. This is the last year for the current Optima, as a redesigned model
will come along for the 2016 model year. The future Optima doesn’t look
drastically different than the current one and some money can be saved while
dealers make room for the upcoming model.
The
2015 Kia Optima has three trim
levels for the base engine and two trim levels for the turbo charged engine. Prices
start under $22,000 and if you want a fully loaded limited model with the turbo
engine, the price pushes to $36,000. I drove the loaded SX model with the base
four-cylinder engine priced around $31,300. With NAV, a rearview camera, plus
heated and cooled front seats and even heated rear seats, you get a lot of bang
for your buck.
The
interior includes high quality materials and comfortable leather seats.
However, a few of my passengers said the seat back hit them in a strange spot,
so maybe an extended drive is in order. I found the seats comfortable and the
cooled front seats are perfect for a hot day. The dual zone climate lets the
driver and passenger coexist on longer trips.
The rear seat vents help backseat passengers with air. Taller riders
might find a lack of headroom but 5 foot 8 fit is okay in the back. The leather
steering wheel feels good in the hands, but again I always turn the volume down
or up or changed the station with strangely placed controls on the steering
wheel.
The
outside looks good even after a few years on the market it tends to stand out
and look like a car that costs more than it does. There are some curves to the
body and a few side vents on the front fenders that help break up the size of
the sedan. The rear end styling stands out with swooping rear meeting a tall
trunk almost giving a hatchback look from the side view. Large 18-inch wheels
look good on the Optima
and help beef up the car’s appearance.
Driving
the Optima was
pleasant and fine. The base 192hp seemed to do a fine job. I like power so I
would have been happier with the turbo engine but most people won’t notice or
need the extra power. It does a decent job of soaking up bumps and providing a
quiet place to be. It might not be a sportier handler but it does okay for a
midsize sedan and hauling the family around. Rearview might not be the best but
the rearview camera and backup warning system do a good job of helping. The
fuel mileage might not be top in its class, but I did manage 27.2mpg over a week
of mixed driving and that’s what the sticker said I should get.
The Kia Optima SX is a
solid choice for midsize sedan buyers who want a lot of features but don’t want
to break the bank doing it and get a 10-year warranty. With a nice interior and
a decent price, the 2015 Optima
could be a bargain buy of the year.
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