2016 Kia Optima EX versus 2016 Honda Accord V-6 Touring: Midsize duel.
This week: Kia Optima.
Price: $30,615 as tested. ($24,890 for a base EX; $21,990 for a base model). Options discussed later.
Conventional wisdom: Edmunds.com liked the “quiet cabin; plenty of convenience and luxury features for the money; excellent blend of fuel efficiency and performance with turbocharged 1.6-liter engine” but not that the “sloping roofline makes for limited rear headroom; numb steering.”
Marketer’s pitch: “Discover the next generation Optima.” OK, so they save money on slogans.
Reality: The Optima finally lives up to its name.
The latest: Kia has continued its migration toward some very good vehicles throughout the 2010s, and the Optima is the latest participant in this movement.
Redesigned for 2016, the Optima now has a bigger, stiffer chassis than previous incarnations, meaning ride and roominess are improved, according to Kia.
On the road: The handling is not bad on country roads. The Optima won’t be confused for a BMW — or even a Mazda — but the steering feels more in control than many other sedans I’ve tested.
I certainly didn’t find it anything close to “numb,” as the Edmunds folks contend. We don’t usually diverge this much.
Up to speed: Performance from the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine was not stellar, but the car gets onto highways without complaint. The 185 horses make some pep. (A 2.0-liter turbo produces 245 horsepower, and a new 1.6-liter turbo offers 178.)
Shifty: The Kia Optima has one thing sportier than its twin cousin — an automatic shifter that shifts crisply when controlling the gears yourself. The Hyundai Sonata I tested felt so dull and heavy that I kept it in automatic mode (although I’ve had readers tell me their Sonata shifter works just fine).
Driver’s Seat: The command center is comfortable and roomy. I never noticed the side bolsters, as side bolsters probably should not be noticed.
Heated and ventilated front seats are part of the $3,700 EX Premium Package, which also adds a panoramic sunroof, 8-inch navigation screen and more.
Gauge pod: The Optima also has well-placed gauges, so reading the temperature and gas gauge is far easier here than in the Hyundai — and in the Accord, actually.
Friends and stuff: Legroom across the rear is comfortable in all three locations, moreso than the Accord. Outboard heated rear seats are part of the EX Premium Package, and show Kia is not afraid to take on Lexus and Infiniti in the battle of creature comforts.
As for head room, nearly six-foot Sturgis Kid 4.0 didn’t mention a problem from the back seat, and he’s usually pretty vocal about his complaints. (Tree, meet apple, and not the not-far falling distance.)
The console has two smaller compartments in front of the gearshift for phones and whatnot, while the hideaway under the armrest offers plenty of space. Trunk room is generous at 15.9 cubic feet.
Play some tunes: The sound in the Optima is not bad but doesn’t match the competition from Honda for quality and richness. And this was with the $1,200 EX Premium Audio Package, featuring Harman Kardon QLS surround sound, plus the aforementioned rear outboard seat heaters.
Night shift: The EX Premium Package also provides LED interior lighting, which provides clear lighting with beautiful ambiance.
Fuel economy: I averaged 27 mpg in the usual Mr. Driver’s Seat testing of highways and suburban roads, with a little bit of city driving added in. Regular unleaded is fine.
Where it’s built: West Point, Ga.
How it’s built: The Optima retains an “average” rating from Consumer Reports, down from “above average” in 2013-14.
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