When it comes to best buy among midsize cars in the market today, the 2016 Kia Optima is on top of the pecking order in this class and no less than Kelley Blue Book, one of the most respected and trusted automotive research and car valuation companies in the U.S. today, has put a stamp of their approval on this.
The race for the honor of being known as the family-friendly midsize car with a lot of bang for the buck includes a lineup consisting of other standouts from one of the most competitive segment of the market. The five other midsize sedan finalists are the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 2016 Honda Accord, 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 2016 Mazda Mazda6 and 2016 Toyota Camry. "The Optima's success has come through constant improvement. Throughout its life this family sedan has persevered to be better, evolving from an also-ran when it debuted 15 years ago to what it is today: a refined, advanced, rewarding-to-drive midsize sedan with luxury looks at a mainstream price," wrote KBB on its site. "The all-new 2016 Kia Optima is even more focused, besting not only the outgoing model but edging out rivals in one of the market's most competitive segments." Now, here are some of the reasons why 2016 Kia Optima bagged the midsize car best buy award. 1. The 2016 Optima was redesigned with the comfort and convenience of the consumers in mind. The standard trim includes features like height-adjustable passenger seat, stain-resistant cloth interior and compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the latest in mobile connectivity these days. Car and Driver also notes the easy to use and properly-positioned controls and switchgear.
2. Inside the new Kia sedan, the interior space also offers plenty of space for both the passengers and cargo. The engineering team of the Korean maker made sure that there is a bigger cabin compared to previous models, which makes it even more family-friendly. 3. One aspect that judges from KBB gave the Optima a high score for is its exceptional warranty that really offers buyers peace of mind and security upon purchase. The new model comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain, covering major components such as the engine and transmission, just like any Kia vehicle. 4. The new exterior look of the Optima, which was designed by ex-Volkswagen Group designer Peter Schreyer, is sporting an all-new front and rear frascia. One of its selling features in terms of aesthetics is Kia's signature Tiger nose grille. 5. The new Kia vehicle also offers a lot of safety features that come standard for its different trims. These include dual front seat mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, driver's side knee airbag, and rear child-safety door locks. As for its price and release date, the 2016 Kia Optima now comes available in five trims that potential owners can choose from. These are the LX starting at $21,840 and the EX at $24,890, both of which equipped with a 2.4 liter (185HP) engine; the 1.6 liter, turbocharged (178 HP) LX 1.6T starting at $23,990; and the 2.0 liter, turbocharged (245HP) SX at $29,690 and SX Limited at $35,790.
LEBRON James is one of the biggest, if not the biggest sporting star on the planet right now, which is why Nike just signed him to a lifetime deal which insiders believe could be worth close to one billion dollars.
But despite this, LeBron James swears that his daily driving car is simply a $US60,000 Kia K900.
A new ad released by the Korean car company this week features King James calling out Twitter trolls on him not actually driving a Kia, promising he actually does.
But despite LeBron now being an ambassador for the Kia brand, it actually started due to James genuinely liking the car. This is a man that could drive literally any car in the world. Ferraris, Bugattis, Lamborghinis - anything.
ABC News reported in October that the deal actually came around after James, who claims to be a car enthusiast, drove one of the K900 luxury sedans as part of his MVP award, which he then gave to charity. After realising how much he actually enjoyed the sedan, James approached Kia to see if he could have one, and the deal sprung from there.
Since then, he’s been busy pimping out his car, posting shots on social media quite regularly. Maybe LeBron James is closer to his thrifty character in Trainwreck than we thought?
Kia has a winner on its hands, with plenty of
useful technology and amenities matched with good road feel, steering
response, suspension tuning and sharp looks.
For
Excellent infotainment system with Android Auto
Useful driver assist technologies
Driving dynamics
Harman Kardon sound system
Against
Apple CarPlay support not ready
Cheap plastics used in the lower center console
Excessive chrome use
Mid-size
sedans are the bread and butter of the American automotive industry,
falling just behind pickup trucks in terms of overall sales. This highly
competitive segment is where every manufacturer brings its A-game to
grab a chunk of the combined yearly sales that reach nearly 2.4 million
vehicles.
If you asked what I thought about Kia vehicles
a decade ago, the answer would have included not-so-kind remarks and
plenty of sarcasm. That was always the case when it came to Korean
vehicles, which earned a reputation for terrible quality vehicles in the
'80s and '90s.
Armed
with a 10-year powertrain warranty and quickly learning to build better
cars, Kia kicked off the new millennium with its first generation Optima,
which was as plain as vanilla ice cream. It wasn't until 2010, when Kia
unveiled the Peter Schreyer-designed Optima, that I finally was able to
combine the words "Kia" and "stunning" into a single sentence. Prior to
joining Kia in 2006, Schreyer contributed to Audi's and Volkswagens,
including the TT, fourth generation Golf and new Beetle. He is now the
chief designer for all Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Five
years later, and my opinion stays the same: the 2010-2015 Optima is one
of the best looking midsize sedans available, and Peter Schreyer's
styling has aged gracefully. Regardless, it's time for a change, and the
new 2016 Kia Optima debuted at the New York Auto Show earlier this year
with subtle visual updates while presenting a completely different car.
Styling-wise,
the 2016 Optima doesn't look very distinguishable from its striking
predecessor. Some may say the new model is more conservative, which I
agree with. However, the 2016 redesign is the equivalent of putting on a
tailored suit and tie. The new Optima keeps the same basic shape and
form of the previous generation but subtly evolves visual details by
smoothing out the the sharp edges and lines to add a touch more elegance
while maintaining a recognizable face.
I like the new
design, especially from behind. But unfortunately, as with other cars in
the mid-size segment, there's excessive use of chrome details.
Interior
Inside
is where you spend most of your time in a car, and Kia crafted an
attractive, driver-focused cabin. Step into the Optima SX – Kia loaned
techradar for review – and you're treated with leather heated seats that
get very toasty. (Ventilated seats are optional on the SX and standard
on the SX Limited.)
Grab the steering wheel, and you're
treated to a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom wheel with thumb grips that
give the car a performance-oriented look and feel. The wheel is heated
and gets very warm for those cold morning drives to work in the winter.
The
seats are very comfortable for long drives without any shoulder or neck
pain. Lumbar adjustments eliminate lower back pain by providing support
that suits the curvature of your back. There's the right amount of
width and side bolster to support my 5-foot, 7-inch and 195-pound frame
too. The Optima SX and SX Limited feature 12-way adjustable power seats
for the driver with 4-way lumbar adjustments – a 10-way power passenger
seat with 2-way lumbar is optional on the SX and standard on the SX
Limited. I'm
a fan of the new headrest design, a soft plush cushion with a
pillow-like feel. Opt for the SX Limited trim, and the seats are wrapped
in fine Nappa leather with a diamond quilt pattern – for that extra
touch of class.
Look forward, and you're treated to a
pair of analog gauges for the speedometer and tachometer with an LCD
display sandwiched in between. The gauge cluster LCD display provides
access to vehicle settings, such as light-off delay time, automatic door
locks, driver assists and more.
This way, you can make
quick changes to match your personal preferences without having to bring
the car into the dealership. The display also ties into the navigation
software to show turn-by-turn directions and basic vehicle information
including fuel economy, tire pressure and trip meters.
Interior
materials are good with tight fit and finish suitable for a luxury
sedan in the price range. Kia employs high-quality soft touch materials
on the upper half of the dashboard while the lower parts consist of
cheaper hard plastics, but this is fairly normal for other mid-size cars
too.
The door panels are wrapped generously in vinyl,
with plenty of soft touch materials, too. Overall, the interior layout,
materials and level of comfort in the new Optima are good and it's a
great place to be for your daily commute and roadtrips. The
driver-focused interior puts you in control of the car with easy to
reach buttons and knobs and the most frequently touched surfaces, such
as the armrest and steering wheel is wrapped in leather.
There
is one annoyance I have with the interior, one that affects most of the
Optima vehicles, and that's the foot-operated parking brake. While
vehicles with adaptive cruise control get an electronic parking brake,
most of the Optima models will ship with the foot-operated brake that
looks more like it belongs in an '80s pickup truck than a modern car.
It's a small nitpick that still bugs me since manufacturers began moving
away from the hand-brake.
Infotainment system
Kia employs its AVN 4.0 infotainment platform in the 2016 Optima,
powered by a Freescale i.MX53 System on a Chip (SoC) and a Linux-based
operating system. The single-core ARM Cortex-A9 SoC is ancient by modern
smartphone standards but perfectly adequate for in-car navigation.
Mounted
high and center on the Optima dashboard is an 8-inch touch screen with a
resolution of 800 x 480. The display isn't as crisp as the latest Apple
Retina displays or WQHD displays on Android flagships, but you're not
looking at fine details from your driving position, so I have no
problems with it.
The Visuals used for the interface are
easy on the eyes and easily legible from the driver's seat. Touch
response is excellent without lag, despite employing a resistive
(plastic, no multi-touch) touch display rather than capacitive (glass,
supports multi-touch), which dominates the mobile tech world.
Kia
opts for physical buttons and knobs placed lower on the center stack
that are easy to reach. The physical buttons complement the touch screen
interface for direct access to music sources, maps, UVO (Kia's own
phone-connected information services), volume, seek functions and folder
navigation.
There are radio controls on the
left-side of the steering wheel for similar functions, too. I appreciate
the physical controls, as they provide quicker and direct feedback when
turning up the volume or changing the music source while focusing on
the road. Placing the steering wheel controls on the left-hand side is
perfect for those that drive primarily with their left hand on the
wheel.
The user interface is very intuitive, with quick
access to your audio sources, UVO apps, navigation and settings – the
functions aren't buried beneath layers of sub-menus. Pairing your phone
is an easy process that's triggered when you press the phone button
without a device paired to the car.
Navigating SiriusXM,
HD radio or USB storage devices bring no surprises with a
straightforward user interface. The SiriusXM 2.0 tuner features
time-shifting capabilities for the first six presets.
When
a SiriusXM station is set to one of the first six presets, music is
constantly recorded, so you can channel surf and restart a song that's
already playing. Navigation maps are plain and flat but do the job.
Kia's maps aren't as detailed as the 3D maps used by Ford and luxury car
makers but adequate for getting you around town.
SiriusXM
NavTraffic support is integrated in the infotainment system, but I find
the feature quite useless. Unless you're entering an address into the
navigation everywhere you go, SiriusXM NavTraffic does not know where
you're going and will not recommend alternative routes if there's a jam
or congestion.
There's also the problem in which I can
see a jam in front of me, but NavTraffic doesn't show any congested
traffic. A subscription costs $3.99 a month after the initial
three-month trial period expires, but you're better off saving the money
and using Google Maps or Waze for commuting.
Those that heavily rely on a smartphone everyday will be happy to hear that the 2016 Optima supports Android Auto,
which lets your smartphone take over the in-vehicle display with a
Google Now-esque interface. The Kia Optima user interface lets drivers
listen to music via the car's sources while letting Android Auto take
over the screen for Google Now cards or Google Maps navigation.
I played with Android Auto in the car and found no performance issues with my Motorola Nexus 6.
There
is one downside, though, and it's the power output from the USB port: I
measured power output at 0.8-amps using a Drok USB Volt Amp Meter. This
is plenty to charge the phone while using navigation, but it doesn't
charge very fast.
Audio quality from Android Auto is
disappointing, but that's Google's fault and not Kia's. Android Auto
sends music via Bluetooth instead of the USB connection already in use,
unfortunately.
Newfangled iPhone 6S users are left out at launch with the new Optima. Kia promises
Apple CarPlay support with the Optima and other vehicles next year via a
software update. I've played with development units (a box with the
infotainment system, not in a car) and haven't encountered any issues.
The feature mirrors iOS functions to the vehicle display so you have the
standard home button that's now on-screen and the iOS grid layout for
CarPlay compatible apps.
The infotainment system does
feature apps, such as Pandora, Yelp and the UVO features. Pandora
integration uses Bluetooth for Android and a wired connection for iOS.
Sound quality is obviously better through iOS, thanks to the wired
connection. I didn't get a chance to test out the other UVO features, as
the user logins were not provided with Kia's sample car for review,
unfortunately.
Bluetooth
phone connectivity is straightforward, with good call quality on iOS
and Android that was free of hisses, pops or the person on the other end
of the line complaining about not hearing me. There's nothing out of
the ordinary in terms of functionality. The infotainment system can
connect to phones via Bluetooth and download the contact list and call
history.
Kia's phone system does not support text
messages. However, you're better off using Android Auto or the upcoming
CarPlay functions, as Apple and Google will let you dictate messages
using cloud-based services.
The range-topping Optima SX
Limited trim offers an integrated Qi wireless charger for phones. The
charger is available in the lower cubby, where the USB and 12-volt power
plugs are located.
While standard models have two 12-volt power
plugs up front, the Qi wireless charger replaces one of the plugs with a
light that shows the charging status. I was able to briefly test the
integrated charger with my Motorola Nexus 6 and a Samsung Galaxy S6 with
success – it works as you'd expect it. The compartment is a little
tight with the Nexus 6, so I wouldn't try larger phones.
Premium sound
Standard
on the SX Limited and optional on the SX is a Harman Kardon-branded
premium sound system. The system features 10 total speakers with a
630-watt, 11-channel digital amplifier. For those that are confused by
the greater amount of channels to the amount of speakers, the subwoofer
in the rear deck is a dual voice coil design and takes two channels to
power.
Harman's Clari-Fi and QuantumLogic Surround
technologies headline the premium sound system. Clari-Fi claims to
rebuild musical details lost in the digital conversion process using a
proprietary algorithm developed by Harman.
The sound
restoring technology works on all audio sources from USB, Bluetooth to
SiriusXM. I spent most of the time listening to SiriusXM in the Optima and the feature does work as advertised.
SiriusXM
typically produces low bit-rates, which result in terrible sound
quality that sounds very dull. In the Optima, Clari-Fi brings back a bit
of warmth to the sound. It's still not as good as a CD or high bitrate
MP3, but it makes SiriusXM that much more tolerable in terms of sound
quality.
QuantumLogic
Surround claims to separate voices and instruments on-the-fly to
re-author it into a multi-channel soundstage. The Optima provides an
on/off switch for this feature in the audio settings menu. I toggled it
on and off with a variety of music and preferred the feature to be on.
Harman's
processing keeps the music sounding natural so it's not a major change
from the original sound source. The feature raises the sound stage to
ear level, so the music is livelier with better staging.
I
personally like the Harman Kardon premium sound system. There's a good
balance of clarity and mid-bass from the system that lets you hear clear
vocals with punchy bass notes. The subwoofer is a little weak, as with
most factory systems, but adding bass is a lot easier than replacing all
the speakers in the car. It's a good factory system with sound quality
that I could live with and not have an itch to upgrade with aftermarket
gear.
Driver assists
Kia offers a suite of driver assist
technologies that are optional on the SX and standard on the SX Limited
to help make your commute or late night driving easier or more annoying,
depending on how open you are to the technology. The available features
include rear parking sensors, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic
alert, emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure
warning, adaptive headlights, 360-degree camera and – most importantly –
adaptive cruise control.
The rear parking sensors, blind spot
detection, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning and lane
departure warning features are all passive functions. These features do
not stand to interfere with your driving at all.
The rear
parking sensors cause the car to make loud beeps when the rear bumper
is getting too close to an object when you're trying to park. Blind spot
detection simply sounds off an alert when you put on the turn signal
and there's a vehicle in the blind spot – or if another vehicle is
accelerating at a higher rate of speed in the lane you're trying to get
into.
There
are two alert processes, including a flashing light located in the side
mirrors and an audible alert, so you can see and hear it, assuming you
use your side mirrors. The system is conservative when it comes to
detecting other vehicles in your blind spot, even if the other vehicle
is two car lengths away, but I believe it's better to be safe than
sorry.
Rear cross traffic alert is one of those features
that's nice to have if you spend a lot of time in busy parking lots. Say
you're backing out of a parking spot at the mall, you perform your head
checks and don't see any car coming but while backing up, the system
detects a child, shopping cart or another vehicle trying to get by you.
The system then alerts you, so you can immediately stop and avoid
hitting something (or someone) that is now in your path.
Forward
collision and lane departure warning are also passive systems. The
forward collision warning simply makes loud beeps when it senses the car
or object in front of you may cause a collision to encourage braking.
Kia does not offer bright flashing red lights that projects onto the
windshield like General Motors, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and others. Instead,
there's an alert graphic that shows up in the gauge cluster display.
Kia's
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) technology takes the forward
collision warning system one step further to make it an active safety
system. AEB can automatically apply the brakes to stop the car if it
detects an imminent collision to lessen the impact if not completely
avoid the collision completely.
Adaptive headlights are
standard on the SX and SX Limited trim levels, which Kia dubs Dynamic
Bending Light (DBL). This is a feature that is very useful if you live
in rural environments and drive on windy roads. The feature works by
turning the headlamps with your steering wheel so the headlights follow
the road.
DBL has its uses, but if your drive consists
mostly of well-lit roads and freeways, you most likely won't notice it
in action. Nevertheless, it works well with the HID headlights in the
Optima.
Lastly
are two of my favorite features: adaptive cruise control and the
360-degree camera. The first thing you'll notice on vehicles with Kia's
smarter cruise control is the switch from a foot-operated parking brake
to an electronic parking brake. This small distinction is a big deal
when it comes to adaptive cruise control.
Instead of
turning off below a certain speed, the Optima's adaptive cruise is a
full-speed system that can stop the car completely and hold it without
any driver intervention. The beauty of this is that you can completely
drive the car in bumper-to-bumper traffic without ever setting your foot
on the brake or gas pedal. Simply set a cruise speed, a following
distance and let the system speed up or slow down and even stop the car
for you.
On other vehicles without the electronic parking
brake, adaptive cruise will ask you to step on the brake pedal when
it's at a near-stop. The electric parking brake enables the car to
automatically apply the brakes at a stop, so you can simply tap the
resume toggle or quickly tap of the gas pedal to get going again.
Kia's
surround view monitor installs cameras in the front and below the side
mirrors to stitch together a 360-degree view of the car. This makes
parallel parking or just backing up a lot easier, as you can see the
entire car in the infotainment screen.
The feature
automatically triggers when the car is put in reverse, but switches to
the front camera briefly if you put it in drive and move at a slow rate
of speed. You can manually turn on the bird's-eye view of the car, plus
the front camera via a button below the shifter at slower speeds to aid
parking.
Kia's Optima SX and SX Limited trims come
standard with the 2.0-liter turbo, 4-cylinder motor, rack-mounted, power
steering motor and sport-tuned suspension. The 2.0t is rated at 245
horsepower (hp) with 260 pound-per-foot of torque, which is down from
the previous generation's 274 hp and 269 pound-per-foot.
However,
numbers aren't everything, as the new Optima makes peak torque at 1,350
rotations per minute (RPM) instead of 1,650 RPM. The new Optima employs
a smaller, twin-scroll turbo to achieve these power ratings. The 2.0t
is mated to the same 6-speed automatic as the previous generation.
While
power is down on the new Optima, Kia engineers tuned the engine for a
smoother power curve that improves drivability. There's no high-RPM
power surge, as with the previous generation, only linear smoothness.
Despite being down on power, you can spin the tires a little when
flooring it from a stop and it never felt slow. I wouldn't call it fast
but there's plenty of passing power at high altitudes (I drove up to 12,000 feet above sea level) thanks to the turbo.
We partnered up with Drift-Office,
a local tuning shop co-founded by a good friend of mine, to put the
Optima on a vehicle dynamometer (dyno), which measures power output
through the wheels by having the vehicle to spin rollers that measure
the amount of force applied, and verify Kia's number ratings and check
out the power curve. When I tested the vehicle, it was a typical
Washington day with an average temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit with
around 74% humidity at around 69 feet above sea level. The car was
strapped down and ran three times.
The
Optima made 211hp at the wheels on the first run, which shows about 12%
of power loss through the drivetrain. Power loss can be upwards to 20%
depending on the car, drive wheels and transmission but it produces
respectable numbers.
The power curve is very linear
without random power surges, and backs up Kia's claim of tuning the
engine for smoothness. The later runs generated less power due to heat
soak, which happens when a car is on a dyno with a large fan blowing air
at it – this isn't something that typically happens in regular driving,
unless it's extremely hot outside.
The US Environmental
Protection Agency rates the Optima with the 2.0-liter turbo at 22 in the
city, 32 on the highway and 25 combined miles-per-gallon. My
lead-footed driving saw fuel economy around 20 MPG in primarily city
driving. I'm sure your average driver should see the rated numbers, but
it's hard not to mash the gas pedal and listen to the tires squeal.
Kia
offers a 1.6-liter turbo and 2.4-liter 4-cylinder motors that are more
economical as well. The 1.6-liter turbo is an economical gem that's
rated for 28 in the city, 39 on the highway and 32 combined MPG, while
the base 2.4-liter only gains 2-3 MPG more across the board than the
turbo 2.0-liter. However, the 1.6 turbo and 2.4-liter motors have
column-mounted power steering motors and different suspension tuning, so
the driving dynamics are completely different. My take on the Optima's
driving performance strictly refers to the SX and SX Limited.
Steering
feel on the Optima gives you a feel of the surface, tight response and
the right amount of weight to inspire confidence. Kia has come a long
way in terms of driving dynamics, and the Optima is a solid driving
mid-size sedan. There's a driver mode select button that alters
steering, throttle response and transmission shifting depending on which
mode you select – normal, sport or eco. I left the car in sport mode
most of the time as I prefer a heavier and tighter steering feel and
quicker transmission shifts.
Paddle shifters are
available behind the steering wheel and mounted to the wheel, which is
what I prefer instead of column-mounted paddles. The downside is that
there's a noticeable delay when pressing the paddles to when the
transmission shifts.
If
the Optima were a sports car, this would be a major drawback, but it's
less of a problem as a family sedan. It does stay in the selected gear
to the engine redline (the highest RPM the engine can go) when in manual
mode, so you can downshift and drive aggressively through windy roads
without fear of automatic upshifts mid-corner.
The power
steering applies the right amount of weight at the right speeds for a
pleasant drive through winding roads. Suspension tuning strikes the
balance of sporty handling and comfort without noticeable body roll
while spiritedly driving through the mountain roads without breaking the
law (too much). The 2016 Optima isn't on the same level as the Mazda 6
when it comes to driving dynamics, but it's very close and offers an
excellent driving experience.
Living with it
Everything
about the Kia Optima looks good, but what is it like to live with (you
know, with kids)? We partnered up with Diono, a car seat manufacturer,
to test fit three car seats in the back of the car. Diono's USA
headquarters is in Puyallup, Wash., where I conduct vehicle testing and a
convenient place to stop by and test-fit car seats. With the help of
Diono, I installed three Radian RXT convertible car seats in the back of
the Optima.
The Optima has two pairs of lower LATCH
anchors in the outboard seats, and the middle seat requires using the
regular seat belt. Top LATCH anchors are present for all three seats.
The seats were installed with the vehicle seat belts and not LATCH
anchors.
All
three seats fit fine in the Optima. I tried the middle car seat in
front and rear-facing positions without space issues. The only caveat is
the buckle for the middle seat sits a little high, so my Diono
representative had to twist it two turns so that it sits lower. I was
reassured this does not affect the safety of the car seat or
installation.
When rear-facing, the Radian RXT can
protrude into the front of the car due to how tall it is. This is easily
resolved using Diono's angle-adjuster accessory, which I tested with it
as well. Ultimately, the 2016 Optima can safely fit three Diono Radian
RXT car seats in the back. I am not able to test other car seats and
can't confirm if other brand models will fit in a three-across
configuration.
Junk in the trunk
Walk up to the trunk of
the Optima with the key fob in your pocket and the car automatically
opens the trunk for you. Kia calls this feature "Smart Trunk," and it
makes your life easier if your hands are full, theoretically.
The
Smart Trunk only activates if the car is locked and you walk behind the
car. It sounds off a couple beeps as an audible warning before the
trunk is opened. If it's beeping and you didn't want to open the trunk,
simply walk away and it'll cancel.
In the perfect
scenario, you'll have your hands full with the kids and groceries, walk
up to the car and the trunk magically opens for you. In reality, Kia's
Smart Trunk pops open the trunk but it doesn't have a powered trunk to
automatically raise it for you, so you still have to open the trunk
albeit with one less step.
Kia
claims the Optima has 15.9 cubic feet of trunk space, and it does have a
very large trunk. To test how usable the trunk is, I keep Sumo Gigantor
and Omni bean bags from Sumo Lounge around for trunk fitting tests. The
Sumo sacks can easily contour to odd trunk space layouts, too. It's a
fun way I devised to visualize how big a trunk is that can produce
interesting images.
I dragged the Sumo Omni outside to
put in the trunk of the Optima without much luck – and odd stares from
neighbors. The 60 x 60 x 38-inch bean bag didn't fit due to the small
opening.
While your typical boxes and suitcases should fit in the
Optima without issues, it's the odd-sized item that is a problem. If
you need to haul large items a lot, a sedan isn't ideal and you're
better off with a wagon (estate for our UK readers) minivan or
crossover.
Overall, I really like the 2016 Kia Optima.
If you asked me if I would ever consider a Kia 10 years ago, I'd just
laugh with a quick "heck no." The company has come a long way, and the
previous generation Optima was a major change for the company's brand
perception. This follow-up takes the stunning looks and makes a car
that's visually familiar but a completely different animal when it comes
to refinement.
We liked
Said
refinement includes well-devised feature implementations that aren't
simply checking boxes. The infotainment system is easy to use on its own
or you can add a smartphone to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay next
year.
There are two USB charging ports, so front- and
rear-seat passengers can charge their devices. Plus, the 360-degree
camera is well implemented with a birds-eye and directional view of the
vehicle. And the adaptive cruise control can stop and hold the car for
you.
Driving the Optima is a good experience – the sport
suspension is stiff enough to have fun through windy roads but dampens
well enough for a comfortable ride. The seats are comfortable, and I
didn't develop any back pains during the hours of driving or riding as a
passenger.
We disliked
There are some downsides with the
Optima, though it's mostly me nitpicking. The overall interior
materials consist of soft touch surfaces and ergonomic control
placements.
For starters, the two large chunks of black
plastic on each side of the infotainment screen are confusing – the
plastic feels very cheap and it looks weird. There's the standard,
foot-operated parking brake on lower trim models that reminds me of my
dad's '80s Toyota pickup truck.
Not to mention the
excessive use of exterior chrome trim – yuck. Also, Apple CarPlay not
being available until next year is a major disappointment, especially
since Honda has it on the refreshed Accord.
Final verdict
Pricing
for the turbocharged Kia Optima SX starts at $29,690 (AU$48,331 as the
Optima GT; no UK availability yet) but you get quite a lot of kit at
that price, including sportier front and rear fascias, bi-Xenon HID
headlights, 12-way adjustable leather sport seats, leather-wrapped
heated steering wheel, sportier suspension and integrated navigation
functions.
Add the optional $4,800 SX Premium Technology
Package, and Kia throws the kitchen sink at you with the driver assist
technologies, 360-degree camera, the excellent Harman Kardon premium
sound system, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats and heated
rear seats. That brings the price to $35,315, or you can splurge and go
for the range-topping SX Limited at $36,615 and treat your behind to
finer-quality Nappa leather.
Ultimately,
I really dig the 2016 Kia Optima SX/SX Limited for how comfortable it
is yet can keep up when I'm feeling spirited. The car has an excellent
adaptive cruise control system that can completely stop the car, and an
intuitive infotainment system that works with my smartphone. It's a
mid-size sedan that is very large, with plenty of front and rear seat
legroom and plenty of technology that most luxury car buyers don't get.
Styling is subjective, but I am a fan.
This year's Optima may
not look much different than the previous generation, but its toned
down and shows a higher level of refinement, the equivalent of putting
on a suit and tie. If you're looking for a mid-size sedan that's stylish
and satisfies your needs for a comfortable daily commuter and family
car, you can't go wrong with the 2016 Kia Optima.
The Kia Sorento
family SUV has won the Carsguide Car Of The Year for 2015, defeating
early favourites including European luxury models and the world’s
best-selling sports-car.
The panel of seven judges voted
unanimously for the seven-seat family SUV after exhaustive testing
during the year, and a final shootout over two days which included
thousands of kilometres of real-world driving.
Kia, which is the sister company to Hyundai, is just outside the Top 10 sellers list in Australia but this is the second win for the brand in five years after the Kia Rio hatch won in 2011.
“Kia have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years,” said Carsguide editor Richard Blackburn.
“They’ve
lifted their interior design, they’ve used Australian engineers to tune
their suspension for local conditions and their diesel engines are on
par with some of the best for refinement.”
The Mazda MX-5
sports car, known for its fun-to-drive character and new low price, was
an early favorite to take out the top prize.
So too was
the just released Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV, which is based on the same
underpinnings as last year’s award winner, the Mercedes C Class sedan.
The
$49,990 Kia Sorento SLi diesel took out the award because it excelled
among its direct rivals in terms of value, low running costs and its
industry-leading seven-year factory-backed warranty.
When
the final counting was done, the judges also determined that the Kia
also stood out among European SUVs costing twice the price.
“The
Sorento can hold its own in any company. If you’re still put off by the
badge on the nose, it’s your loss,” said Mr Blackburn.
The
other contenders for Carsguide Car Of The Year in 2015 included the new
Volkswagen Passat sedan, Ford Ranger ute, Jaguar XE sedan, Mazda CX-3
city SUV, Audi RS3 hot hatch, Volvo XC90 luxury SUV, BMW X1 compact SUV,
and the Holden Commodore SS-V Redline sedan.
Propelled by the sale of its six millionth vehicle in the U.S. since arriving in 1994, Kia Motors America's (KMA) year-long momentum continued with best-ever November sales of 45,553 vehicles, a 1.4-percent increase over the same period last year. The brand's seventh straight monthly sales record was led by the Optima and Soul, with 13,048 and 10,045 units sold, respectively.
"Kia has outpaced the industry all year, and with our 'Holidays On Us' sales event in place throughout November customers visited our showrooms in record numbers to discover the new Kia," said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. "Kia continues to grow and mature at a rapid rate, and surpassing the six million vehicles mark as we push toward a strong finish to the year is the latest example of how far this brand has come in a very short period of time."
At Gary Rome Kia we will be participating in the Holidays on Us sales
event with great deals on a selection of Kia's finest vehicles. We'll
make not only two, but the three first months payments when you purchase
any one of the select
vehicles. Come on down to 809 Enfield Street in Enfield, CT to check out what we have in store for you.
About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA proudly serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and set an all-time annual sales record in 2014, surpassing the 500,000 unit mark for the third consecutive year. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K9001 flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle2, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 15,000 plant and supplier jobs.
* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.
15 new cars tested and only four missed out on top 5-star rating
Researchers at Euro NCAP have released the latest crop of crash test results, and it's good news - of 15 new cars tested, most achieved the full 5-star safety rating.
It's somewhat unsurprising that the newest cars received the best rating. Jaguar's all-new XF and XE both achieved 5 stars, with remarkably similar ratings - scores were high in all areas but adult protection was a particular highlight. This is an improvement for the XF, as its predecessor only scored 4-stars - despite the test being even tougher this year.
Kia fielded the all-new Optima, as well as the Sportage, which isn't available to buy just yet. Both scored top 5-star ratings too. The Sportage in particular will be particularly popular with family buyers, so safety is even more important.
Renault demonstrated it's commitment to safety particularly with the second-generation Megane back in 2002, and the new model continues that with another top rating of 5-stars. It actually achieved a higher score than its larger saloon sibling, the Talisman (which won't be making it to the UK) although this too was awarded 5-stars.
Other top-rated cars were the Infiniti Q30, BMW X1, Lexus RX, Mercedes GLC and the brand-new Vauxhall Astra.
Moving down the scale, it's a little disappointing to see that the new MINI Clubman was unable to top a 4-star rating. For a car which MINI says is it's most family-friendly model yet, we'd have hoped for a top rating. The Clubman scored highly for adult protection, but other areas were lower.
Pickup trucks aren't known for being as safe as cars in a crash, so a four-star score for the Nissan Navara is understandable, and in line with rivals. Less so is the three-star rating given to the BMW Z4. The roadster scored highly for pedestrian protection but other areas were poor, with particular emphasis given to the lack of advanced safety features fitted. This may be a six-year-old car, but BMW hasn't kept it up-to-date with the latest kit.
The Chrysler Ypsilon is no longer sold in this country, and that would seem to be a good thing, as Euro NCAP only awarded its Lancia sibling a two-star rating. That's one of the poorest results we've seen.
The older cars in this test tend to lose out when it comes to safety equipment - particularly autonomous braking, which Euro NCAP have recently started testing for. The organization say the next step will be testing for autonomous braking that recognizes pedestrians - a feature Volvo already offers.
SAN
FRANCISCO -- Low gasoline prices may have many Americans looking for
trucks and crossovers, but that was no problem in November for Hyundai and Kia, which reported U.S. sales gains thanks to small cars such as the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Soul.
Hyundai
today reported selling 60,007 vehicles last month, up 12 percent, for
its best-ever November. Sales of Hyundai’s three smallest cars -- the
subcompact Accent, compact Elantra and sporty Veloster hatchback -- rose
a combined 32 percent while sales of the Tucson compact crossover, redesigned this year, rose 90 percent to 6,906 units.
Kia
said today it sold 45,553 vehicles in November, up 1 percent, as it ran
a “Holidays on Us” promotion offering interest-free loans, discounts of
up to $1,000 and no payments for five months. The brand reported a 10
percent sales bump for the subcompact Soul and a 29 percent boost for
the Sportage compact crossover, compensating for a 37 percent drop in sales of the Sedona minivan, which was not eligible for the promotion.
November’s
healthy results suggest the United States will remain a bright spot for
Hyundai Motor Group as it deals with a slump in China. Earlier this
year the Korean automaker, ranked third in China market share behind
Volkswagen Group and General Motors, lost ground to homegrown rivals,
prompting changes in strategy.
Hyundai sales increased 6
percent in the U.S. through the first 11 months of the year while Kia
sales rose 7 percent. Yet worldwide, the group is expected to fall short
of its goal of increasing deliveries 2 percent to 8.2 million vehicles
in 2015.
Later this month, the Yonhap news agency of
South Korea reported today that group Chairman Chung Mong-koo will
gather 60 national Hyundai and Kia sales heads in Seoul to push for more
effective marketing and new investments in the brands.
