Kia: Winning The Sedan War With Its Luxury-Laden 2016 Optima

Ask anyone familiar with the current Kia Optima, “What do you think of Kia’s midsize sedan?” and you’ll hear phrases like ”great styling” or “looks like a luxury car” or “lots of value for the money.” Not a bad set of impressions, and proof Kia nailed the last Optima redesign in terms of exterior styling and feature content. In fact, if the Optima struggles with anything it’s awareness, with many Americans still oblivious to the Optima’s compelling value statement. These folks likely assume the Optima is a European luxury sedan when they see one on the road, an understandable error given Peter Schreyer, Kia’s head of design, worked at Audi for 15 years before transferring to Kia in 2005. Schreyer created one of the most attractive vehicles in the midsize sedan category when the third-generation Optima debuted in 2011.

This helped the Optima achieve 150,000 in annual sales, the first-ever Kia to reach that number in the U.S. market. This is critical because at Kelley Blue Book we’re watching the decline of car sales in favor of trucks, though Kia is fighting the trend with its attractive and value-packed Optima. But like any great design exercise the real challenge comes when its time for an update, forcing Kia to decide how much, or how little, to change. One look at the all-new 2016 Optima and it’s clear Kia went subtle versus sweeping. The short, wide grille (Kia calls it the “tiger nose” grille) remains, as does the fastback roofline and wrap-around taillights, though they’re now available with optional LEDs as part of the new car’s push into luxury and technology. The Optima’s wheelbase, length and height are up about half an inch, and it’s wider by 1.2 inches. These shifts give the car a bit more presence on the road and bit more space inside (104.8 cubic feet of cabin space versus 102.2 cubic feet in the outgoing model).

The 2016 Optima’s roomier interior means its got more space than benchmark models like Honda’s Accord and Toyota’s Camry. Material quality is comprehensively improved, with Nappa leather in Merlot and Aubergine shades available on top-trim SXL versions. Real stitching on the steering wheel, dash and door panels is contrasted with metal accents, and subtle touches like the damped center console door and clean center stack controls drive home the premium character Kia wants to broadcast with this car. The interior does feel quite roomy, though rear headroom was tight and rear seat thigh support somewhat compromised for folks over 6-feet tall. Kia has to balance that sleek roofline with rear headroom, and they’ve done a commendable job given the opposing nature of those goals. The front seats were reconfirmed for 2016 and their comfort is superb, with optional heated and cooled front seats available on premium models. 

Cradling this larger, more luxurious cabin is a revised chassis with 150 percent more high-strength steel and an increased use of structural adhesives for 58 percent greater torsional rigidity. The 2016 Optima also features a revised suspension with dual lower-control arms in the rear, twice as many subframe bushings (4 versus the previous 2) and, on SX and SXL models, a rack-mounted electric power steering assist motor for quicker steering response and greater feedback. Increased insulation around the dash, acoustic laminated front windows and larger cross-member bushings all contribute to a quieter, smoother ride with improved handling dynamics. After driving the new Optima on a series of twisty roads in the Nevada mountains outside Las Vegas we were impressed with the car’s balance of performance and luxury, even on base LX models. 

The base Optima LX is powered by a carryover 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. This engine is connected to a six-speed automatic, though an all-new 1.6-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine, making 178 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, is also offered in the 2016 Optima LX. This new turbo engine connects to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, marking the first dual-clutch transmission offered in a Kia. The mid-grade Optima EX also uses the 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic, while the upscale SX and top-line SXL trims feature a 2.0-liter turbo four that makes 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This 2.0-liter also uses Kia’s traditional six-speed automatic, but steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters are included in the Optima SX and SXL. 

Several new features appear on the 2016 Kia Optima, including upgraded safety and convenience options like smart cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, directional high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights (they turn with the steering wheel), and a standard rearview camera. These features join blind spot detection and rear-cross traffic alert, both of which were previously offered on the Optima. Another new-for-2016 feature is a Harman Kardon 630-watt, 14-speaker audio system with Quantam Logic surround sound and Clari-Fi technology. Clari-Fi basically adds in the missing audio information from compressed digital audio, and while it sounds like a black art that could result in horrible artifacts it’s actually extremely effective at making your MP3 and other digital files sound like full-bodied recordings. Android Auto will also be available on the 2016 Optima at launch. Kia reps told us Apple AAPL +1.74% CarPlay for the Optima will come “later.” 

Pricing for the 2016 Kia Optima starts at $21,840 for an LX model with the 2.4-liter engine and standard features like 16-inch wheels, a 6-way adjustable driver and passenger seat and a 5-inch central touchscreen. The Optima LX-T gets the 1.6-liter turbo engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for $23,900. A $2,600 tech package for the LX turbo add navigation, satellite radio, front and rear USB ports and LED taillights. The Optima EX starts at $24,890 and comes with the 2.4-liter engine, 17-inch wheels, 12-way power driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel and heated leather front seats, dual-projection headlights, LED side marker lights, LED taillights and power-folding exterior mirrors. The Optima SX comes with all the EX features plus the more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, 18-inch wheels, red brake calipers, a sport-tuned suspension, swiveling headlights, unique bumper and side sill designs and a rear spoiler for $29,690. 

The top-end SXL adds chrome exterior trim, automatic high-beams, a panoramic sunroof, smart cruise control, the 630-watt Harman Kardon audio system, LED interior lighting, electronic parking brake, Nappa leather seats, 10-way power driver’s seat, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, blind spot detection, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and a surround view monitor for $35,790. 

Kia had already established the Optima as a midsize sedan with near-luxury styling and amenities before this redesign. As Kia’s best-selling model the automaker needed to tread carefully when updating the car. The 2016 Optima reflects Kia’s desire to take a good thing and make it better, with enhanced styling, performance, technology and luxury offered at a value-packed price. For shoppers wanting maximum luxury at minimum cost it makes a compelling case in the highly-competitive midsize sedan segment. 

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Kia Soul Wins Active Lifestyle Vehicle Of The Year Award

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia Motors America's (KMA) fun, funky and functional urban passenger vehicle, the 2016 Soul, was named a winner at the 12^th annual Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) of the Year awards held recently in Chandler, Arizona.  For the fourth consecutive year, a panel of local media and athletes rated the Soul best in the Urban category.

"We're thrilled that the Soul has been recognized at ALV for the fourth consecutive time thanks to its many attributes and amenities," said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, KMA.  "Combining an iconic design, refined interior, numerous tech features and impressive cargo volume, our urban runabout is a true standout for those seeking a vehicle that supports an active and athletic lifestyle."

With a starting MSRP of just $15,690¹ (excluding destination charges of $825), the Soul is an exceptional value that combines eye-catching style, practicality and youthful character in a small package.  Not surprisingly, the Soul is one of KMA's top-selling models, and this year's ALV entry came in the form of a "Red Zone" Special Edition Soul, featuring an exterior body kit and spoiler and interior flourishes such as brush metal pedals and red trim/stitching.

"It is unprecedented for a vehicle to win the ALV award for four years in a row," said Nina Russin, founder Active Lifestyle Vehicle program.  "The fact that the Soul has consistently won top honors in the Urban category is testimony to its widespread appeal among young buyers who need a stylish-yet-versatile vehicle that is small enough to navigate crowded urban areas, and spacious enough to hold multiple passengers and a variety of gear."

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 K900² flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle³ 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.

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Review: 2016 Kia Sorento offers upscale flavours for a happy meal price

Upscale crossovers seem a dime a dozen these days. After all, they’re even wearing the names of non-upscale brands like Kia. On paper, the Kia Sorento sounds like just another mid-size crossover in an already-crowded field, but this actually one surprised us in ways we didn’t expect.

Walkaround: 8.0/10

Kia made the Sorento longer for 2015, making the optional third-row seat more spacious and increasing the car’s utility as a seven-seater. It wears the added size well: the extra length masks its height and gives it the look of a big station wagon in profile.

Interior: 7.8/10

A handsome exterior might make other people think you spent a lot of money on a car, but a nicely-finished interior like this one makes you feel better about the money you’ve spent. The Sorento starts well below $30,000, but many of the things that made us appreciate our tester only come along once you’re ready to spend half again that much on upgrades.

Still, a driver-configurable gauge cluster is a nice touch, and very well done. The entire dash is well-assembled from quality materials that would not look out of place in a BMW X5 or Audi Q7. Complaints are few. One however is that, while the second row seat moves out of the way to ease access to the third row, it only does so on the right-hand side; most (if not all) other mid-sized crossovers allow third-row riders to get in through both rear doors.

Tech: 9.0/10

The Sorento’s available tech includes that digital gauge package, but a fully-loaded SX+ version also brings Xenon headlights, power-folding side mirrors, rear-seat air conditioning, navigation, an upgraded stereo, 115-volt power outlet, adaptive cruise control, intelligent keyless entry, power tailgate, heated steering wheel, ventilated front chairs and heated second-row seats, 10-way power driver’s seat, and eight-way power front passenger adjustment. The safety kit includes a 360-degree exterior camera setup, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, and front collision warning. That’s a long list of goodies for a mid-priced crossover.

Driving: 6.3/10

Kia offers three engines in the Sorento, including a 2.4-litre four-cylinder, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder in mid-range models, and a 3.3-litre V6 that’s limited to higher-end trims. While the V6 is the most powerful of the three, that’s not why we like it. Instead, it appeals for its smooth soundtrack and the seamless way it delivers its power. The turbo (an engine used in a wide range of mid-size Hyundai and Kia models) is strong, but can be a bit peaky. The V6 has a relaxed feel that fits with the rest of the upscale feel Kia has built into high-end versions of the Sorento. Couple that with a six-speed automatic transmission that never missed a beat in a week of driving, and it’s hard to find fault with how this big crossover moves.

The V6 is also the thirstiest engine in the Sorento line though, with ratings of 13.4/9.4 L/100 km (city/highway); my tester averaged 14.7 L/100 km in mostly city driving, in cool early-spring weather. That average was far higher than the 11.7 L/100 km indicated by the car’s on-board computer, which is clearly an optimist. There’s less of an emphasis on tight handling here than in luxury SUVs built by the Germans or Japanese, but the ride is comfortable, and the Sorento’s cornering abilities are perfectly acceptable in a vehicle that will rarely be tested that way in the wild.

All is not perfect, even for a car facing relatively low performance expectations: the steering is vague, and the lack of feel through the wheel as to what’s happening at pavement level can be a detriment to gauging traction levels in wintry conditions. In a similar vein, the mushy brake pedal doesn’t communicate confidence in the Sorento’s ability to stop safely in a hurry. In reality, the Sorento does stop well, but a nice, firm pedal inspires far more confidence than a soft, spongy one.

Value: 9.5/10

If you want loads of features in a vehicle that can carry your family around in plenty of comfort, the Sorento is a good choice: even an Acura MDX (a vehicle known for strong value among upscale crossovers) can’t touch the Sorento’s value-for-money proposition. The Sorento even rivals the over-the-road refinement of some of the most desirable luxury mid-size utilities. That said, $47,000 is a lot of money, regardless of what you’re getting for it. Among its seven-seater variants, we’d call the EX V6 AWD model (it happens to be the least-expensive three-row Sorento) the sweet spot, for $10,000 less than our SX+ tester. At that price, it won’t have all of the high-tech goodies, but will offer the same pleasant driving experience.

Conclusion

Kia continues to make a point of packing in lots of equipment for the price tag attached to its vehicles, but we’ve reached a point where that’s not the most attractive thing about them, and this latest Sorento is the perfect example of that. Instead, this Kia is a mid-size crossover that would look just fine parked next to the Acura or BMW crossover in your driveway—or in place of it. 

 Overall Rating: 8.1/10

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Gary Rome Breaking Ground on New Dealership

Holyoke, MA, October 21, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Gary Rome Hyundai is pleased to announce the ground breaking ceremony for the new Gary Rome Hyundai dealership at 150 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke. The event is set for Friday October 23rd at 1:00pm. In attendance will be local government officials including: Alex Morse, Mayor of Holyoke, Marcos Marrero, Director of Planning & Economic Development and Kathy Anderson, President of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few.

“This is a great milestone for our company’s presence in the Holyoke community. We are dedicated to the continuous growth and development of the city’s economy and look forward to serving community members for another 100 years,” says Gary Rome, President of the Gary Rome Auto Group. This ground breaking comes after unanimous approvals from the Holyoke City Council, Ordinance Committee, Planning Board and Licensing Board for a zone change on May 19th earlier this year and two special permits on June 24th.

The new Gary Rome Hyundai dealership will provide 50 new full-time jobs, 20 part-time jobs, thousands of dollars annually in property tax revenue and an increase in employee payroll to more than $7 million from the current $4.6 million, Gary Rome has said. The time is now to support growth in Holyoke.

Gary Rome Auto Group
Gary Rome Hyundai, based in Holyoke Massachusetts, and Gary Rome Kia, based in Enfield Connecticut provide Hyundai and Kia sales and service to all of Massachusetts and Connecticut. When you visit our car dealerships, expect the superior customer service that you deserve. With years of experience and training, the Gary Rome Kia and Hyundai teams are your Connecticut and Massachusetts Hyundai and Kia dealer, and will get you into the car that was built for you. Get the new or used car that you have been dreaming of by calling or visiting Gary Rome Kia of Enfield and Gary Rome Hyundai of Holyoke today. For more information, go to www.garyromekia.com or www.garyromehyundai.com.

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Kia's 2015 SEMA Show Teaser

From baffling cropped details to pitch black photos, automakers never cease to amaze, or rather, perplex us with their idea of a teaser.

Way too often, we find ourselves scratching our heads and wondering why they even bother, as was the case this morning with an email from Kia titled “Kia Teases SEMA 2015”. After reading that, what would you expect to see? 

Think about it for a few seconds before you head down to read the Korean brand’s short release followed by their so-called ‘video teaser’ and then speak your mind in our comments section right below the jump. 

Kia’s press statement on their 2015 SEMA Show teaser:
“Kia is headed to this year’s SEMA show to celebrate America’s love for the open road and the car cultures spanning the many regions of this country.  Enjoy this high-speed coast-to-coast tour to whet your appetite for what we will unveil November 3rd in Las Vegas. More to come.”

Click Here to view teaser.

2016 Kia Optima First Drive

The 2016 Kia Optima has a tough act to follow.

Forget the two generations of the Optima that preceded the outgoing model; it was the 2011 Optima that was Kia’s big break in the U.S.—the model with which the brand really blew past an era of forgettable, derivative mainstream attempts and found its own style.

One year it was barely competitive on anything but price, then the next year it was right in the heart of the mid-size sedan market, with engine technology a notch ahead of many rivals, an awesome feature set, and voluptuous styling that made this model a head-turner.

As we report in our full review of the 2016 Optima, Kia has made its mid-size sedan better in every way. It’s better-driving, more refined, and fuller-featured, all while keeping its status, at least in its more affordable trims, as one of the best value-for-money picks on the market—but maybe not quite the radically different head-turner its predecessor was.

As we’ve found now over several first-drive opportunities, the new Optima is simply a much better drive than before, either in its base 2.4-liter or high-performance 2.0T versions. In LX and EX models, powered by the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. Kia’s done a great job in tuning this engine to feel more confident with the six-speed automatic transmission; it’s plenty quick for most needs.

Above that, in SX and SXL models, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine has a different turbocharger than before, and it spools up far quicker, offering almost no lag now and producing its peak torque of 260 pound-feet at just 1,350 rpm. Horsepower is down to 245, but we’re willing to forgive that for a far less peaky, more responsive engine—and the automatic also works really well here, with steering-wheel shift paddles provided.

While we wouldn’t call the Optima one of the sportiest entries in its class, it rides and handles better than the previous version; thanks to a new suspension geometry that moves mounting points outboard, with new bushings, and revamps spring-and-damper settings, the Optima feels simply better composed; it’s more compliant over minor bumps yet less bouncy over harsh impacts, and in SX guise we think it has one of the sweetest ride-versus-handling compromises in its class.

More pleasant in every way

The 2016 Optima is simply a very pleasant car to spend time in. Front seats have improved, with more thigh support, and the driving position’s definitely better than before. The passenger no longer has to be less comfortable, either, as throughout the model line the front passenger seat is height-adjustable. All models have split-folding rear seatbacks—a feature Honda doesn’t think mid-size shoppers want—and by the way, to tear down another affordable-car compromise, there are no steel wheels and hubcaps in the lineup.

Once underway, the most surprising part of your Optima driving impression might just be how quiet this model is. Kia has finally properly addressed—to an extreme—the former Optima’s cabin road noise issues with loads more padding and everything from special acoustic laminated front-door windows and new engine mounts to more dash and under-body.

It certainly feels far quieter and a bit more forgiving over pockmarked roads, yet we think the Optima handles better, too. There’s more give, and definitely plenty of lean built in, but also seemingly more grip, and the Optima loads and unloads confidently in tight esses. Steering weighting is worlds better than it was when the last-generation Optima was new; it now builds weighting in a mostly even, predictable way and tracks well on center, across the wide range of models we drove. Keep in mind, by the way, that the SX and SXL models include rack-mounted electric power steering system that Kia considers superior for enthusiastic driving over the column-mounted EPS unit in other models.

Luxury-car ambience, frugally

Considering all this comfort and fluency with the road, the Optima manages find a luxury-car ambiance that was mostly foreign to this nameplate before—and in top-trim SXL models, with their Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated back seat, heated steering wheel, and 14-speaker sound system (essentially lots of great hand-me-downs from the premium Cadenza sedan), it’s either an over-the-top $37k Optima or an interesting counter to luxury-brand models.

For most buyers’ needs, we’d probably recommend the EX 2.4-liter model, for its upgraded look, with blacked out pillars, LED tail lamps and positioning lamps, and projector headlamps, plus things like automatic climate control, rear vents, rapid-charge USB ports, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and seat memory settings. And the Optima now gets both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, which lets you run a wide range of apps from your smartphone, using the Optima's UVO touch screen and other voice and toggle shortcuts.

Next year there’s a new Optima Hybrid on the way, and based on what we’ve seen (and experienced) of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, we have some great expectations of this revamped high-mileage model. But now there’s another more mileage-minded pick in the lineup—the Optima LX 1.6T, with a 178-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

1.6T drivability is the only fumble

The 1.6T, which feels surprisingly strong and makes its peak 195 lb-ft at just 1,500 rpm, has a lot of potential, but the tuning of the DCT makes it feel like an ordinary automatic most of the time, with slurred, rather delayed shifts on acceleration—even in Sport mode, nothing as vivid and crisp as what you’ll find in Volkswagen’s cars with DSG, or Acura’s TLX and ILX with their dual-clutch ‘box. As you approach a tight bend in a two-lane country road and ease off the gas, you’ll need to remember to pull the shift lever over to the manual gate and downshift ahead of time, lest the setup will upshift by itself and offer up a confused delay when you get back on the gas.

Likewise, the DCT seems to be off a beat in low-speed city use—especially on slight hills—with crude, difficult-to-modulate creep when you need to gingerly shimmy into a parallel-parking spot.

On the upside, the mileage we saw from the 1.6T looked impressive; and with EPA ratings of 28 mpg city, 39 highway, the potential is there (with a light right foot) of getting compact-car mileage from a spacious mid-size sedan.

Although we think Hyundai’s tuning of the 1.6T/DCT combination leaves more to be desired (Kia’s version is definitely sportier, just still not crisp enough), we think that the closely related Sonata Eco, and the way it’s packaged as an efficiency-focused model, might better align with expectations.

More nuanced and elegant, though hardly bolder

And that leads to an important point. The Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima are closely related. And they appear to be a even more closely aligned in their recently revamped versions, for 2015 and 2016, respectively. The 2016 Kia Optima, especially from the outside, feels better looking—far more nuanced, and a bit more elegant, for sure—but not striking out into any new design territory.

Kia and Hyundai officials will go to great lengths to outline how their respective models are different—and in all fairness, they are assembled in different locations, with some key differences in their supply chains; yet they share core architectures, engines, and even looking at these two models, the essential walk-up of models in the lineup. The entire field of mid-size sedans has entered a period in which it’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern the differences in design, features, and even handling between models; so we hope these two models preserve their core differences.

Identities aside, Kia has nothing to worry about here. It’s taken the model that’s pushed the brand’s sales to new heights, outselling nameplates like the Volkswagen Passat and Chrysler 200 on a model basis, and made both the 2.4-liter and 2.0T versions better than their predecessors in every possible way. They might not be game-changers in the same way, but they’re on top of their game.

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