Kia Optima Si 2018 review: snapshot

The Kia Optima Si is the entry-grade of two models, and it comes in at $33,290 plus on-road costs - an $1100 drop over the previous version. The Si, then, is a value-focused sedan that you might consider if you’ve looked at a Toyota Camry Ascent, Hyundai Sonata Active, Mazda6 Sport or Subaru Liberty 2.5i.

The standard equipment list is pretty good - although there have been some deletions, because the price is down $1100. The rather good HID headlamps with washers have been dumped in favour of halogen projector lights (yeah, not even xenons), and the satellite navigation system (GPS) is gone.

But now the 7.0-inch media screen is capable of doing the Apple CarPlay iPhone connectivity and Android Auto phone mirroring thing, and that’ll serve most people’s purposes pretty well, but there is no digital DAB radio, and no CD player for the sound system. Other standard kit includes a digital driver info display with digital speedo, dual-zone climate control, cloth seat trim, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, auto headlights and rain sensing wipers, and 17-inch alloy wheels (with a full-size spare). 

New equipment for the Si includes driver-fatigue monitoring and an active lane-keeping assistance system (in place of the old lane-departure-warning buzzer). It also has auto emergency braking (AEB), a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and adaptive cruise control.

Explore the 2018 Kia Optima Range

Kia Optima GT 2018 review Kia Optima GT 2018 review: snapshot Kia Optima Si 2018 review: snapshot

The Si model is powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 138kW of power at 6000rpm, while torque is rated at 241Nm at 4000rpm. It makes use of a six-speed automatic transmission only, and is front-wheel drive.

Kia claims a very realistic fuel economy rating of 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres for the Si model.