2019 Kia Optima Reviews

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?This is the recently revised Kia Optima medium size four door sedan, the good looker that nails it in styling terms putting Kia above much more fancied players in the car game.It's on the larger side of medium and seats five in relative comfort - with a big boot and the facility of a four door sedan body. Though selling at a steady rate, Optima lifted Kia right up there as soon as it appeared. Good value, great looks, acceptable performance and impressive dynamics.The mid-spec' Optima SLi we drove goes for $34,990 and is a sister ship to the Hyundai i45 that was discontinued due to lack of interest a few months ago.Heaps of them: Camry, Mazda6, Mondeo, Accord, Pug 508, Liberty, Kizashi.Power comes from a 2.4-litre, direct injection, variable cam timing, petrol four cylinder good for 148kW/250Nm output. Drive goes to the front wheels via a six speed auto.Really well, not a powerhouse by any stretch of the imagination but competent and efficient offering plenty of poke off the line, in the middle and right up to the higher rev range. Can become a tad noisy when worked.Rated at 7.9-litres/100km of regular unleaded but we achieved better than that on a long freeway run.Reasonably so.Five stars plus other safety kit.Excellent ride/handling compromise thanks to local input. Wheel/tyre package changed on this model with higher profile sidewall tyres bringing more compliance, higher comfort levels for everyday driving. Slightly toned-down wheels still look pretty cool though. Best satnav in the business.No complaints at all. The auto makes smooth slick shifts and almost predicts the driving conditions. Stability control stays on too long. The engine has enough kick for most applications and the Optima actually feels engaging to drive. If only all carmakers carried out as high a level of local calibration.All things considered yes. Generous kit including cruise, 7-inch colour TFT info screen, trip computer, alloy pedals, multiple storage options, excellent audio, Bluetooth phone and audio, some driver assist features like hillstart assist and reverse camera, auto dim rear view mirror, cornering lights and speed sensing auto door locks.Absolutely on the short list. You'd be mad if you didn't.

With an attractive design and plenty of perks, Kia’s Optima Platinum looks to be a great, stylish family sedan, with plenty of creature comforts inside. But with all the attention to the appearance, has the drive been compromised? The Optima Platinum 2.4-litre petrol comes in at $38,790, with ABS, ESC, HAC, sat nav, seven-inch full touch colour LCD screen, 18-inch alloy wheels, full size alloy spare, rear view camera with mirror display and parking guidelines, smart key with push button start, leather trim seats, eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, paddle shifters, panoramic sunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, 12-volt power outlets, cooling glove box, iPod compatibility, Bluetooth, external amp, centre speaker, sub-woofer, and dual-zone climate control.The front-wheel drive, six-speed automatic Optima produces 148kW @6,300rpm and 250Nm@4,250rpm. The official fuel combined is 7.9L/100km, urban is 11.2L/100km. We found 6.9L/100km on the motorway, 10.6L/100km fuel combined, and a startling 14.9L/100km urban.From the black chrome Schreyer radiator grille, to the sports bumpers, dual chrome tip rear muffler, and tinted glass, the Optima looks strong and sporty. Internally alloy pedals, alloy door scuff panels with illumination, paddle shifters, and leather-trimmed seats add to that feel. The dash is tilted toward the driver, and while that may make sense in the driver’s ability to access the sat nav, it does make the dash feel lopsided, forcing front passengers to reach around to access controls.This mid-size sedan has comfortable seats all around, and the middle seat flips down to an armrest with cup holders. The boot provides a good 505 litres of storage. Folding the back seats down gives you more room, but the functionality is limited by the small opening in the back panel, making it hard to slide large objects in through the boot.The Optima looks good, and along with the Platinum’s addition of a panoramic sunroof, ventilated driver’s seat, and front seat warmers, there are plenty of perks.The Optima has an impressive five-star ANCAP safety rating, with ABS, ESC, HAC, driver and front passenger, front side, and curtain SRS airbags, side door impact beams, active front headrests, and impact sensing auto door unlocking.The Optima has plenty going for it, it has a great external design, comfortable interior, and it’s about ready to check all the boxes, but somewhere along the way they compromised drivability for comfort. Bumps are smooth, cornering is stable with good grip, but our main gripe is how poorly the Optima handles in wet weather. Even with ESC engaged, we were struggling to gain traction during an afternoon summer storm.For the look of the vehicle and the 148kW and 250Nm you’d expect a bit more oomph, but the Optima feels heavy. Paddle shifters give you that extra sports feel, and the quicker manual gear changes helps alleviate some of that sluggish feel.Blind spots in the front, sides, and back are partially reduced by the parking sensors, but without them tight parking spots would be difficult. It was a shame the driving wasn’t sharper overall. Like we said, the Optima has a lot going for it, it’s a looker, but needs some fine tuning in the drivability. For a drive that matches the level of design, you may have to wait for the Optima Turbo to hit our shores.A well-designed, comfortable sedan that unfortunately doesn’t drive quite as well as it looks.

There was a time, not so long ago, when no one would dare attempt to crash the Holden-Ford party that for so long defined the Australian market, but that's all changed.NEWNo longer are the Commodore and Falcon the dominating forces they once were, their influence is on the wane big time if you look at the latest sales numbers.Today's buyer has much more choice as other carmakers have edged into the market and consumers have chosen to downsize to slightly smaller models, like Kia's Optima. The Korean carmaker clearly saw the trend and landed its mid-sized sedan in an attempt to win over some of those moving away from the big two.Kia rolled out two models in the Optima range, beginning with the Platinum that came packed with just about everything you could want, and followed by the more modestly equipped Si. The attractive sedan not only looked good, it was able to seat five adults in decent comfort, even in the back. Add to that a good-sized boot and a split-fold rear seat and you had a pretty impressive package.The power package consisted of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission that delivered a good combination of performance and economy. The good news was that local engineers tuned the suspension for local roads, and the result was impressive.While it was impressive on the road, it was also well equipped to handle a crash with front, head and side airbags, ABS brakes, emergency brake assistance, traction control and ESP stability control. It was also impressively equipped with climate controlled air, cruise, leather upholstery, Xenon headlamps, CD sound and a host of other features.NOWKia has been one of the notable makes in recent times and few Carsguide readers have had cause to contact the desk with complaints. Cars sampled in recent times have all been well built and solid on the road, devoid of rattles and squeaks that can ruin the experience of stepping up to a later model.The earliest examples of the TF Optima will have now accumulated up to 50,000 km, so the showroom gloss has yet to fully fade. Even so it's important to conduct a thorough examination of any car under consideration for purchase. All cars, no matter the make or model, or sticker price, can have problems, even from new.Before handing over your cash go for a longish drive with the seller and observe closely for any odd noises, vibrations, bangs and bumps that might suggest something untoward is lurking under the sheetmetal. Drive the car at various speeds from walking pace to highway cruise, accelerate softly and more aggressively, let it idle, use the power steering, check the brakes, and put the automatic transmission through its paces.If anything that appears unusual is detected consider having a mechanic or your motoring club check the car for you. In addition to driving the car lift the bonnet and check for oil leaks. While you're at it run through all the features on the car, the power windows, central locking, sound system, cruise, air-conditioning etc. to make sure they're working as they should be.Having thoroughly test driven the car and carefully inspected it without finding any glaring faults you can buy the Optima with confidence.SMITHY SAYSRoomy, well equipped mid-sized four-door that can be approached with confidence. 3.5 starsKia Optima 2010-2012Price new: $30,490 to $36,990Engine: 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder, 148kW/250NmTransmission: 6-speed automatic, FWDThirst: 7.9L/100kmBody: 4-door sedanVariants: Si, PlatinumSafety: 5-star ANCAP

Turbo power is coming to the Kia range. And, after a test drive in the United States this week, it can't come soon enough.The car we drove was the stunning looking Optima, but instead of the usual 2.4-litre engine this one was fitted with a more powerful, 2.0-litre turbocharged motor. It pumps out just over 200kW of power and is much more satisfying to drive, with considerably more torque that kicks in much earlier in the rev range.The figures tell the story - 250Nm at 4250 versus 365Nm at a low 1750 revs. Made only in left hand drive until now, Kia has managed to overcome the engineering impediments to building a right-hand drive version which is starting to roll off the production line as we speak. Optima is due for an upgrade shortly, so the timing couldn't be better.CONFIRMEDAlthough he confirmed the company was looking at turbocharged engines - and had been interested for a long time - a spokesman for Kia explained it had a number of options - not just the Optima. One of those is a turbocharged version of the cool, two-door Cerato Koop (Cerato is called Forte in the States where it is Kia's most successful model).A new Cerato starts to roll out in Australia from early in the new year, kicking off with the sedan, then the hatchback and finally the coupe.THE KOOPThe spokesman said the 150kW turbocharged engine from the Hyundai Veloster would slot straight into the Koop. By way of explanation Kia is owned by Hyundai and the two share much of their architecture. But before giving either option the green light, Kia would first have to put together a business case for approval by head office in Korea.“It's not my decision but if asked the question I'd have to look at what is best suited to our market,” he said. He added there would be no need to have a naturally aspirated variant as well as a turbo. “It (a turbocharged Koop) may not be a best seller but it would create important interest for our brand,” he said.THE SEDANNo one has seen the new Koop as yet -- it won't make its debut until later next year - but the sedan showed its face this week at the Los Angeles motor show. The Kia equivalent to the Hyundai Elantra, it is cast in the same mould as the Optima, with sleek sporty lines and the signature Schreyer face.Longer, lower and wider, the second-generation Cerato is 30mm longer (4560mm), 14.0, 15.0 or 16.5mm lower (1435, 1445, or 1460mm) depending on market and 5mm wider (1780mm), with the wheelbase extended by 50mm (2700mm) making it the longest in class. It will be hooked up to Kia's six-speed auto, which delivers an ideal combination of power and economy.NEW FEATURESThe hydraulic steering has been replaced with adjustable electric steering that allows the driver to set the level of assistance. Other options include stop and go which shuts down the engine at traffic lights, as well as heated and cooled seats, a hated steering wheel and satellite radio - we certainly won't be getting the latter at this stage.New Cerato can accelerate to 100 km/h in as little as 8.5 seconds, reach a top speed of 210 km/h while using a claimed 6.5 litres of fuel per 100km – depending of course on model. Boot capacity is increased to 421 litres (SAE) – the largest in class. Kia Australia has just about finished tuning the ride and handling to meet Aussie tastes, a feature sought after by customers.GT POSSIBLEAnother turbo option is the gorgeous Pro_c'eed GT hatch from Europe, a highly spec'd model that also comes with a turbocharged power plant. As to the introduction of an entire line of sporty vehicles, much the same as Hyundia's recently announced SR range, the spokesman said there were no plans at this stage. As yet, it does not sell enough cars here to support such a move.THE DRIVEFrom the word go it was apparent that the turbocharged Optima is much better to drive. It's quicker off the line and pulls more strongly in the mid range and, with much more torque - the transmission isn't nearly as busy as in the 2.4. Although it was fitted with the same 18 inch wheels as the Australian model, the ride was much smoother on American roads. In Australia, we reckon the 17s are a better option. One major difference between the two models is the electric parking brake that replaces the foot operated brake in our cars).VERDICTThe addition of turbocharged models to Kia's Australian line-up will attract attention and buyers. The cars look great and the extra power will enable them to compete at a higher level, especially with its German competition. It just has to be careful it does not cannibalise sales from other models. 

Toyota Camry Atara SX and Kia Optima Platinum go head-to-head in this comparative review.

With the Optima Si, Kia is targeting those who want a European style car without the hefty price tag.And it seems to have the style to impress, with one observer christening our test car “a bad boy”. Okay, that might be stretching things a bit too far, but even the base model Optima Si is light years away from the Kia we used to know.Priced from $30,490 the entry level Si is a significant $6500 less than the $36,990 Platinum model. The price point is also slightly cheaper than the competitors: Hyundai i45 Active from $31,090 and Honda Accord Euro from $32,640.The Si is under a generous five year warranty with a features list that includes Bluetooth connectivity, MP3 compatible CD player, steering wheel mounted audio controls, dual-zone climate control, auto door lock/unlock, auto headlamps and front fog lamps.However at this level you get 17-in alloys and smaller discs rather than the 18s and larger ones on the Platinum spec. The only extra available on the base model is metallic paint priced at $450.The Kia Optima gets a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired with outputs of 148kW of power at 6300 revs and 250Nm of torque at 4250 revs delivered to the front wheels via a six-speed sports automatic.The Optima’s official fuel consumption is 7.9 L/100km with 189 CO2 emissions. The specs are competitive against rivals like Honda Accord Euro – which comes close but with less torque at 230Nm.The spacious interior combines sport styling with comfort, meaning there’s plenty of room for four or five adults. The cabin plastics and dashboard are attractive and well-designed and the Si also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The boot is large enough for everyday life with a capacity of 505 litres, and that can be increased by dropping the rear seats.It was a bit disappointing to find the seats are leather-trimmed with ‘pleather bolsters’, rather than the real thing. The base model also doesn’t offer ventilated driver’s seat or a panoramic sunroof. However, these are more compromises in order to keep the 2.4 litre engine rather than move to a smaller one at this price.The chrome radiator grille, chrome strips over the back bonnet and doors make the exterior aesthetically striking. But sports car lovers should be aware that the base model Si doesn’t come with a sports bumper, LED lights or HID headlights. Even with all these dropped features, the Optima Si is a handsome thing.The Si has a 5-Star ANCAP crash rating, and has six airbags, anti-skid brakes with electronic helpers, stability control, hill-start assist, speed sensing auto door lock, child proof rear door locks and impact sensing auto door unlocking.Visibility is good, and the reverse parking sensors and the rear view camera, wide-angle mirror display and parking guidelines make city parking a hell of a lot easier than in some rivals.Kia has made an effort to make the Optima Si as inviting as possible. Cabin space is impressive with plenty of legroom, comfy seats, smooth pedal feel and adjustable steering. Tall drivers and passengers will appreciate the generous head and legroom in the front and the rear, as well as the rear door apertures.The dashboard is tilted logically towards the driver and the cruise control and audio buttons on the steering wheel are conveniently placed. The Si comes with speed dependent volume control, however it wasn’t a noticeable feature. The Si was a surprisingly quiet ride with hardly any wind or road noise. The six-speed auto served well through heavy stop start traffic in the city. But the Si felt a bit gutless when facing a climb, with the automatic transmission struggling to find the right gear.Once you’re on the open road you’ll want to shift into Sport mode to really get the most out of the car. While the Si is far from a sporty, steering was responsive and well-weighted, with more grip than expected from a front wheel drive. The Si turned corners with ease and the acceleration was more than sufficient for a vehicle of this size. Overall, the Si was extremely easy to drive but may lean to the dull side for some drivers.If you’re looking for a mid-sized sedan the base model Optima Si is one to consider - a well built car that is great for the city.

Kia set the bar high in its two spec levels for the Optima. The Si starts at $30,490 and the Platinum at $36,990.The extra cost of the Platinum adds an Infinity premium sound system, heated and ventilated powered front seats, LED daytime running lamps and xenon headlights, 18-inch alloys, leather seat trim, sunroof and sportier bumpers. The front brake discs are also upgraded to 12.6 inches from 11.8-inches on the Si.The smartest thing in the Optima is the suspension tune. But it is biased towards handling over ride comfort. The car still copes with carpark humps, mid-corner ruts and gouged surfaces with and is one of the reasons the Optima resonates with people who need a mid-sized car but still like the occasional fang. Those who don't should try its Hyundai stablemate, the i45. Direct injection is used to extract 148kW/250Nm from the Optima's 2.4-litre engine and power the front wheels via a six-speed automatic. That puts it up there with a Honda Accord Euro, Mazda6 and Ford Mondeo on ride and power — and it has the edge on fuel use.European design is what Kia wants you to see in the Optima. It is aimed at those who want a Euro sedan but can't afford one. That helps explain the chrome around the window topss and grille. It adds to the lustre of the car and in the case of the Optima, there's plenty to like.This is one of the biggest mid-sized sedans and there's leg and shoulder room to keep complaints from adults in the rear limited to critiques of your driving rather than the car.  The interior is understated and stylish, if not yet up to VW or Audi standards.The reversing camera display integrated in the rear-view mirror is a great double act and reinforces the safety appeal of this car. Six airbags and the usual safety software earn it five stars from ANCAP.The Kia is a genuine contender without being a class leader. Standout features are the modern looks and the interior/boot size and there is little to criticise. The steering doesn't have quite the feel of a Mazda6 but the wheels go where they're pointed and it is light around town. Response from the 2.4-litre is solid across the rev range even with five on board and road noise is minimal unless the engine is under serious load.Making a mid-sized car of this quality — and pricing it accordingly — shows Kia is a serious player. The Optima should be high on the list for anyone who needs space and style.

Wow. What a difference a set of tyres can make. We weren't too impressed with the ride quality in the top of the range Platinum model.But if we owned one of the cars we'd quite happily swap our 18s for a set of the 17 inch wheels from the cheaper Si model. In fact, you could probably downsize the wheels for no extra cost if you can live without the bling.ENGINESame 2.4-litre direct injection four with 148kW of power at 6300 revs and 250Nm of torque at 4250 revs. They're best in class specs, equalled only by the Accord Euro which boasts the same power but not as much torque. It's the same flexible six-speed auto with manual shift too.FUEL ECONOMYTakes regular unleaded and has a big 70-litre fuel tank. That gives you a range of more than 800km with a combined fuel consumption of 7.9 litres/100km. We clocked up 660km at 7.8 (not bad for a car this size). Others reportedly haven't fared as well.SAFETYThe list of active and passive safety features includes ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), six SRS airbags and the new tailgate-mounted reversing safety camera fitted with a 130-degree, wide-angle lens which, transmits images to an LCD display set within the interior rear-view mirror.THE WHEELSThe Si gets 17in alloys fitted with 215/55 tyres, compared with the Platinum's 18in 225/45s. The taller profile of the Si's tyres have a greater cushioning effect while having little or no effect on handling (not that you'd notice). The trade off is well worth it. Both models get a full size alloy spare.WHAT YOU GETA whole lot of car for your money. A good looking one too. Optima is large and comfortable with plenty of room for four/five adults with a big boot go with it.WHAT YOU MISS OUT ONThe aforementioned 18in alloys, a rear spoiler, daytime LED running lights, push button start, leather upholstery, ventilated/heated driver's seat and the big panoramic sunroof  plus a few other odds and ends. Oh and the audio system has been downgraded, with a separate amp and subwoofer.THE DRIVEHas the point and shoot quality of a big family sedans like the Falcon or Commodore. You hop in, you start, you go  all nice and clean without any fuss. The controls are well laid out and easy to use.The seats are comfy and pairing the phone takes a couple of minutes (unlike some brands). Also has full iPod connectivity.VERDICT Get with the program. If Kia is not on your shopping list, then it should be. Times have changed and it is producing desirable, well built cars which in some cases like this one are better than their Japanese counterparts.KIA OPTIMA SiPrice: from $30,490Warranty: Five years unlimited kilometresEngine: 2.4-litre four cylinder with twin-overhead camshafts and variable valve timingOutput: 148kW/6300 revs, 250Nm/4250revsDimensions: Length: 4845 mm, Width: 1830 mm, Height: 1455 mm, Wheelbase: 2795 mm.Weight: 1551 kg.Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel driveEconomy: 7.9 litres/100kmGreen: CO2 emissions 189g/kmTyres: 225/45 R18. 18-inch alloy. Full-size spare

Chrome trim has been out of fashion for too long in our opinion and it’s good to see Kia is returning to the glory days of automotive bright metal. Aimed at people who want to buy a European car, but can’t afford it, the chromed Kia Optima certainly makes a styling statement. The company’s mid-size four-door sedan uses chrome aplenty. The radiator grille has traditionally been the foremost factor in car style and on the Optima it carries a shiny chrome border. Standout chrome strips run from the back of the bonnet, up the windscreen pillars, then over the door tops and down to the boot hinges.The door handles are chromium plated and there’s a slash of chrome across a garnish on the front flanks. Finally there are the twin chrome tipped exhausts. Designed at Kia’s studios in Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California, the latest Kia Optima is longer, wider and lower (by 45, 25 and 25 millimetres, respectively), than the vehicle it supersedes. The undoubted sleek styling has also improved aerodynamics, the drag co-efficient of Cd 0.29 is down from the 0.32 of the previous Optima, adding performance and fuel economy to the standout appearance.Kia’s new 2.4-litre GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine replaces the previous multi-point injection motor and gives the Optima more power – increased by 11.6 per cent, and torque, up by 8.2 per cent.At the same time fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are down. The maker says on regular unleaded in the combined urban/highway cycle it’s 7.9 L/100km with CO2 emissions at 189g/km.On mainly motorway action we got the consumption figure down as far as the high sixes, which is pretty impressive for a petrol engined car of this size. The new engine delivers 148 kW of power at 6300 rpm and 250Nm of torque at 4250 rpm. Mated with a six-speed fully automatic transmission, it runs the Optima from zero to 100km/h in nine seconds. The driver can choose to switch to Sport mode which allows for sequential gear changes, either using the centre console selector lever or new steering wheel-mounted paddles. Using the paddles was far from a sporty experience, the shifts being soft and far from instantaneous, while under sharp acceleration, engine noise intruded markedly into the cabin. Ride and handling have been designed to make the best of the all-new body structure and the new model’s extended wheelbase. There are high performance dampers, big disc brakes with black callipers and machine finished 18-inch alloy wheels.Active safety technology includes Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Brake Assist, Hillstart Assist, the last preventing roll-back on inclines by maintaining brake pressure for two seconds while the driver moves a foot from the brake to accelerator pedal.Though it seems to us that left-foot braking achieves exactly the same thing, and does so without the complication of the so-called assist system. Optima’s brakes system include an ABS anti-lock system, with Electronic Brake force Distribution and Brake Assist.  A reverse parking alarm system is fitted, along with a rear-view camera which projects a 130 degree image onto an LCD display within the interior rear-view mirror.All new Optimas come in Kia’s Platinum specification level, which includes a rear boot-mounted spoiler, LED daytime running lights positioned above fog lamps in the front bumper, LED rear lamps, aerodynamic windscreen wipers, plus larger disc brakes with black callipers and machine finished 18 x 7.5-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels. A deep boot, with its cave-like dark surroundings, has the capacity to swallow 505 litres of luggage. A neat feature is a lever that enables the rear seat backs to be freed to drop, opening up the passenger cabin to take even more stuff. Xenon high intensity discharge lamps come with headlamp washers, plus a new static cornering lamp which provides more illumination of the nearside kerb during cornering. A three-piece, full-width panoramic glass sunroof is standard, the front section tilting, centre sliding and the rear fixed. An internal roller blind blocks out unwanted sunlight and heat.

VW Jetta 147 TSI and Kia Optima Platinum gp head-to-head in this comparative review.