Kia Optima
Does sharp-looking new saloon have what it takes to unseat the best in the family class?
The Magentis was looking increasingly out of place in Kia’s modern line-up, and its replacement means business. Thanks to its attractive design, solid build quality, long list of standard kit and impressive driving dynamics, the Optima could be a serious contender in the company car market. We’ll have to try it on UK roads, but the signs are very promising – Kia bosses could have another hit on their hands to join the Soul, Cee’d and Sportage.
We’ve driven Ford’s new Mondeo – now, meet the Kia that promises to give the class leader a real run for its money!
The stylish Optima four-door saloon replaces the rather forgettable Magentis, and will be harder for company car drivers – and Kia’s rivals – to ignore. Auto Express put the newcomer through its paces in California to see what UK buyers can expect.
Sitting much more happily alongside the latest breed of Kias, such as the Soul, Cee’d and superb Sportage 4x4, the Optima is going to continue the brand’s transformation when it arrives here next summer.
And it looks the part, really standing out from the crowd with its clean-cut, stylish lines. What’s more, the Optima has a few aces up its sleeve that will appeal to business users.
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Inside, there’s a smart interior, with a dash angled towards the driver. The materials are of a high standard, as is build quality.
It’s not perfect, with some cheap-feeling plastics, notably on the steering wheel controls. But it’s a genuine competitor in the company car market, against alternative choices such as the Citroen C5, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Exeo.
The Optima’s trump card, however, is its long list of standard equipment – not many cars at this level have heated and cooled electric seats, or twin sunroofs. In addition, the Kia features lots of space. While headroom in the rear is a little cosy for anyone over six feet tall, there’s at least as much legroom as in the huge Mondeo, if not more.
The Optima doesn’t disappoint on the road, either. We’ll reserve our definitive judgment for when we’ve driven a version that’s set up for European roads, but first impressions are positive. The 200bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is keen to rev and eager to accelerate, while still being refined and keeping noise to a minimum. Ride quality is impressive, too.
Kia has promised to tune the steering feel and brakes for European tastes – which is just as well given our experience of this US version, which felt vague. But overall, the Optima is a sound choice that deserves to be on company car lists, and continues the Korean company’s ever-improving product line-up.
Rival: SEAT Exeo
The Exeo took the Spanish firm into the crucial company saloon car market. But ultimately, this
is a previous-generation Audi A4 with a few tweaks here and there. Worse still, the SEAT can’t match the Kia for equipment, despite being slightly more expensive.
