The South Korean upstarts are looking up. And it's not purely about reliability results or a five-year warranty; the Kia/Hyundai combo are increasingly building more sophisticated cars for cashed-up buyers. Which brings us to the latest iteration of the Kia Optima mid-sized sedan.
It's a great vehicle in its own right, but eclipsed somewhat by the Mazda6 as the sedan private buyers want. Based on performance and price, though, the Kia gives the Mazda a run for its money.
Value
Feature-laden, the Kia is a much better buy than before. The updated Optima now has front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth with audio streaming, a reversing camera and a six-speed auto across the range.
The base Si also rides on 17-inch alloys, has an auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto headlamps and cruise control as standard for $30,990. Opt for the mid-spec SLi at $35,990 and 18-inch alloys are the default, along with LED daytime running lamps, man-cow seat upholstery, up-market Infinity sound system, powered driver's seat and 7-inch touchscreen with satnav.
The top-spec Platinum is $40,490. The extra spend buys LED- quad-style front fog lamps, faux-wood trim, push-button start, auto-folding side mirrors, a powered sunroof, climate-controlled front seats, rain-sensing wipers and digital driver's display. In comparison, the Mazda6 starts at $33,490 and rises to $49,490. And we feel the only choices are the more expensive diesel versions.
Technology
The body may have been redesigned but the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder carries on. It's a direct-injection unit that more than matches the Mazda on power but can't mix it on fuel use - officially 7.9L/100km against 6.6L/100km. Then again, the price difference between the Kia and Mazda buys a lot of petrol.
A restyled rear end and new wheel designs are the only distinguishing exterior changes. It's also an acknowledgment there was nothing dramatically wrong with the original shape.
Most of the attention has gone into luxing up the interior with soft-touch materials and a stitched dashboard. It immediately looks classier - and needs to be to keep up with the pack. Rear space does the job for a pair of lounging teenagers and the seven-inch touchscreen takes centre stage on a redesigned centre stack in the SLi and Platinum variants.
Safety
The Optima continues with the five-star rating it earned on launch in 2011. An ANCAP score of 35.58/37. The only points deduction was for a “slight risk of chest and leg injury for the driver”, the latter from the intrusive foot operated parking brake. Six airbags are standard and buyers who want the latest toys can go with the Platinum's blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.
Driving
A suspension revisit by Kia Australia has settled the Optima. You immediately appreciate the ride's smoothness over small corrugations while still being firm enough to imbue the car with a sporty feel through the wheel.
The 2.4-litre engine does its best work up the rev range, assisted by an unobtrusive auto. The downside of the high-revving equation is a moment of hesitation as the Optima takes-off. Again, the auto works hard to mask the issue, hanging on to gears under heavy throttle and helping to bring the car quickly up to pace.
The steering wheel is well sized and the light and direct action is perfect for urban driving. Connecting smartphones is simple and the sound - at least from the top-spec Infinity system - was judged acceptable by the teen audiophiles. Space is good, noise suppression is improved. There isn't much to criticise.
Kia Optima 2014: Platinum
| Engine Type | Inline 4, 2.4L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7.9L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $11,660 - $15,620 |
| Safety Rating |
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Verdict
The mid-sized car to own if you don't want to own a Mazda6. The Optima is priced, proportioned and positioned to be on the money for more buyers than its rival.
Pricing Guides
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