2011 Kia Optima Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Kia Optima as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Kia Optima as a used buy.

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

You've got to hand it to Kia because it has done an outstanding job with the new Optima.The car looks simply stunning. It was only a few years ago that we used to draw straws to see who'd have to drive the latest Kia. Apart from being cheap and reasonably well made, there wasn't much to say about them.My how times change . . . With this latest offering, Kia has managed to pull off the trick of building a car that looks more expensive than it is - a car that you'd like to own and drive.With its sleek European lines, full length sunroof, flashy 18 inch wheels and LEDs up front, the new Optima is a real head turner. Priced from $36,990 plus on-roads for the top of the line Platinum model with everything that opens and shuts - it's an extremely attractive proposition.But, as much as we love the Optima's looks, we have to admit to being a trifle disappointed. It took a while to pinpoint the source of these misgivings, but we finally narrowed it down to the four cylinder petrol engine.Basically, it lacks the refinement of a six that the car deserves. Although the 2.4-litre direct injection four produces class leading power and torque, with 148kW and 250Nm of torque from 4250 revs - it's too harsh and this spoils the otherwise classy feel.Paired with a six-speed auto, the Theta II GDI engine generates too much noise and vibration, especially under load. The six-speed auto feels too busy at times too as it searches for the optimal gear. Low profile 45 series Kumho tyres also generate quite a bit of road noise, especially on coarse bitumen.We clocked up more than 600km this week behind the wheel the new Optima. With 148kW on tap the big four produces plenty of oomph, rivalling Honda's Accord Euro for honours - but with more torque. The car rides and handles extremely well, with plenty of grip and quick, responsive steering - maybe too sensitive.There's also minimal kick back through the wheel when the front wheels encounter a bump mid-corner. Having said that, the ride is not as good as Kia's own Sportage. It's ironic given the amount of time and money Kia spent tuning the ride for Australian conditions.Don't get me wrong, because none of these criticisms are deal breakers - they just detract from the overall effect. At this stage Kia is offering just the one model with the one engine/transmission combination, the latter complete with gear change paddles.Fuel consumption for the petrol engine is officially rated at 7.9 litres/100km. But we achieved 8.8 over a distance of 638km, with about 80km to go according to the computer. The Optima looks just as good inside, with a well laid out easy to use instrumentation with orange backlighting giving it a European feel.You get leather upholstery and climate airconditioning, with a driver's seat that can be heated or cooled. The 7-speaker Infinity sound system is also a cracker. Standard equipment includes Bluetooth, iPod connection, six airbags, LCD reversing camera, automatic lights - about the only things missing are automatic wipers and satellite navigation.With a full complement of safety equipment, the Optima achieves a full five-star safety rating. We were reluctant to hand back the car because the more we drove the Optima the more we liked it.We'd love to see it with one of Kia's excellent diesel engines - now that really would be something.

If anybody still doubts Kia's intention to move up in the charts, one look at the mid-sized Optima should change that opinion. As a package intended to win sales votes, it's got more luxury goodies than an Academy Awards schmooze bag. And red carpet looks to match.Filling the line-up gap left by the unpopular Magentis, the Optima is unfortunately in fairly short supply at the moment, with Kia Australia only able to get 1000 this year. But those arrive here in a single upscale Platinum spec level, with great looks, and some successful effort to make the suspension and steering better suited to Australian tastes.The $36,990 Optima is as well - or better - kitted out than some higher-priced competitors. The standard list includes full leather upholstery, eight-way powered driver's seat (four-way for front passenger and heating/cooling for both), premium Infinity audio system with AUX/USB/iPod compatibility, electric folding mirrors, headlight washers, panoramic sunroof, cooling glovebox, rear parking camera with direction guides integrated into the rear view mirror, reverse parking sensors and dusk-sensing automatic headlights. Sadly, no satnav at this stage.The Belgium-built Ford Mondeo Zetec hatch is $750 more and misses out on most of the Optima's upper levels of equipment, but has a better engine with the benefit of turbocharging. There's a non-turbo Mondeo hatch for $30,990, but it's the base model and so far down on the Optima's spec you'd think the countries of origin were reversed.The Optima's kissing cousin is the Hyundai i45 Premium sedan (there's no hatch) at $2000 more with the same platform, great styling and similar spec - while it misses out on things like the CD stacker and rear camera, and adds satnav - but poorer ride and handling.The Toyota Camry Grande is $3000 more, and has similar spec to the Optima, although it rides on 17-in alloys and a sunroof costs extra. It leads the sales race with more than double the Mondeo in second place, and that's probably not going to change any time soon. But it's not going to win any style contests - although a new one is on the way with a les bland face.Honda's Accord Euro Luxury is $3150 more, but is still the best all-rounder package in the segment, combining a good engine with solid quality, excellent comfort and well-stacked equipment list, including 10-speaker stereo, front parking sensors and trailer sway sensors.The Mazda6 Luxury sedan is the most expensive of the sales leaders at close to $4000 more, and is also about on par with spec, with the major omission a reversing camera. This is the one to go for if you want a fun drive, but the firm ride could be tiring if it's intended as a family vehicle. There's a Mazda6 hatch in Luxury Sports spec, with the main extras being premium Bose audio and adaptive bi-xenon headlights, but the $43,415 price is $7000 more than the Optima - a psychological jump too far for most shoppers.It looks classy and sharp, but with styling inside and out pitched to appeal across a broad range of tastes. Visibility is good, and the panoramic double sunroof helps to open up the cabin visually - although it's a trial for tall-torso drivers - while split-fold rear seats help make the most of the space.Touches that give it that 'bit extra' include the alloy sports pedals and illuminated badging on the door sills, and we're big fans of little practicalities like the sun visor extensions - all cars should have these. But we would be happy to ditch the fake woodgrain with its slight glitter effect in the sunlight.It hasn't yet been given an ANCAP rating, however earlier this year it got the full five stars in US crash testing. Safety is looked after with six airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners and active headrests, hill-start assist, stability and traction controls systems, anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution that calculates what's needed at each wheel for uneven load weight, and brake assist for panic stops.It gets the Hyundai i45's 2.4-litre direc-injection four-cylinder engine, developing 148kW of power and - a much-needed - 250Nm of torque, and delivering that to the front wheels via a six-speed sequential automatic with paddle-shifters on the steering wheel.Optima gets the benefit of underpinning revisions to suit Aussie driving styles. Work on the new hydraulic power steering and the springs and dampers of the suspension system - McPherson Strut front and fully-independent rear - have given the car better ride and handling than the i45 with the same components.The Optima's only really jarring note is the one you hear when you turn the key. Cold starts produce a sound so coarse you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a diesel. That improves as it warms up, and settles down to being merely a bit unrefined.It's willing enough, but there's just no sparkle. Above 80km/h it's searching for more torque, and has to reach up to 4500rpm to find it. At that stage, the noise suggests you're about to take off smartly, but instead it delivers only a sedate climb up the speedo.The transmission is smooth and the paddles on the steering wheel are handy to try and tickle the engine, but the insipid effect when you use them doesn't match up to the promise of their existence. It kicks down quickly enough on a gearchange, or on hills, but the engine sound is not matched by the result.However there's no complaint about its road manners. It's both comfortable over bad surfaces and at the same time very surefooted, with even swift cornering not a bother for it, while the brakes are strong and progressive.And aside from the outdated fake woodgrain, the overall cabin impression is of quality and refinement, with little noise intrusion except for a bit of wind rush around the upper windscreen - and that cold engine.Kia has put a high price on the Optima - about $10,000 more than the 2009 Magentis it replaces - but with all that equipment, it's still a bargain. However, the Korean tiger has got so many things so right with the car, it's a shame it doesn't have a better unit under the bonnet. It deserves one.

THE most upscale Kia to land in Australia is more than a car. The mid-sized Optima is also a test case for a Korean company that is still working hard to win convert customers and prove it is more than just a disposable brand.The basics of the Optima are solid and proven - as the same package rolls under the Hyundai i45 - but Kia has done a great job on giving the car some design style and Aussie-style driving enjoyment. It's also priced very effectively below $40,000 with the sort of equipment - including heated and cooled leather front seats - that only used to be found in $200,000-plus German star brands.The competition in the mid-sized class has never been tougher, from the appliance-like Toyota Camry to the sporty Suzuki Kizashi and the under-appreciated Ford Mondeo, but the Kia makes a solid claim.Kia is still at the stage where it has to under-promise and over-deliver, which explains a single-model strategy in showrooms and a   price of $36,990. The bottom line is well below the level of the class leading Toyota Camry, and even takes a $3000 chunk - including $1000 of extra equipment - from the top-line Hyundai i45.The package includes leather seats and a glass sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic aircon, a punchy sound system and all the other   basics in today's mid-sized contenders, from power steering to electric windows and the rest. The only thing missing - really missing - is satnav but Kia Australia promises it is doing all it can to get a system in 2011.The Optima package is tried and proven by Hyundai, from its 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic gearbox to fully-  independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. Kia Australia makes lots of comparisons with the underwhelming Optima of the past, but the car needs to be considered on its own.So the Theta II engine has high-pressure direct fuel injection to make 148 kiloWatts and 250 Newton-metres with economy of 7.9litres/100km and emissions at 189grams/kilometre of CO2. The really impressive technology work in the Optima is done in Australia, thanks to suspension guru Graeme Gambold. He has tweaked   the car for Australian roads and drivers, and to give it a sharper and more enjoyable feel than the i45, by changing a bunch of stuff including much stiffer springs.The Optima looks more like a Saab than previous-generation Kia cars.  That's a big compliment for a car which is both restrained and elegant   than the i45, as well as more of a head-turner than a Camry.The design work runs from the latest corporate Kia grille to trendy   dish-style alloy wheels and a cabin that is less funky than Hyundai but more likely to appeal to someone who is shopping the Optima against a Japanese car. Some of the luxury touches are a bit old-school, like the fake wood trim, but the overall effect is classy and the quality seems good.Kia is still waiting on independent test results but claims five-star safety for the Optima. It is full loaded with everything from ABS brakes and stability control to hill-start help, reverse parking camera and radar, cornering lamps and daytime running lamps. Safety is another area where Kia knows it has to make an impact and it's ticking all the boxes.The new Optima makes an impressive first impression, firstly for itslooks and impressive equipment and then for its driving. It's not a sports car, but it doesn't have to be one either. The suspension is well tuned for local conditions, giving a slightly firmish feel without going nasty over the tram tracks of inner-city Melbourne.The suspension also responds well. It could be better, with some thumping from the low-profile tyres and a bit of wobbliness in the steering in tight corners, but overall it's a car to enjoy driving. The cabin is great with so much equipment, although satnav is a major missing link.There is leather and a sunroof and the sound system is good, there is space for five adults and the boot is roomy. But the Optima is still a cheaper Korean contender, from a company still learning the ropes, and that means the seats are lacking support and cushiness, some of the trim pieces look a bit fragile, and the engine is not as responsive as a European unit. Still, the Optima is $36,990 and it will be a winner for Kia.The only problem is that stocks are currently limited to just 1000 cars. "We think we could sell 10,000 but that is all we can get from Korea.  We are trying as hard as possible to get more," apologises the head of   Kia Australia, MK Kim.Another Kia success that will be a hit.

A wedge is being driven into Australia’s busy mid-size sedan market. Though the wedge is thin, Kia believes its Camry/Mazda6/Accord Euro rival, the Optima, has the goods. Kia has high hopes this is the car that will bring it elusive cachet. But it isn’t going to happen overnight."Optima is not going to be a volume seller - at least not at first," says Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth.It arrives in January in only one model, the highly-specified Platinum, with an expected $36,000 price tag. Not until late next year will the Platinum be assisted on the showroom by a smaller engined variant that aims to pick up the budget and fleet end of the business.Australia gets the complete list of accessories as standard in the Platinum - save only for sat-nav and that’s probably a temporary situation and remedied by the availability of local software. That means the Optima gets here with two sunroofs, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 530-Watt and eight-speaker Infinity audio, Bluetooth, rear camera and ark sensors, cruise control, dual-zone aircon, leather and vented/heated seats.For safety, there’s standard electronic stability control, hill-start assist, ABS on four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, six airbags and the promise of a five-star crash rating from Australia’s ANCAP.Australia also betters other markets by getting the best engine. In this case, a 147kW/250Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with direct-petrol injection. In Kia-speak, it’s called gasoline direct injection and marked by the acronym GDI.This engine will be mated to a six-speed sequential automatic with standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Kia says it’s good for a 0-100km/h time of 8.5 seconds. No fuel economy or emission figures are available. Kia says it is now finalising data.Australia is also the only market to get a retuned suspension. Worked on by former Toyota engineer Graeme Gambold - who also reworked the Sportage for local conditions - the Optima gets new High Performance Dampers (HPDs) made by esteemed European suspension makers ZF Sachs.The coil springs are also re-rated, the steering system - hydraulic, not the Korean electric system - is new and the brakes are bigger. Part of the change meant 18-inch wheels are standard.Externally, the Optima is a very attractive sedan. It is unlike any Korean - probably because it was designed by a European, former Audi stylist Peter Schreyer - and that will erase any preconceived ideas by prospective buyers.Inside it is even better. It is clever in its use of space and will seat five adults in comfort - first because of the excellent rear legroom but also because the central tunnel hump has been reduced to a mere bump on the floor.The boot is claimed to be the biggest in its class and the Australian-specced split and fold rear seat (most other markets get a fixed seat back) makes a versatile cargo area.The dashboard is designed with a sports-car theme, with the main instrument and radio area angled to the driver. Initial cars get foot-operated park brake but by the end of 2011, this will be replaced with an electronic park brake that consists merely of a dash button.Australia gets the pick of the Optima range but none of that went on show when the car held its international launch this week in Dubai. Basically, what was served up by Kia was the higher-spec body - which we will call Platinum - but without the Aussie-bound tauter suspension, tighter all-hydraulic steering and the 2.4-litre GDI engine. The test cars that we punted through the emir had the 2.4-litre non-GDI engine and standard soft suspension - both not on our shopping list.But on top-class bitumen ribbons that alternate from rifle-barrel straights through the moonscape dunes to squiggles up and down rocky hills devoid of vegetation, these pre-production cars showed that Kia is onto a good thing. Specifically, the six-speed automatic gearbox works very well with the base engine. t’s smooth and the ratios spread right out so 110km/h comes up at only 2000rpm.There is beauty in the exterior - and that will win sales - but there’s also a spacious and very friendly interior that has strong overtones of cars including Volkswagen’s Passat - a car Kia puts top of its list as the benchmark for its new Optima. The driving position is more like a sports sedan than a mid-size family car. Adapting to the driver’s seat is made easy by electric adjustment and tilt/telescopic movement for the steering wheel.Controls are well laid out, the stitched vinyl dashboard pad looks great and the Infinity sound system is a welcome addition to a car that I found both quiet and with a supple ride. However, the final ride comfort rating won’t b known until its January launch in Australia. Seat comfort is very good - despite the small width of the cushions - but the foot-operated park brake is old fashioned in this car, as is the red illumination for the radio and vent controls.It’s impressive and the downsides of this test (the engine could do with more pep and the steering was vague) will, says Kia, be addressed by the time the car hits our shores.

It might be harder to be noticed if you haven’t been around for a while. But after an absence of about a year, Kia has given its new flagship every chance of grabbing buyers’ attention.The largely unloved – and frankly unlovely – Magentis we knew is long gone. And the Korean carmaker’s bid for the top end of their range now rests on the incoming Optima. Like all cars in the Kia stable, it will have strategic pricing and still aims to offer a value proposition. But the front-drive mid-size sedan is the latest in the Kia range to focus more on style, quality and driving dynamics.Its main rivals will be the Mazda6 and Honda Accord from Japan, and fellow Korean Hyundai i45 – the latter especially challenging on both price and fresh design, in a world where even the concept sketches of a couple of years ago can start to look old.While the Optima will be able to hold its own visually, it will come down to the final spec for Australia – and where it will sit on the price scale. The Magentis ranged from about $26,000 base model to just over $31,000 for top spec, and it’s hard to imagine Kia straying too far above those levels on a car they want to give showroom impact.And there’ll likely be a few goodies on the equipment list. The Optima will initially arrive as the single upper-spec EX with add dual-zone climate control airconditioning, leather trim on steering wheel and gear level, wheel-mounted audio controls and auto-fold wing mirrors with LED indicators, Bluetooth and 7-in LCD nav system plus the premium iPod/USB/MP3-compatible audio system that includes a CD-changer and extra speaker power.In Europe the Optima will be launched with two new engines: the 125kW 2.0-litre petrol and the 100kW/330Nm turbocharged ‘U2’ 1.7-litre diesel which has an optional stop-start system. However, we are not on the cards to get the diesel at this stage, as it’s shackled to the six-speed manual transmission, which Kia sees as being an unattractive prospect for Aussie buyers.Instead we’ll get a direct-injected 2.4-litre petrol which, like the 2.0-litre, will have the choice of a six-speed sequential automatic with paddle-shifters on the steering – which Kia expects to be far more popular than the manual. The engine develops 148kW of power at 6300rpm and 250Nm of torque at 4250rpm. This is claimed to get it to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds with the manual and 9 seconds with the auto, and to a top speed of 210km/h.As with the recently-launched Sportage, Kia has had Australian engineers working for six months on setting up the suspension and steering specifically to suit our roads, with changed spring rates and sway bars, dampers supplied from ZF Sachs, and a different valve on the steering rack.The Optima will get a stacked safety list, with six airbags, anti-skid brakes with brake force distribution to send the effort to the right corners and brake assist to help apply extra anchor in emergencies, stability and traction control, hill-start assist and a reversing camera with the display integrated into the rear-view mirror.It looks very purposeful, sitting longer, lower and wider on a longer wheelbase. While it’s a four-door, Kia has followed the trend for coupe-ish shaping that trims the profile and lends some aerodynamic benefit in reducing drag – which is down to 0.29 from the previous 0.32) – and hence also fuel consumption.And there’s ample opportunity to dress it up even further, with optional spec-ups in the form of a mesh grille, body kit, LED daytime running lights and tail lamps, and 18-in wheels with larger discs and black calipers.The interior is a huge step up from the previous Optima, with the wraparound ‘cockpit’ well laid out and finished.Since the suspension and steering work for Australia is not yet finished – although close to the final stages, only one of the test vehicles on hand was fairly close to what we’ll get, while the others had some of the suspension improvements but the Asian steering. The difference was noticeable in the steering, with the ‘near Aussie’ car having better turn-in and no sign of vagueness.The Optima has decent acceleration off the line, and there’s no lack of enthusiasm from the 2.4 under what were fairly normal freeway and then back road driving conditions. Using the sequential side of the auto pins it down a bit more firmly, but the full auto side is capable enough for the kind of driver this car is intended for.But what let the car down – badly – were the Nexen tyres the test vehicles were fitted with. Uncomfortably noisy on the smooth freeway surface, and harsh over the rutted roads out in the Korean countryside (admittedly very like Australian roads), the rubber undermined any of the good work the engineering team had done on the suspension.Kia wants to position the Optima as a more premium package than the Magentis, but buyers are likely to be unimpressed by seeing it shod with the Nexens in the showroom – and even less impressed if they take it out for a test drive on them.