Curiously, the Optima offers class-leading legroom up front, but trails the pack in rear legroom. The slanted roofline also reduces rearward visibility and rear-seat passengers must watch they don’t bump their head as they climb in.
Although lesser versions of the Optima make do with a 200-horsepower, 2.4-litre four, which is honestly enough guts for the vast majority of drivers, the SX gets a new turbo 2.0-litre engine. It produces 274 ponies as well as 269 pound-feet of torque that peaks from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.
Connected to a mandatory 6-speed automatic with manual mode, the Optima SX gallops to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and reaches a quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds at 159 km/h. It’s fast, but the engine’s power doesn’t brutally rush in to make the car harsh and twitchy; you benefit from a smooth, progressive surge of muscle.
You do get paddle shifters with the SX, which is better than rowing through gears with the shift lever’s manual gate. Yet the Kia doesn’t feel as though it wants you to go hunting for BMWs. The suspension is a little noisy over rough roads, but otherwise, does a good job of keeping up with the car’s performance, and isn’t too firm, either.
We’re averaging 9.2 L/100 km this week; fuel economy goes up on the highway, particularly; at 100 km/h, the engine spins at a low 1,750 rpm.
What sweetens the deal is the car’s relatively affordable price. The SX retails for $33,695 before taxes, freight and delivery charges. In comparison, a loaded Ford Fusion SEL V6 with the Sport Appearance Package costs $35,249; a Mazda6 GT-V6 with navigation, $40,040; a Nissan Altima 3.5 SR with all the trimmings, $38,798. The all-wheel drive Suzuki Kizashi SX is less expensive at $30,495, but is also less powerful and doesn’t offer as much content as the turbo Optima.
How do you compare the new Optima to the old Magentis it replaces? You don’t. Kia’s new sedan has the looks, the drive, the performance and the feature content to please anybody in the market for a mid-size sedan. I’ve said it before; you can now enter a Kia dealership to shop for a car that has style, not just a car that has a low monthly payment.
Kia has the solid product line-up to make the public forget about the cars and trucks they were selling 10 years ago. As for this turbocharged SX, you get what is expected: V6 performance with 4-cylinder fuel efficiency. If Kia doesn’t reach the big leagues in North America with this car, I don’t know it'll happen otherwise.
Although lesser versions of the Optima make do with a 200-horsepower, 2.4-litre four, which is honestly enough guts for the vast majority of drivers, the SX gets a new turbo 2.0-litre engine. It produces 274 ponies as well as 269 pound-feet of torque that peaks from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.
Connected to a mandatory 6-speed automatic with manual mode, the Optima SX gallops to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and reaches a quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds at 159 km/h. It’s fast, but the engine’s power doesn’t brutally rush in to make the car harsh and twitchy; you benefit from a smooth, progressive surge of muscle.
You do get paddle shifters with the SX, which is better than rowing through gears with the shift lever’s manual gate. Yet the Kia doesn’t feel as though it wants you to go hunting for BMWs. The suspension is a little noisy over rough roads, but otherwise, does a good job of keeping up with the car’s performance, and isn’t too firm, either.
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| The SX gets a new turbo 2.0-litre engine. It produces 274 ponies as well as 269 pound-feet of torque that peaks from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
We’re averaging 9.2 L/100 km this week; fuel economy goes up on the highway, particularly; at 100 km/h, the engine spins at a low 1,750 rpm.
What sweetens the deal is the car’s relatively affordable price. The SX retails for $33,695 before taxes, freight and delivery charges. In comparison, a loaded Ford Fusion SEL V6 with the Sport Appearance Package costs $35,249; a Mazda6 GT-V6 with navigation, $40,040; a Nissan Altima 3.5 SR with all the trimmings, $38,798. The all-wheel drive Suzuki Kizashi SX is less expensive at $30,495, but is also less powerful and doesn’t offer as much content as the turbo Optima.
How do you compare the new Optima to the old Magentis it replaces? You don’t. Kia’s new sedan has the looks, the drive, the performance and the feature content to please anybody in the market for a mid-size sedan. I’ve said it before; you can now enter a Kia dealership to shop for a car that has style, not just a car that has a low monthly payment.
Kia has the solid product line-up to make the public forget about the cars and trucks they were selling 10 years ago. As for this turbocharged SX, you get what is expected: V6 performance with 4-cylinder fuel efficiency. If Kia doesn’t reach the big leagues in North America with this car, I don’t know it'll happen otherwise.
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