2016 Kia Optima: Larger and Optimized for Sales Growth

The Kia Optima’s prior full redesign was somewhat shocking. Formerly a forgettable-looking, cheaper sibling to Hyundai’s Sonata, the Optima suddenly became the hotter of the sisters. Courtesy of ex–Volkswagen Group designer Peter Schreyer, Kia’s family sedan looked like the Passat we could’ve had if VW hadn’t dowdified the thing when it enlarged the car for the American market. Five years after the last car’s reveal at the New York show, Kia is hoping to keep the magic going with this all-new model.
The new car is swoopier and perhaps a tad more futuristic-looking than the previous model, losing a little bit of its Germanic presence in the update. The larger rear lights look more Tokyo than Teutonic, while the widened signature “tiger nose” grille suggests some sort of cybernetic unibrow. The greenhouse has more of a fastback lilt, and the larger daylight opening suggests better outward visibility at the cost of the last car’s perfectly modern proportions.

Kia claims the new body structure is 150 percent stiffer than the outgoing model’s. It also says it has stiffened the wheels, engine mounts, and body panels. The effort goes toward both quelling NVH and improving handling. Given that we were impressed by the new Sonata’s dynamic improvements, we don’t doubt that Kia has put in time in this arena, as well. Undercarriage upgrades include additional bushings on the subframe mounts, suspension-mounting points moved farther outboard, and larger dual rear lower control arms. The wheelbase is up by 0.4 inch, to 110.4, while girth increases by one inch. Wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches.

Engine choices match the Sonata’s, so there’s a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder, a 2.0-liter turbo four, and a 1.6-liter turbo four. The first two are paired with a six-speed automatic, while the 1.6 matches up to Hyundai/Kia’s seven-speed dual-clutch. Kia hasn’t finalized output numbers, but it estimates 185 hp and 178 lb-ft from the 2.4, 247 hp and 260 lb-ft from the 2.0T, and 178 hp and 195 lb-ft from the 1.6.

Inside, the interior gets genuine stitching along the dash and doors—something that’s often simulated at this price point. Kia also touts attention paid to seat comfort, crediting improvement in that area to a stiffer frame and denser, more supportive foam. Heated and ventilated power-adjustable front chairs are available. Depending on trim level—the roster is LX, LX Turbo, EX, SX, SX Turbo, and SXL—seating surfaces are covered in cloth, leather, or uplevel nappa leather. Because the mid-1980s are back, the new car offers dark aubergine and merlot among its interior-color options.

Kia’s Uvo infotainment system now has big-brother systems for teen drivers, including geofencing, speed alert, curfew alert, and “driving score.” Germane to adult and teen drivers alike, the new Optima is the first Kia to feature both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Streamed tunes can be bumped through a 630-watt Infinity system with 14 speakers.

Other electronic business includes a suite of available driver aids such as a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic braking. These might help keep your new Optima in one piece. The car now can be fitted with active, HID headlamps, as well as automatic high beams.

Given that the Optima’s slight aesthetic downgrade isn’t the backward stylistic stepthat the Sonata took, and given that we expect the Hyundai’s overall dynamic and comfort improvements to be generally mirrored by the Kia, the sexier sib remains the more desirable of the pair. Now if they’d only deign to give us a Sportspace-looking wagon variant . . .