After feasting on supercars for the past few posts, let us bring you back to your 9-5 existence that is reality. Kia have revealed the all new Optima which is on sale in the UK priced from £21k. Well it isn’t exactly as new as Kia would want you to believe, its a typical mid-lifecycle update many cars go through during each generation.
Lets just say the Kia Optima has been to the gym and bought itself a new set of clothes. The 1.7-litre CRDi turbodiesel now gets an upgraded EU6 compliant engine. That means its about 25 percent more fuel efficient. Allegedly.
Kia have also upgraded the auto transmission which now features a seven speed dual clutch system. The six speed manual is also still available. On the inside the trim now features higher quality materials and increased soundproofing in a bid to improve refinement.
Initially three trim levels are available – badged 2, 3 and 4 – with GT-Line and GT versions to be added later in 2016. Stop/start is standard throughout the range and the entry-level grade 2 version is manual only, grade 3 offers both transmissions while grade 4 is DCT only.
All models are seriously well equipped the entry-level 2 grade comes with a 7.0-inch satellite navigation system, a reversing camera, steering wheel-mounted controls, dual automatic air conditioning.
And the list goes on, cruise control with a speed limiter, electrically heated folding mirrors, a six-speaker DAB radio with MP3 compatibility and Bluetooth. You also get 17-inch alloy wheels and a host of driver stability and safety technology.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Optima, will be added later in 2016.
UK pricing