The Kia Optima is a mid-size four-door sedan offered worldwide as the Kia Magentis, the Kia Lotze, and the Kia K5. It features a sleek exterior detailed with fine lines and curved edges for a modern subdued elegance. Inside, it offers a spacious cabin fitted with premium driver and passenger features meant to provide a relaxing driving experience. The Kia Optima is offered in the following variants: the Kia Optima LX, the Kia Optima EX, the Kia Optima EX Luxury, and the Kia Optima SX. It comes in Satin Metal, Ultra Silver, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black, Temptation Red, Carbon Blue, and Graphite.
Launch
The first-generation Kia Optima was a rebadged version of another Korean automobile, the Hyundai Sonata. Kia released the sedan in the year 2000 with a revamped exterior and 2.5-liter engine matched with a manual or automatic transmission.
In 2002, the sedan got updated and was released in South Korea. In 2005, the second-generation Kia Optima was released and marketed as the Kia Magentis worldwide excluding the United States, Malaysia, and South Korea.
In 2008, an upgraded Kia Optima was previewed at the New York International Auto Show. The sedan received a stylish exterior, a lengthened body, a more powerful engine, and a premium-looking interior. Two years later, the third-generation Kia Optima was launched globally including the Philippines. Currently, the Kia Optima is not offered in the Philippines.
Exterior
The Kia Optima measures 4,845mm long, 1,830mm wide, and 1,450mm tall. It features a bold exterior detailed with fine lines on its front bonnet and sides. Notable features include a pair of High-Intensity Discharge Xenon headlights, LED fog lights and daytime running lights, the brand’s signature tiger-nose grille, power-folding and heated side mirrors, panoramic sunroof, heated windshield, side fenders, splash guards, taillights, reflectors on the rear bumper, and two rear exhaust pipes with stainless steel tips. The Kia Optima wears a set of 16 to 18-inch alloy wheels depending on the variant.
Interior
The Kia Optima offers a spacious cabin fitted courtesy of its 2,795mm wheelbase. Interior highlights include a leather-wrapped telescopic steering wheel, enhanced instrument cluster, a trip computer, cloth or leather-covered seats with heating function depending on the variant, 60:40 rear seats, mood lighting, front map lights, seatback pockets, an efficient air conditioning system, and more.
Technology & Safety Features
The Kia Optima is built with a Microsoft UVO infotainment system with a multimedia interface, a navigation system, AUX, USB input ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. It is paired with eight speakers with a subwoofer.
In terms of safety, it is equipped with a generous number of airbags, an anti-lock braking system, vehicle stability management, brake assist system, hill assist control, occupancy sensor, tethers for child seats, a rearview camera parking assist, blind-spot detection, obstacle-detecting power windows at the front, and more.
Platform & Chassis
The Kia Optima utilizes a high-tensile unibody made from steel. It is equipped with an independent McPherson strut suspension at the front and an independent multi-link suspension at the rear.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Kia Optima series is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan. Engine options include a 2.4-liter GDi or a 2.0-liter Turbo GDI. All engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission capable of emitting 192 to 274 horsepower.