Kia Optima’s a real head-turner

The Kia Optima is a striking looking car

Kia combines striking good looks and a great spec to make its Optima a definite contender in the saloon segment.

Boasting a massive cabin, the long, sleek four-door has plenty to offer both in terms of style and substance and its front lights move it up from the merely beautiful to the ‘striking looking’ category.

As you’d expect in a car with a large cabin, legroom is generous, both in the front and the back seats. There’s also great luggage space in the boot and this can be further extended by lowering the rear seats.

The model I was driving had a hard-wearing leather interior with luxurious looking dark wood inset in the well laid out cockpit.

The cockpit in the Kia Optima is well laid out and is driver-centric

Visually, the Kia Optima is a car to behold and inside has even more treats with a double sunroof flooding both the rear and front passengers with light. Both sunroofs have a retractable blind and the front roof window opens up.

The top of the range Platinum model I was driving also offered a great technical specification, with cruise control/limiter, both front and rear parking sensors, heated and cooled front seats, auto lights and wipers and a reversing camera in the rear view mirror.

Connectivity was also great in the test car, Bluetooth was installed, and available infotainment included Radio/CD/MP3/USB/iPod/Aux. The latter ports were well placed at the bottom of the centre console, with a shelf for the phone/MP3 player.

On the road, the 1.7-litre manual diesel I was driving was a flyer at higher speeds and a lovely cruiser. Fast at the lights, urban driving proved no problem for it either, although it wasn’t a fan of speed bumps, having to really work the lower gears. Steering in the Optima is nice and light.

A rear reversing camera comes as standard in the Platinum model

Overall, I liked the Kia Optima. A large executive/family car, the Optima is stunning looking, is lovely to drive, even fun at times, is economical, and is full of great technology.

The Kia Optima is available in two trims in Ireland, with prices for the entry level EX model starting from €26,995. Cruise control, voice activated Bluetooth, steering wheel audio controls and power lumbar support on the driver’s seat come as standard.

Prices for the top of the range Platinum model I was driving start from €28,995, with additional spec including the panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver memory seat and reversing camera. The Platinum model is also available with automatic transmission.

Tech Spec:
Engine: 1.7D 134hp (diesel)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 10.2seconds
Top speed: 202km/h
Combined Fuel Consumption: 5.1l/100km
CO2 Emissions: 133g/km
Annual road tax: €225 (Band B)

Visit kiamotors.ie or the Kia Ireland Facebook page for futher details.