Not that long ago, Kias were the butt of many jokes. But times have changed, and in just a few years, products from the Korean automaker have gone from afterthoughts to serious contenders on the automotive scene. Nothing hammers that point home more than the Optima SX.
This Kia looks like no other Kia on the road, and people notice. Countless times, folks asked me what kind of car it was, or said, "Is that really a Kia?" When I'd assure them it was, their reactions were always the same: "Really! I thought Kias were cheap little cars." I'd reply, "Well, they kind of were, but not anymore."
With plenty of room and comfort for five passengers, as well as ample trunk space, the Optima is a great choice for a family car. I have a wife and a 2-year-old son, and it's surprising how much stuff we have to take with us every time we hit the road. There are two things we always need while traveling: the stroller and the Pack 'n Play, and these alone use up a bit of trunk space. Add a suitcase for Mom and Dad and one for the kid, and the trunk would be pretty full in most cars. With the Optima, there's still room for toys and other miscellany.
In the cabin, a child's car seat requires a lot of space. The front passenger seat has to be moved up quite far, and that usually cuts into the passenger's legroom. Fitting our Recaro child seat is not an issue in the Optima, even with 6-foot-tall Mom as the front passenger, and the latch points are easily accessible for installing the seat.
The Optima's suspension feel has been an area of controversy. I found it too firm and jarring, especially on SoCal's uneven roads. Many of you commented on previous updates that the suspension was just fine, and I was being overly critical. As I've said, with plenty of power on tap from its turbo engine, the Optima feels great gliding down a smooth road, but the minute the surface gets bad, the car lets you know it. This isn't a sports car, it's a sporty family sedan, so the family shouldn't be punished when the road surface becomes irregular. Motor Trend has constantly knocked Kia for its suspensions, usually for being too soft. This time, the automaker just went too far in the other direction, but Kia is much closer to getting it right.
It used to be you didn't even need to get into a Kia to start checking off the issues. Now you really have to look to find flaws, and even then, they are subjective. I find the seats too firm and flat, but others might think they're just right. Another divisive topic is the Optima's styling, inside and out. I think it looks fantastic.
While I didn't love the Optima's wheels, they did grow on me a little. But I like the new wheels on the refreshed Optima much better. The interior is top-notch in styling, materials, and build quality, reminding me of much higher-end European vehicles.
Being assigned a long-term car means we take it in for service when recommended or needed. The Optima went in three times. Two of the services were under $40, while the major service was less than $200. The total service bill for our Optima SX was $240.43, more than reasonable for more than a year's worth of driving. The only service issue is actually finding a Kia service center, as they are few and far between. The closest one to where I live is at least 15 minutes away with no traffic. It's minor, but a pain nonetheless.
I hope Kia continues to improve its entire line of cars, because some of them sorely need it, but the Optima isn't one of these, and it is currently Kia's top dog. It's a complete package, offering styling, performance, ease of use, and spacious interior with quality materials and build quality.
You can't ask for much more out of a car than what the Kia Optima delivers.
** Courtesy of MotorTrend Magazine (Online)
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