I was invited on a media press event for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
| Type: Sedan Price: $21,840 Fuel Efficiency: 25 city/37 hwy Seats: 5 |
Best Suited For: Commute, middle-age, carpool Notable Features: Fantastic audio, loaded base model, autonomous braking, sleek design Links: Official site |
If you haven’t given a Kia Optima a chance lately, you’ve been missing out. The 2016 Kia Optima looks better than ever with a sporty body, an aggressive tiger grill, and polished lines. Inside is even better with soft leather seats and soft-touch surfaces. This is unlike other mid-size sedans on the market.
2016 Kia Optima Review – Trims Matter
The ride in the 2016 Kia Optima varies greatly depending on the trim you are in. The LX has fabric seating but offers a fabulous ride that hugs turns (don’t ask me how I know just how well it performs in this area…) and has oodles of modern features that come standard. The EX is almost the same as the LX but comes with leather seats and an option for a panoramic sunroof and the Harman Kardon audio.
The SX has contrasting stitching and the racing-inspired design feel fun and is a blast to drive. The finish gives a fresh look, making it more suitable for the mid-20s to mid-40s crowd. There’s also a warm red leather to choose from. My favorite is the SX with all of the options 🙂 Too bad I didn’t pick this one for our test drive!
The SX-L has quilted napa leather and all of the bells and whistles but the luxury isn’t consistent throughout. I would have loved to see leather on all of the surfaces, a more decorated middle control area, and a digital instrument cluster. If you’re going to opt for the top trim, you want the superior quality to be found throughout. It was also kind of a rough ride with very tight steering yet there was quite a bit of roll on turns.
2016 Kia Optima Review – Feature Rich
The 360 camera view is awesome, the adjustable cruise control is easy to use and works great, lane departure is helpful without being irritating, and I love the autonomous braking but am grateful we weren’t in a situation where we had to test it out. The angled navigation display is great for viewing but there are way too many buttons (with text only and in a somewhat condensed font) on the horizontal control rows. It could be that it will just take some time getting use to where everything is.
Harman Kardon does it again with the audio for this vehicle. 10 speakers offer surround sound to deliver your music the way it was created to be heard. You won’t be bouncing to crazy bass or blasting out your eardrums or speakers with flat but blaring music. Instead, music sounds full and vibrant. Voice and instruments are automatically sampled out and distributed across the speakers for an immersive listening experience. It’s like fine leather versus pleather, both can seem similar on the surface but the texture is on a whole other level. Welcome to smooth beats for your ears.
2016 Kia Optima Review – All Around Roomy
Ample leg space is found throughout but the rear seats might be a bit tight in head space for those that have a longer torso. Those in the backseat can take advantage of a USB port and can enjoy a unique vantage angle thanks to the panoramic roof. As for the trunk space, it’s HUGE and all of the space is usable! Drop down those back seats and you can fit even more in there!
Those that have been looking to get a mid-size sedan will want to add the 2016 Kia Optima to their list of cars to test drive. Just choose the engine and trim that fits your needs and you won’t regret it. For those that have been waiting, the hybrid version will be coming soon.
