All new 2016 Kia Optima arrives at a pivotal time in the automaker's existence. With a mandate to further distance itself from corporate parent Hyundai, Kia is looking to add new metal to showrooms and fill gaps in its line-up without relying too much on borrowed platforms and shared technologies. When vehicles do share a common gene pool - like the Optima and the Sonata, Hyundai's popular mid-size sedan - the brand's ability to leverage its in-house styling chops as a separating wedge has become increasingly important in the American market.
The all-new Kia Optima trades in the dowdier duds of the Sonata and instead embraces a sharper visual edge that is as distinct as the thick-rimmed glasses worn by company design chief Peter Schreyer. As I discovered after spending the day behind the wheel of the 2016 Optima in Aspen, Colorado, this sedan has been tagged by Kia to accomplish a long list of important tasks, and for the most part it succeeds. Although not a threat to disrupt the ruling family four-door order, the Optima comes across as a compelling alternative for those who appreciate that high quality design doesn't have to come with a mile-high price tag. A year after the previously fashion-forward Hyundai Sonata took a calculated step back to the mean, the 2016 Kia Optima feels like a renewal of the faith that not all inexpensive family cars have to be boring to look at. Even in its base trim, the Optima is a collection of eye-catching cues that assemble into a form that is somehow both graceful and imposing at the same time. Seen from the front the Kia offers an angled, honeycomb-laden grille that's complemented by shark-fin headlights hewn into the front fenders and the decision to replace the older model's fog lights with cooling ducts for the front brakes (which also serve to improve the overall aerodynamics of the car). I was told that the company felt the car's available LED lighting, combined with its split HID headlights offered a comprehensive enough package to illuminate the way forward (you can also find LEDs in the car's taillights).
As spruce as the Optima's early introduction may be its genuine quality is found in profile, where a long roofline teases at the capability of a seal just to end in a pleasingly upturned trunk top. The extents of the auto have been upgraded by an extended wheelbase (0.4 inches) and a more extensive track (1.2 creeps), and taken together they go far towards characterizing the Kia's effect as more befitting an extravagance auto than a day by day suburbanite. Whenever you add to an auto's wheelbase you're going to profit by a more roomy lodge, and the 2016 Kia Optima divvies up its newly discovered volume by dumping it unequivocally at the feet of those riding in the back seat. The Optima is in no way, shape or form an extensive auto, nor does it get a handle on bulky out and about, yet the back seat offers superb housing for its class. You need to look past the numbers to consider it, to be the Kia is actuality littler by-the-ruler than a few of its adversaries, yet with entryway boards and seatbacks cut out to improve the impression of space in two of the car's three measurements, investing energy in the back seat infers full-size solace.
As upscale as the 2016 Kia Optima's outside styling proposes the auto may be, it would be a stretch to push the car's general experience as anything drawing nearer sumptuous. Kia is to be lauded for the broad rundown of elements and solace equip that can be had with the auto, including things, for example, a warmed controlling wheel, an all encompassing sunroof, carefully knitted cowhide situates, and warmed and cooled front basins. Still, when inside the priciest Optima - the $36,615 SXL - the general experience doesn't generally transcend the entirety of its parts. Everything one could need in a completely stacked family auto is available and represented, yet the Kia's character never truly rises above "great" on its approach to "extraordinary" in the way you'd anticipate that a premium auto will do.
It's difficult to say whether this is truly an issue, as the Optima isn't focused at would-be extravagance customers. Drive the SXL consecutive with the passage level LX (MSRP $22,665) and you'll unquestionably see the distinction in inside accessories, however I'd be amazed on the off chance that you got yourself excessively enchanted by the pricier model's capable yet bland presentation and materials.One zone where the 2016 Kia Optima has nothing to apologize for is its Uvo infotainment framework. The touchscreen Uvo interface is accessible with route, satellite radio, and Bluetooth availability highlights, and not at all like a portion of the frameworks offered by its opponents it leaves vital undertakings, for example, altering the auto's atmosphere controls to a variety of catches and handles on the middle stack. It's a merry looking outline, and one that is moderately direct in standard use.
Sadly, it's conceivable to totally wipe away the Kia Optima's downloading so as to astound Uvo experience and introducing the new Android Auto highlight on your PDA. On the off chance that I wasn't lectured by pop-ups on my gadget each and every time I associated it to the auto's USB charge port, I likely would have never seen motivation to utilize this new framework, yet I offered into the bothering and set it up.
Unfortunately, it's possible to completely wipe away the Kia Optima's excellent Uvo experience by downloading and installing the new Android Auto feature on your smart phone. If I hadn't been harangued by pop-ups on my device every single time I connected it to the car's USB charge port, I probably would have never seen a reason to use this new system, but I gave in to the irritation and set it up.
Instant regret. As soon as the link was active, Android Auto took over the Uvo display, cutting me off from the navigation route I was following and making it impossible to access the satellite radio controls. In their place was a generic Android menu that offered me Google Maps, music streaming, and a few other phone features, none of which seemed to remember that I was in fact relying on the car's nav system to get me to the hotel after a long day of driving. Also, once connected in this manner the car automatically linked its Bluetooth system to my device, and then renders said phone completely useless for any purpose until I physically disconnected it. This meant that even from the passenger seat it was impossible for me to access any of my apps. Altogether it was a thoroughly negative experience with this new system, made worse by neither the car nor the Android Auto app asking my permission at any stage of the pop-up or phone-bricking process.
As spruce as the Optima's early introduction may be its genuine quality is found in profile, where a long roofline teases at the capability of a seal just to end in a pleasingly upturned trunk top. The extents of the auto have been upgraded by an extended wheelbase (0.4 inches) and a more extensive track (1.2 creeps), and taken together they go far towards characterizing the Kia's effect as more befitting an extravagance auto than a day by day suburbanite. Whenever you add to an auto's wheelbase you're going to profit by a more roomy lodge, and the 2016 Kia Optima divvies up its newly discovered volume by dumping it unequivocally at the feet of those riding in the back seat. The Optima is in no way, shape or form an extensive auto, nor does it get a handle on bulky out and about, yet the back seat offers superb housing for its class. You need to look past the numbers to consider it, to be the Kia is actuality littler by-the-ruler than a few of its adversaries, yet with entryway boards and seatbacks cut out to improve the impression of space in two of the car's three measurements, investing energy in the back seat infers full-size solace.
As upscale as the 2016 Kia Optima's outside styling proposes the auto may be, it would be a stretch to push the car's general experience as anything drawing nearer sumptuous. Kia is to be lauded for the broad rundown of elements and solace equip that can be had with the auto, including things, for example, a warmed controlling wheel, an all encompassing sunroof, carefully knitted cowhide situates, and warmed and cooled front basins. Still, when inside the priciest Optima - the $36,615 SXL - the general experience doesn't generally transcend the entirety of its parts. Everything one could need in a completely stacked family auto is available and represented, yet the Kia's character never truly rises above "great" on its approach to "extraordinary" in the way you'd anticipate that a premium auto will do.
It's difficult to say whether this is truly an issue, as the Optima isn't focused at would-be extravagance customers. Drive the SXL consecutive with the passage level LX (MSRP $22,665) and you'll unquestionably see the distinction in inside accessories, however I'd be amazed on the off chance that you got yourself excessively enchanted by the pricier model's capable yet bland presentation and materials.One zone where the 2016 Kia Optima has nothing to apologize for is its Uvo infotainment framework. The touchscreen Uvo interface is accessible with route, satellite radio, and Bluetooth availability highlights, and not at all like a portion of the frameworks offered by its opponents it leaves vital undertakings, for example, altering the auto's atmosphere controls to a variety of catches and handles on the middle stack. It's a merry looking outline, and one that is moderately direct in standard use.
Sadly, it's conceivable to totally wipe away the Kia Optima's downloading so as to astound Uvo experience and introducing the new Android Auto highlight on your PDA. On the off chance that I wasn't lectured by pop-ups on my gadget each and every time I associated it to the auto's USB charge port, I likely would have never seen motivation to utilize this new framework, yet I offered into the bothering and set it up.
You won't be carving any corners in the Kia Optima. However, I doubt that's why anyone was interested in the car in the first place, and the focus on what really matters to family buyers is refreshing in an industry that's often more interested in selling you what you wish you were driving rather than what you actually need.An interesting side effect of the 2016 Kia Optima's disconnect from marketing hoopla is the absence of all-wheel drive on the options sheet. AWD has become a critical tool for premium brands seeking to convince sedan shoppers that they should spend more money at ordering time, with the feature typically touted as being absolutely essential for anyone who might occasionally encounter snowy road conditions during the winter months.
Unfortunately, all-wheel drive doesn't just add a few extra dollars to the window sticker - it also tacks on extra weight and complexity that are frequently at odds with overall fuel efficiency. The mid-size sedan segment has been largely all-wheel drive agnostic, with only the Subarulegacy and the Ford Fusion making this feature available to those shopping for an affordable family ride. Here's hoping that the luxury AWD push doesn't turn too many planning department heads at Kia in the near future, because there's simply no need to increase fuel consumption and bloat the Optima's curb weight with technology whose benefits can be mostly replicated with a good set of winter tires. The 2016 Kia Optima has seen significant investment in its active safety features as compared to the generation of sedan that preceded it. A new driver's knee airbag up front helps prevent injuries resulting from impact with the dashboard, but there's flashier stuff to be found inside the Optima too: namely, an automated braking system tied in to a forward collision warning feature that can bring the car to a complete stop if traveling at 50-mph or less (with partial activation at speeds greater than that). It's tied in to the adaptive cruise control feature available on certain Optima models, which itself boasts the ability to start and stop in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Just like in 2015 the new Kia Optima also comes with a blind spot monitoring system, and this is joined by a fresh lane departure warning system that keeps an eye on the white and yellow lines on the road.
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