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Surprisingly Luxurious Copley News Service Kia and luxury are two words I never expected to use in a sentence, but here it is. Kia's new Optima SE V-6 sedan is a startling move upscale - another word not commonly associated with this company.
There are now about 600 dealerships in every state but North Dakota. Kia's evolving attention to detail was noticeable in last year's release of the Rio, now the cheapest, er, least expensive compact sedan car on sale in the United States at $9,490. The Spectra hatchback ($12,000), also new last year, continues in the company's frugal philosophy. And later this year it will add a minivan. Luxury is a relative term, of course, and the Optima is premium class for Kia, but it's not the fuller expression of luxury that comes with a large Jaguar or Mercedes-Benz sedan. And probably never should be. Optima can be compared to a topline Nissan Altima or Mazda 626. Theoretically, it also competes with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, but I doubt the Optima will be much of a threat to those sales. This new chassis is a result of the Hyundai Automotive Group, which is the parent company for Hyundai and Kia. But don't think of Kia as a division. Both will remain separate and individual, even though for now they appear to have the same type of product lineup. Optima is based on the Hyundai Sonata, but it has some things Sonata doesn't, such as a Sportmatic transmission and the front seats from Hyundai's topline XG300 sedan. To spec out its new venture to the midsize sedan segment, the company stepped back and sized up the entry-lux competition. Optima could have ended up as decent as a 5-year-old Camry, but the Korean management apparently listened to the good counsel of its U.S. marketing staff.
Optima is offered in four models: LX or SE, with a standard 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual transmission, and LX V-6 or SE V-6, with a 170 hp V-6 and 4-speed automatic or 4-speed auto-shift Sportmatic on SE models. Safety features include front and seat-mounted side bags and 3-point belts at all seats. Prices start at $15,794 for the base LX and $18,094 for a base SE. The LX V-6 starts at $18,994 and includes a 4-speed automatic shifter. The automatic trans runs another $850. The SE V-6 test car with Sportmatic was fully loaded. The base price was $20,444, including $495 destination. The price as tested was $22,314, which included every factory option - mud flaps, leather trim and anti-lock brakes. Both engines are aluminum with double overhead cams and four-valves per cylinder and run on regular unleaded gas. The 149 hp, 2.4 liter 4-cylinder gets 21 mpg city and 28 highway with the manual or 20/37 with the automatic. The 170 hp, 2.5 liter SE V-6 gets 19/25 with the Sportmatic; a 5-speed is not offered. Horsepower from the V-6 is adequate but not overwhelming, but the engine stands tall and proud when pushed hard, sounding as determined as anything from the import competitors. Optima is a calculated mix of domestic, European and import premium-ness. And though there isn't much new ground covered, what is covered is smartly done. The styling is conservative but tasteful and less rounded the other Kias. Maybe it's got class, but it also has chrome, on the grille, deck, door handles and side. The tires are by Michelin on alloy wheels, and the brakes are four-wheel discs with ABS. There is remote locking, and the 6-speaker stereo with CD even has a power telescoping antenna. The interior is remarkably roomy, comparing in size with Camry and Accord, Kia insists. Headroom is accommodating at 39 inches, and front leg room is long at 43.3 inches. Even back seat leg room has depth at 36.6 inches. The driver's position is unhindered by swoopy angles. Visibility is open and uncomplicated, which helped make this test car simple to enjoy. Other nice features inside the Optima include an ignition on the instrument panel (not the steering column), backlighted gauges and an expansive center console with an open tray near a power port and even a notch to securely hold a cell phone. The center armrest also has a two-level storage bin and there are easy-to-reach map slots in the doors. Anybody can hang pricey options on a car or truck and call it a luxury-class vehicle, but without a solid chassis, the result is flimsy and unsatisfying. Optima has a firm, secure ride. It is not a sport sedan, but it be driven enthusiastically. The Sportmatic is a European influence -- unavailable with the Hyundai Sonata, or any vehicle from General Motors -- and adds interest and interaction to the driving experience, though it is not calibrated for high performance. The shift plate is set off with brushed aluminum as are the door sills with the Kia nameplate stamped in the center. The cabin is quiet on the road, but a little more soundproofing would step it up to Camry class. The doors fit with a reassuring thunk, though the front doors would clatter on closing when the windows were down. The front seats -- from Hyundai's topline XG300 sedan -- are full and supportive, even for tall occupants on extended drives. The back seat has a large center pull-down armrest with two cup holders and a storage tray, but it is better used for cups and storage than resting arms because there is no firm surface for support. Also lacking in back is overhead lighting. I'm not sure why Kia feels it necessary to reach into the premium category of midsize cars just as parent company Hyundai is doing the same thing, but the Optima is a worthy contender. It is sometimes hard to translate luxury or premium in a car, but Kia adds substance to the words.
Safety equipment -- Front and seat-mounted side air bags, 3-point belts at all seats, adjustable front headrests. Standard equipment -- Air conditioning, remote locking, power windows and locks, power and heated mirrors, 6-speaker 120-watt AM-FM-CD-cassette stereo with power antenna, tilt steering, 8-way power adjusted driver seat and 60/40 split folding seatback, rear window defroster, variable intermittent wipers, day/night rear-view mirror, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, driver seat lumbar support, adjustable front headrest with tilt, center console with padded armrest and 2-level storage, driver's footrest, fog lights, faux wood trim, adjustable rear headrests, rear seat armrest with storage and cup holders, front coin tray and front map lights, first-aid kit, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob.
PLUSES -- Sophisticated, stylish, well-built, quiet and responsive. Sportmatic transmission and front seats. MINUSES -- Clatter to window assembly when the front doors are slammed; no back reading lights; rear arm rest console is better for its cup holders and storage than for resting elbows; plasticky faux wood trim. News Index | Features Index |
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AutoWord Copyright© 2001 Copley News Service |
Not that Kia cars and trucks are bad. This South Korean automaker, now owned by Hyundai, has built a reputation on scrappy, beat-'em-up and throw-'em-away vehicles since it began its march westward across the United States in 1994.
It's not a Camry, but it's a whole lot less expensive and still a complete expression of "premium," with a little room to grow next year.