When the current Kia Optima launched in 2010, its gorgeous styling was, frankly, a little stunning. Conceived and executed at Kia's design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, the Optima helped launch the brand as a major aesthetic force. With its subtle wedge shape, its clean and discreet application of the corporate "tiger-nose" grille, and excellently executed interior, Kia's mid-size sedan put the established segment players on notice. That it was good to drive was almost a bonus.
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| 2014 Kia Optima EU-Version |
Now comes time for the update, with the 2014 model year bringing freshened styling and a revised equipment roster. While the body shell remains unchanged, Kia has replaced the front fascia with a more playful and more futuristic unit, which—depending on the selected trim level—incorporates regular or LED fog lights that crib their pod-like look from the European Pro_cee’d GT. The nonfunctional fender vents receive a pronounced chrome wing, the LED taillights are updated, and the rear diffuser and trunk have been re-shaped. While the car is still quite handsome overall, the new detailing somewhat lacks cohesion with the rest of the design. It’s an odd hiccup from a company quickly becoming synonymous with great styling.
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| 2014 Kia Optima EU-Version Interior |
The Optima's interior now includes a 4.3-inch TFT screen in the instrument panel and a newly optional eight-inch navigation and telematics screen. Occupants sit on redesigned seats, and a new optional blind-spot detection system incorporates rear cross-traffic alert. One more feature available only on the sporty Optima SX: a drive-mode selector, which sharpens the transmission's responses and allows the driver to toggle the power-assist levels of the steering.
That's it, as far as changes for the 2014 model year go. The trim levels remain identical: entry-level LX, which packs 16-inch alloys, fog lights, tinted glass, and a dual exhaust; mid-level EX, adding leather seats, 17-inch alloys, and a power driver's seat; the upscale SX, which comes with 18-inch alloys and more aggressive fascias; and the top-of-the-line SX Limited, complete with chrome wheels, Nappa leather seats, an electric park brake, and LED fog lights.
The engine portfolio also carries over. The entry-level powerplant is a 2.4-liter gasoline direct-injection engine with 200 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. On the SX, there is an optional 2.0-liter, direct-injected turbo with 274 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. Kia also offers the Optima hybrid, which was updated for 2013 with more torque and additional options. Its 2.4-liter four and electric motor deliver a combined output of 206 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. All powertrain options come with a six-speed torque-converter automatic.
The face lift will help the Optima continue to woo buyers into Kia showrooms until an all-new successor arrives in another two to three years. With the new, larger Cadenza going on sale soon, the Optima will no longer be Kia's flagship model in the U.S.—but it will continue to be the brand’s standard bearer for style.
2014 Kia Optima EU-Version
Reviewed by BlogCarShow
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5
