Kia Optima

How do you improve on an already-spectacular design? Damien O’carroll believes Kia has decided not to upset the balance with its new Optima.

When it come to cars, exterior styling is the one area where “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rarely applies when it comes to an all-new model. No matter how good a car looks, it is largely expected that a new-generation model will either evolve those looks, or throw it all out and go for a revolutionary change. After all, the one thing the customer really likes is when the neighbours know they have the newest version in their driveway. That is what makes the new Kia Optima so different; the fact that it looks very much the same. At first glance, the new Optima looks remarkably like the model it replaces. Even at second and even third glance for that matter. While the new Optima is slightly longer, wider and taller than the old car, this isn’t immediately apparent, and while the frontal design is slightly evolved, it looks more like a mild facelift than an all new model. But then, the last car was so damn good looking that it would genuinely have been difficult to see where Kia could have improved upon it. They have clearly decided the same thing. Called it “nuanced”, “subtle” or “mature and evolved” if you want to impress the neighbours. On the inside the differences are more apparent, with a completely redesigned interior that makes better use of space, as well as high quality materials. The seats are fantastically comfortable and supportive, while the dash is simple, elegant and well laid out. The new Kia Optima comes to New Zealand in two guises – the EX and the Limited – with only a single engine and transmission powering both. Kia New Zealand has decided to leave the Two-litre turbocharged petrol engine (that we get locally in the Hyundai) on the shelf in favour of a refreshed version of the company’s 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder unit. The engine now produces 138kw of power and 241Nm of torque, and will consume a combined