I just drove the all-new Kia Optima EX V6. It's technically a 2006.5, and let me first say that these annoying "half-year" designations always play havoc with our vehicle data categories and Web site display rules. Usually it's just the Germans who play these games, but apparently Kia wants to be like Volkswagen. Regardless of its year designation, the new Optima is, overall, an impressive effort. I can't sit in the cabin without thinking Honda Accord, which isn't a bad thing. The look and feel of the materials and controls is very Honda-like. There's a weightiness to the dials/switches and a richness to the textures and surfaces that some other car companies (cough-GM-cough) could learn from. The bright gauge cluster display is also more impressive than you'd expect from a $20,000 sedan. It's still not quite up to Honda standards in every area, but close. For instance, the center console is a very basic hard plastic. But, the texture and paint give it a higher quality look. You have to actually tap on it to confirm it's really just hard plastic. Those are the kind of subtleties that could go a long way in other cars (cough-Caliber-cough).
Driving dynamics are not quite up to Honda as well. The steering isn't as intuitive and the suspension allows for more wallow. But neither aspect is worrisome, particularly considering the target buyer for this segment. One Kia trick I have seen before is to use very low gearing and/or low RPM tuning to make their cars feel faster than they really are. The last version of the Sedona did this, and it made the van feel very punchy at low speeds and light throttle. The new Optima feels the same way, but in both cases the jig is up once you go past half throttle and get out of first gear. At that point the engine gets a little thrashy while simultaneously running out of steam. It's not that the car feels terribly underpowered, but if you've been tooling around at city speeds and then get on the freeway and try to pass someone, you might be surprised/disappointed.
Still, in terms of overall execution, particularly when you wrap price into the equation, the new Optima deserves to be on your shopping list in the family sedan segment.
By poorcruzer
on June 7, 2006
04:28 PM
Kia has taken monumental steps in build quality in such a small amount of time. If the Chinese do the same, say good-bye to G.M and Ford.
By crashtestdingo
on June 10, 2006
01:50 AM
Aren't non-integer model years prohibited as far as legal requirements are concerned? When VW did this in the past, I noticed that there were two models in the same model year, e.g. Jetta and New Jetta. The following model year, the model that was the Jetta was gone and the one that was the New Jetta was called simply the Jetta. So is this Optima formally named the New Optima? Furthermore, what legal requirements of model year 2007 cars does this Optima fail to meet?
By editor_karl
on June 12, 2006
02:45 PM
I wasn't aware of the legal ramifications of splitting up a single model year with two versions of a car. I just know how confusing it is to everyone (both on the consumer and the industry side). Sounds like yet another wrinkle that Volkswagen (and Kia) would be smart to just avoid by having one version of a model per year...