Kia Optima GT 2017 new car review
The Optima has always been one of the sharpest looking mid-sized cars - and now it has a new dose of power.
The Kia Optima was the first car developed for the Korean brand by Peter Schreyer, the former Audi designer who led Kia and is doing all of the Hyundai Group’s design. It has always been one of the sharpest looking mid-sized cars - and now it has a new dose of power.
Kia New Zealand launched a new range-topping GT model to head the Optima line-up, which drops the standard 2.4-litre engine for a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit. It is meant to be a sports option, but is it?
Inside and out
The Optima was already a handsome car. Its Kia-signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille gives it a classy modern look, and the active LED headlights look impressive. It has a raked rear roofline - looking almost like a lift back - that works well with the overall sporty theme.
The GT differs from the standard Optima through a bolder, more aggressive front bumper design, black high gloss side sills, a rear air diffuser with integrated dual tailpipes, red brake assemblies, and special GT badging.
The GT is fitted with great-looking 18-inch alloy wheels, shod with Sports-focussed Michelin Pilot tyres.
A lot of attention has been given to quality materials and work inside the Optima. It is roomy front and rear, and the boot is huge at 510-litres. The GT model is enhanced with leather seats with red stitching. The front row is electrically adjustable and gets both heating and ventilation cooling. The GT logo is stitched into the back of the seats.
A unique sports steering wheel features a flat bottom and a GT logo. There are also paddle shifters for the transmission.
Infotainment comes courtesy of an 8-inch infotainment screen and a thumping Harman Karson audio system. The infotainment system features satellite navigation with live traffic - but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
A nice touch for those with late model phones is a wireless charging pad, meeting the Qi standard used by Samsung and other brands.
There is a panoramic sunroof that opens up the black interior, but it does eat a little into headroom.
On the road
The fundamental difference between the GT and other Optimas is the 2-litre turbocharged engine. It features a high-efficiency twin-scroll turbocharger and produces 180kW and 350Nm of torque.
Power is channelled through a six-speed automatic transmission. It's hard to channel that much power through the front wheels, and the Optima’s control system feels like it dulls output at slow speeds a little to keep things tidy. A proper limited-slip differential would do the job better, but it is reasonably effective.
The Optima GT can sprint to 100km in 7.4-seconds. There are high-performance dampers fitted, while the GT gets a unique rack-mounted power steering system the company claims provides greater steering feel and quicker, more linear responses to driver inputs, particularly around the centre.
There is also a drive select mode that can change steering weight and throttle response.
The Optima certainly feels sporty but is better as a rapid cruiser. It still feels like a big, solid sedan.
Safety
The Optima is rated five-stars for safety by ANCAP. It has an impressive level of intelligent safety features. Onboard are adaptive cruise control, a lane-keeping system, high beam assist, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.
Cost of ownership
The GT costs $53,990, a relatively small $5000 premium over the Limited model.
Surprisingly, the additional 42kW of power comes at a small penalty over the standard models on fuel economy. At 8.5-litres per 100km on a combined cycle, it uses just 0.2-litres extra fuel.
Kia offers an impressive five-year warranty and roadside assistance package.
How is it priced in comparison to competitors? The very similar Ford Mondeo Titanium is $53,690, and the Hyundai Sonata Elite turbo, which shares the Kia’s platform and engine, is $55,990.
Overall
The Kia Optima GT may not be truly sporty, but it is a very quick and comfortable executive sedan. Not only does it give the brand a premium model in the medium segment, but it could make for an appealing option for buyers moving away from large six-cylinder Australian-built sedans.
Note: This was reviewed as a new vehicle
Details
$53,990
2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, 180kW and 350Nm
Six-speed automatic
Premium
8.5 litres per 100km
700kg/1400kg
10.9 metres
5 stars
5 years
After 12 months or at 15,000km
Full-sized alloy wheel
4855mm
1860mm
1465mm
1575kg
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