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ISSN 2423-0219<br />
42 <strong>Style</strong> | motoring<br />
Optimal Optima<br />
Korea’s Kia Optima battles away in the shrinking<br />
sedan market, as motoring expert Ross Kiddie writes.<br />
Elegance, style and performance don’t<br />
always go hand-in-hand in motor vehicle<br />
manufacture.<br />
But Korea’s Kia Corporation has<br />
certainly done that with the new midto-large<br />
sedan, the Optima. Well, when<br />
i say new, the Optima is mostly all new,<br />
it has a new chassis and it is bigger than<br />
before, but it looks little different, it still<br />
has the same sleek body style, and the<br />
latest iteration builds on those values i’ve<br />
just mentioned.<br />
The Optima reeks of flair and fashion,<br />
it sits low and it has a body style that<br />
oozes desire, that element is also carried<br />
over to the interior, the entire car has<br />
had a refresh with a renewed emphasis<br />
on quality trim and materials.<br />
there is little difference in price<br />
either, in fact it could well be cheaper<br />
than the outgoing model depending on<br />
specification.<br />
Limited specification comes in at<br />
$48,990; for that money the Optima<br />
comes well specced, major features<br />
include satellite navigation, radar cruise<br />
control, full leather trim with heated<br />
front seats with electric seat adjustment,<br />
heated steering wheel and paddle shift<br />
gearbox.<br />
it’s fair to say, though, the evaluation<br />
car was top spec, an EX variant sits<br />
$3200 below that and it would probably<br />
be my choice given it doesn’t miss out<br />
on much and it has cloth trim, which is<br />
my preference.<br />
all that aside, both variants get a<br />
2.4-litre petrol engine. it’s not a new<br />
unit, but i wouldn’t be at all surprised if<br />
it has had a bit of a makeover in terms<br />
of refinement, such is the quiet and<br />
sophisticated way the Optima drives –<br />
the engine is a major part of the hushed<br />
way in which the car travels. and as<br />
i eluded to in my introduction, the<br />
Optima isn’t short on performance.<br />
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