There’s Something Appealing About the 2015 Kia Optima

Even though most of the commercials for the Optima are very corny at best the message Kia is trying to send is crystal clear, the Optima is a well-designed, easy to enjoy sedan that has a great deal of technology and equipment for any driver to enjoy. With a price that is easy to enjoy and the obvious handiwork of some German engineering Kia unleashed the Optima for 2015 with pride and confidence this will continue to be a sedan that sets a high bar for others to try and achieve. Add the 10 year/100,000 mile warranty on top of this great car and the competition just doesn’t stand a chance.

The Optima shows up giving owners the best of both worlds; a powerful engine as well as a roomy and comfortable cabin to enjoy. The Optima is not a typical looking family sedan and even though it is great for a small family offers owners the joy of a truly great looking vehicle. Added to the Optima for 2015 is the move of the cruise control buttons to the right side of the steering wheel, spoke and acoustic laminated windshield glass has been installed on all models except the LX trim, and the UVO2 telematics system has been upgraded to add parenting features such as speed alerts, curfew reminders and Geo Fencing.

Driving the Optima offers a feeling that makes drivers wonder if they have stepped into a high performance car rather than a reasonably priced family sedan. Equipped with a very well-tuned suspension that soaks up the road, and a highly responsive steering, the Optima handles curves and turns with a crisp professionalism that is rarely seen in a family sedan. The cabin is extremely quiet due to the awesome noise cancelling technology onboard and dense insulation that keeps occupants listening to their choice of musical selections and not the road noises.

Three engine selections can be made for the Optima allowing owners to choose the Optima that suits them best. The first offered on the base model comes in the form of a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that offers 192 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque. All three engines are mated to the same transmission which is a six-speed Sportronic automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode. For the base engine this powertrain comes in with a fuel efficiency of 23 city/34 hwy mpg making it powerful and fuel efficient.

The second and most powerful engine in the lineup is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that carries 274 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine when mated to the transmission can achieve fuel efficiency numbers of 20 city/31 hwy mpg making this one of the most powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines on the planet.

The third option is the hybrid Optima which is powered by a 2.4-liter hybrid inline four-cylinder engine plus an electric motor/generator. This pairing brings in 166 horsepower and 154 lb.-ft. of torque for the gas engine and 40 additional horsepower and 152 lb.-ft. of torque from the electric motor. The fuel efficiency of the powertrain for this hybrid comes in at 36 city/40 hwy to make this the most fuel efficient Optima in the lineup.

Inside the cabin of the Optima is filled with excellent features to enjoy including a moonroof and heated and cooled seats. The interior is covered in very nice materials that are comfortable and easy to enjoy as well as soft materials across the dashboard, steering wheel and door panels. There is plenty of room for the family to enjoy the ride from every seat inside the Optima as well allowing for a comfortable and roomy ride all around.

The front end of the Optima gives a unique and sci-fi movie like appearance with a very slim grill and raked back headlights that all come sharply together at the front of the car. The hood easily sweeps back to give a very sporty angle into the roofline which transitions very easily to the back of the car. A few very nice trim features are added to the exterior to give a feeling of a bit of luxury such as chrome door handle inserts and heated mirrors.   The final appearance feature comes in the form of the 16-inch multi-spoked wheels that are very stylish and easy to enjoy standing still or while heading down the road.

The standard equipment offered for the Optima includes Bluetooth connectivity, iPod/USB audio connectivity, steering wheel mounted audio controls, heated side mirrors, fog lights, a tilt/telescoping steering column, a six-way power driver’s seat, a cooling glovebox, six airbags, electronic stability control and 16-inch steel wheels. This makes the Optima even at the base model a very well-equipped sedan as daily commuter car, weekend cruiser or family sedan.

As for optional equipment, the Optima comes to play with a very long list to choose from. This list includes a panoramic moonroof, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, Nappa leather seating, an eight-speaker Infinity sound system, HID headlights, LED fog lights, a touch-screen navigation system, push-button starting with Smart Key, the UVO2 infotainment system which is voice-activated, blind spot detection, a rearview camera, a sport tuned suspension, aggressive styling cues, 17-inch wheels and the EcoMinder LCD panel to show when the car is achieving the maximum fuel efficiency. Adding most or all of these features can turn the Optima into a very close to luxury vehicle and offer plenty of great equipment for drivers and passengers to enjoy.

As one of the most affordable sedans the Optima comes in with a starting base price around $22,500 that can reach well past $38,000 when all the option boxes are checked off. For the hybrid model the opening price point comes in around $30,000 which is a great price for a car that avoids the gas pump on a regular basis. The 2015 Kia Optima is a fun and practical family sedan that comes in a very sporty package for anyone to enjoy.