WASHINGTON — The midsize sedan class is dominated mostly by Honda and Toyota so how do you stand out? Kia took the more-for-less money approach. Kia offers a choice of a base 192hp four-cylinder or a 274hp turbo engine that should have no problem keeping up with traffic.
Lately, Kia has been known for offering a lot of bang for the buck and the 2015 Kia Optima might be even more of a bargain this year. This is the last year for the current Optima, as a redesigned model will come along for the 2016 model year. The future Optima doesn’t look drastically different than the current one and some money can be saved while dealers make room for the upcoming model.
The 2015 Kia Optima has three trim levels for the base engine and two trim levels for the turbo charged engine. Prices start under $22,000 and if you want a fully loaded limited model with the turbo engine, the price pushes to $36,000. I drove the loaded SX model with the base four-cylinder engine priced around $31,300. With NAV, a rearview camera, plus heated and cooled front seats and even heated rear seats, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
The interior includes high quality materials and comfortable leather seats. However, a few of my passengers said the seat back hit them in a strange spot, so maybe an extended drive is in order. I found the seats comfortable and the cooled front seats are perfect for a hot day. The dual zone climate lets the driver and passenger coexist on longer trips. The rear seat vents help backseat passengers with air. Taller riders might find a lack of headroom but 5 foot 8 fit is okay in the back. The leather steering wheel feels good in the hands, but again I always turn the volume down or up or changed the station with strangely placed controls on the steering wheel.
The outside looks good even after a few years on the market it tends to stand out and look like a car that costs more than it does. There are some curves to the body and a few side vents on the front fenders that help break up the size of the sedan. The rear end styling stands out with swooping rear meeting a tall trunk almost giving a hatchback look from the side view. Large 18-inch wheels look good on the Optima and help beef up the car’s appearance.
Driving the Optima was pleasant and fine. The base 192hp seemed to do a fine job. I like power so I would have been happier with the turbo engine but most people won’t notice or need the extra power. It does a decent job of soaking up bumps and providing a quiet place to be. It might not be a sportier handler but it does okay for a midsize sedan and hauling the family around. Rearview might not be the best but the rearview camera and backup warning system do a good job of helping. The fuel mileage might not be top in its class, but I did manage 27.2mpg over a week of mixed driving and that’s what the sticker said I should get.
The Kia Optima SX is a solid choice for midsize sedan buyers who want a lot of features but don’t want to break the bank doing it and get a 10-year warranty. With a nice interior and a decent price, the 2015 Optima could be a bargain buy of the year.
