Is this the world’s best luxury car for the money?
Kia’s all-new flagship saloon, the Optima, is the company’s latest model and goes on sale in the UK from 1st February. It brings with it fantastic design, high levels of standard specification and low running costs - with prices from just £19,595 on-the-road.
Optima has proven to be a global success since day one, when it became Korea’s top-selling car within a month of going on sale recently – the first Kia to reach this position. It is much in demand already around the world – especially in the USA – so much so that Kia has had to increase its build slots just to stay on track. The car’s looks alone will ensure sales in the UK exceed expectation – especially for a large car. Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer, likens the car’s clean, stylish and uncomplicated cut to that of a fine Italian suit.
Optima has also been configured to appeal to Business Users who mainly make up the vast majority of D-segment within the UK. The car will be sold only with the new 134bhp version of Kia’s efficient 1.7-litre CRDi power unit and each of the four specifications contain everything for the family man or woman, the caravanner and especially the Business User.
The arrival of the Optima means that for the first time, Kia has a seriously competitive car in all the key sectors for the UK’s fleet and leasing industry – Picanto, Rio, Cee’d and now Optima. Three of those cars are all-new models introduced within the last eight months.
Optima features many options never previously attainable on a Kia, including a high-end Infinity audio system, delivering 550W of clear sound through 12 speakers in eight cabin locations. As well as an optional six-speed automatic transmission (that’s among the most advanced currently), Optima also has self-parking, heated and cool-ventilated seats, cornering lights, panoramic sunroof, reverse parking camera and an automatic cabin defogging system available.
Sold in the UK with Kia’s familiar 1, 2 and 3 trim grades - and all come with standard features such as Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, alloy wheels, cruise control and a speed limiter, air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, leather steering wheel with mounted audio controls and, all-round electric windows and electric folding mirrors.
In addition to this, there is a wealth of specifications to choose from and a trip to the showroom before its launch will help you select what grade is right for you and your family. Luxuries include solar glass with auto defogging options, automatically activated wipers, an eight-way adjustable powered driver’s seat with memory setting, heated front seats, dual zone auto air conditioning in place of air conditioning, reverse parking camera, iPod connectivity, a premium instrument cluster and paddle shifts on automatic models. On higher specification ‘2 Luxe’ versions, expect grey leather/cloth seats, panoramic sunroof with electric blinds, 18-inch alloy wheels, black front calipers, black and chrome radiator grille surround, sculptured side sill mouldings and a reversing camera in the rear-view mirror. The Optima ‘2 Tech’ is equipped with black leather and cloth upholstery, a 12-speaker premium Infinity audio system – including a centre speaker, an external 11-channel amplifier and an eight inch subwoofer, 17-inch alloy wheels and a 7-inch touch-screen satellite navigation system with European mapping and an integrated reversing camera. If you think all this sounds impressive, they’ve not finished!
Deep breath… The next level adds a panoramic sunroof, auto light control, Infinity audio system and touch-screen satellite navigation with integrated reversing camera. Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling, full black leather upholstery, a cool-ventilated driver’s front seat, heated rear seats and an automatic parallel parking assist system are unique to the 3. Smart key with start/stop ignition button, stainless steel door scuff plates with front illumination, mood lighting and alloy pedals complete the top-of-the-range version’s high specification count.
As with all Kias, Optima comes with the company’s unique 7 Year or 100,000-mile warranty, subject to conditions and is fully transferable to the car’s subsequent owners.
Kia Pages
Added: 22 January 2012
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