Kia Optima!!!!

[falcom]

I was just reading the following review on the Kia Optima:
http://www.caradvice.com.au/100315/kia-optima-review/

I cannot believe the progress Kia has made in the last couple of years. If someone told me two years ago I would be interested in buying a Kia I would have laughed at them.
The Optima would have to be one of the best looking Four door cars out there at the moment at a very good price.(It really makes our local offerings look dated in comparison)
I think that all other manufacturers should take notice for if Kia keeps improving at the same rate their sales will go through the roof.

[BECAUZ]

Seen a few in the flesh and they do look the goods. Wonder how it drives and performs.

[csv rulz]

Looks bloody nice, right up seems to be pretty positive. Would love to see an AWD V6 version.
It will be interesting to see how it competes head on with the likes of Mazda 6, Suzuki Kizashi, Subaru Liberty etc.

[Steve-LS2]

note: personal thoughts below are not because I am a Holden fan....


Front over hang quite big, front of car looks huge on some angles, bloody awful honey comb grille on the front (bastard to clean)
Wheels are terrible
Rear visibility looks small and cramped
What's with the picture of the car in the dash that never seems to move but looks like a hi-res colour screen and then the low budget stereo with the red mono display, completely ruins the interior, but what else should you expect for 36K?
The interior fit and finish looks good (maybe a little cramped, if you are claustrophobic steer clear)


Recommendations


Turbo Version
Better looking stereo
Different wheels

[Phizzle]

Gotta admit, was watching the tennis and an ad for one came on and I saw the side profile and thought that's not a bad looking car (except for the stupid wrap around brake lights!!) and seriously thought about cutting my wrists when the badge turned out to be a Kia, haha.

Good on them I say. Hyundai have come up leaps and bounds over the course of a decade, looks like Kia may well follow suit. Still doesn't change me wanting a new V8 ute this year though :eyes:

[COSMOS]

I was in traffic last week next to one - it was black with tinted windows. Very nice looking car on the road.

[duke5700]

Whats the go with the wheels?

[BECAUZ]

Whats the go with the wheels?

I like the wheels. They look aftermarket yet comeout stock. They'd look alright in 20's and slammed on there ass i reckon too, witha blower as well!

[The-V8-Power]

Seems quite odd that the Kia cars at the moment are currently better than the Hyundai cars especially since that Kia is meant to be the "Little brother" of the cooperation.
Seems to be an okay looking car from the outside just not to sure on that interior yet seems to be a bit mix and match.
Although can't really go wrong when buying a new car these days with a lot of value out there in the market.

[DukeZ]

lol at "looks like one of the better four dour cars on the market at the moment' there is plenty out there that look better than the old kia in my opinon

[Marco]

I think the idea is that Hyundai is supposed to make the more mature, sensible cars and Kia gets to do the more interesting and more youth targeted models (as far as the Hyundai corporate strategy goes).

Doesn't explain why Kia still sells the Carnival van, although I suppose that's youth-targeted in that it fits lots of kids :)

[bouka]

They are certainly now challenging the Japanese brands and in my opinion have nicer looking cars than Hyundai.

They have certainly progressed much more in a very short time than Holden and Fords local big cars, epsecially from a feature point of view.

They also make Holdens Korean cars look like what they are, rubbish.

[duke5700]

Doesn't explain why Kia still sells the Carnival van, although I suppose that's youth-targeted in that it fits lots of kids :)

I was thinking more like suits the 16yr old on P's from Queanbeyan with a tribe of kids all ready.:eyes:

[-GTS-]

note: personal thoughts below are not because I am a Holden fan....


Front over hang quite big, front of car looks huge on some angles, bloody awful honey comb grille on the front (bastard to clean)
Wheels are terrible
Rear visibility looks small and cramped
What's with the picture of the car in the dash that never seems to move but looks like a hi-res colour screen and then the low budget stereo with the red mono display, completely ruins the interior, but what else should you expect for 36K?
The interior fit and finish looks good (maybe a little cramped, if you are claustrophobic steer clear)

Recommendations


Turbo Version
Better looking stereo
Different wheels


There is truck loads of room in them and the stereo is far from low budget....

Have you actually been in one??

[VTV691]

To me it looks like they have ripped the Jaguar XFR model and changed it a bit...

here - REAR
http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Kia-Optima-Review-Australia12-625x466.jpg

http://image.europeancarweb.com/f/18942067+w750+st0/epcp_0908_03_z+2010_jaguar_xfr+rear_view.jpg

[Steve-LS2]

There is truck loads of room in them and the stereo is far from low budget....

Have you actually been in one??

No, nor do I have any intention of sitting in one, unless it is as a passenger.

Never said the stereo is low budget, read what I wrote.

It looks terrible, with its bright bold red lettering and detracts from what looks like a decent interior....

Also I'm 6'5" and weigh 120 kegs so by loads of room do you mean for a 'medium car' or could I comfortable fit into it and have good seating position (without being able to scratch my knee with my teeth)

[The-V8-Power]

Going on from Steve's point the overseas interior definately looks better than the one that will be on sale here. Although it looks like a busy interior either way with all those steering wheel buttons.

Overseas:
http://autocast.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2011-Kia-Optima-Dashboard.jpg

Local:
http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/KIA-Optima-Review-5-625x416.jpg

[XLR8 V8]

It looks terrible, with its bright bold red lettering and detracts from what looks like a decent interior....

With all the borrowed influences from other manufacturers on this car, maybe that was the part that Kia borrowed from Holden? :lol:

http://www.carshowroom.com.au/articlephoto/550/20100302102729527.jpg
http://www.itsnbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/bright_red_dash.jpg

Personally I quite like it. It looks very classy, especially at that pricepoint.

[Steve-LS2]

With all the borrowed influences from other manufacturers on this car, maybe that was the part that Kia borrowed from Holden? :lol:

I Certainly hope not, but this is probably why I think it looks awful, it certainly looks terrible in the VE dash, I have to deal with it daily!!


Personally I quite like it. It looks very classy, especially at that pricepoint.

Agreed, the interior is very classy, but the OS version looks very polished, why is it Oz gets the cheap ass version??

[XLR8 V8]

Agreed, the interior is very classy, but the OS version looks very polished, why is it Oz gets the cheap ass version??

I was referring more to the car as a whole looking classy for the pricepoint.
The overseas interior versus the local one is a hard one to judge though. I recall reading that locally we only get a single spec model, whereas overseas there are different spec levels ala Omega>>Berlina>>Calais.
I think our local one may be a mix of bits from those where we get the Calais spec main dash and exterior equipment, but the Omega/Berlina stereo.

[Steve-LS2]

I was referring more to the car as a whole looking classy for the pricepoint.
The overseas interior versus the local one is a hard one to judge though. I recall reading that locally we only get a single spec model, whereas overseas there are different spec levels ala Omega>>Berlina>>Calais.
I think our local one may be a mix of bits from those where we get the Calais spec main dash and exterior equipment, but the Omega/Berlina stereo.

Fair enough, it's probably a business decision on a 'see how it sells basis' but if it sells well will they introduce the different specs?

[csv rulz]

Fair enough, it's probably a business decision on a 'see how it sells basis' but if it sells well will they introduce the different specs?

Its a 'we cant build them quick enough to satisfy the yanks' decision according to the article

[ozzgti]

Going on from Steve's point the overseas interior definately looks better than the one that will be on sale here. Although it looks like a busy interior either way with all those steering wheel buttons.

Overseas:

Local:


I'd say the stereo will be updated when Kia introduce sat nav to the local cars. The o/s model looks to have an integrated display for stereo, sat nav and climate control with high quality graphics.
Agree the red looks out of place in the current cars.
Saw one for the first time on the weekend – really does look good in black. I'd definitely consider one to replace our old sedan, especially if they bring out the turbo model.

[Marco]

So the upshot of all this is that it looks like a Jag XF, has a very nice interior if you ignore the red-LED stereo, and is cheap.

Should sell by the boatload.

[CLUBRED]

204kw turbo in the range:

http://www.carpoint.com.au/reviews/2011/medium-passenger/kia/optima/kia-optima-turbo-24509

[Belzey]

I think they look really good - would I buy one? No simply because I would not want to say I drove a Kia ahahaha (yes that is ignorant of me and I don't care)..

[motomk]

On the front cover of the latest Wheels magazine is a picture of what they reckon the front of the VF commodore will look like.
Maybe I need glasses but the picture reminded me of a Kia Cerato Coupe!

[planetdavo]

It shouldn't be any real surprise the latest Kia's are good looking cars, as they spent a sh!tload poaching former Audi designer Peter Schreyer for the current look.

[VYBerlinaV8]

So the upshot of all this is that it looks like a Jag XF, has a very nice interior if you ignore the red-LED stereo, and is cheap.

Should sell by the boatload.

+1.

It's also worth remembering that there are plenty of people who also say "I'd never drive that it's a Holden hahaha"...

[XU1_VE6]

Great looking car on the road, as you'd expect cheap interior plastics and Australia getting basic non-navigation models. For the money the are good, but Hyundai owns the cheap car market in Australia........ Kia is the cheap+cheap market, its a shame as they make some good looking cars ala Koupe.

New kia rio is a much nicer drive than a korean barina any day.

[cashie]

Great looking car, well spec'ed too...
I agree that it really shows up the Holden small cars.
'bout the only thing I'm not sold on are the wheels...

[Jarhead]

There is definitely something to be said of Badge status.

I'm embarrassed to say that I would probably never get one simply because it's a Kia. I know that's shallow but that's the world I (and many others) live in.

If they could sell a 100% debadged version (and I mean every interior and exterior Kia badge removed) I might just consider it...:hide:

Seriously - what the Korean brands need to do is introduce a performance model to their line up. ATM they are far too conservative and their angle seems to be 'environment-first'. Cheap to service, cheap to run, good on the environment etc.

They need a hypo turbo AWD version that really takes it to the Japs/Europeans and develops some enthusiast following. They need to raise brand awareness in some form of motor sport and build some pedigree.

Think Honda/Toyota/Mazda/Subaru. All these brands sell reliable, economical and well built cars but their flagship models are all about performance and luxury.

[Ruger]

It would be great to own one in the warrenty period.... I personally dont think they will last any longer but time will tell :)

It takes more than good design and marketing people to make a good car.

[cashie]

Here's (http://www.caradvice.com.au/111241/hyundai-i45-vs-kia-optima-comparison-review/) a comparison with the Hyundai i45....
Sadly, like others here, if I was to buy one, I wouldn't have to ask myself, "is it a good car?", I would have to ask, "could I own/drive a Kia?"

[EfiJy]

I was just reading the following review on the Kia Optima:
http://www.caradvice.com.au/100315/kia-optima-review/

I cannot believe the progress Kia has made in the last couple of years. If someone told me two years ago I would be interested in buying a Kia I would have laughed at them.
The Optima would have to be one of the best looking Four door cars out there at the moment at a very good price.(It really makes our local offerings look dated in comparison)
I think that all other manufacturers should take notice for if Kia keeps improving at the same rate their sales will go through the roof.

Exactly my thoughts. It looks more expensive than it is and I quite like its looks. It makes a lot of cars look dated on our roads. Isn't it a similar car/platform to a Hyundai i45 or something (Hyundai does own Kia) - edit I just read the article, yes it is?

But I still wouldn't buy one. For me, Hyundai and Kia are just not my kind of thing. Not when there are other proven brands that offer similar specs/features for not much more money.

Still an impressive looking car despite my thoughts.

[planetdavo]

It looks more expensive than it is and I quite like its looks. It makes a lot of cars look dated on our roads.

Often cars that make a big visual statement upon release end up looking dated themselves as fashions change. Hyundai's current range definitely has this potential, as some models are very heavily stylised.
Certainly quite good looking NOW the Kia.

[Wozz]

looks good! good on em more variety for the buyer the better IMO.

[Martin_D]

It would be great to own one in the warrenty period.... I personally dont think they will last any longer but time will tell :)

Who cares, its got a proper 5 years warranty. Sell it after 4.99 years. Thats well long enough to own any car :)