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The 2016 Kia Optima that is represented as “all-new”, uses mostly carryover powertrains and looks almost identical to the Optima it replaces. Why each successive redesigned Kia model is always a quantum leap over its predecessor?!
The outgoing Optima took the Korean company into the big leagues of the midsize sedan segment for the first time, as in 2012, the Optima became the first Kia to sell more than 150,000 vehicles annually in the U.S., and it has maintained that sales pace since then. So the automaker decided to play it safe and simply to improve the model that already brought success.
The new Kia pulls off a convincing impression of a near-luxury sport sedan and has an ambitious price of $36,615, the front-wheel-drive SXL costs a few thousand dollars more than loaded V-6 versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, and seems to set its sights on premium cars like the Acura TLX and Buick Regal rather than mainstream family sedans.
The cleanly styled interior also looks and feels worthy of the price tag. Sharp-looking gauges are easy to read, the plastics are high quality, and the quilted Nappa leather adorning the seats is both attractive and plush. Across the rest of the lineup, though, the 2016 Kia Optima remains a fashionable, interesting car that doesn’t compromise functionality for its looks. Kia might not have made a big jump forward with the 2016 Optima, but it didn’t need to. In this case, taking the safe route was the right choice.
