While mid-size sedans are more generally ignored and only crossovers these days, the family-car segment is however filled up with beautiful and economical choices such as the 2018 Kia Optima.Their fine outside is formulated by many powertrains including a workaday base motor, two turbocharged versions, and two cross options. Every product is available with the newest active-safety and infotainment features. In reality, the Kia undergoes several negatives—apart from having outstanding competitors that have virtually perfected the family-sedan formula. However, the 2018 Kia Optima is a nice-looking, capable vehicle that may meet many every one buying a popular sedan.
2018 Kia Optima Performance and Driving Impressions
Despite their many available powertrains and trim iterations, the 2018 Kia Optima is a capable, refined automobile that stands up reasonably well to energetic driving. It’s not for a passing fancy stage as the best in that class, though.
The 2018 Kia Optima is mechanically unchanged for 2018, therefore their performance and operating character are unaffected. Those that choose a sportier character must see the new-for-2018 Kia Stinger.
Every 2018 Kia Optima we have tried has sent appropriate zero-to-60-mph speed times, but nothing have wowed us. The SX could be the fastest Optima we have tried, and at 6.8 moments to 60 mph, it is higher than a complete next slower than the usual Ford Accord equipped with the same powertrain. It is a greater huge difference than you’d assume; whilst the Optima thinks peppy, the Accord thinks utterly fast. The Accord’s gain decreases when accelerating from 50 to 70 mph, nevertheless, and we felt the Optima SX’s performance was more than satisfactory in day-to-day operating, wherever several people need full-power speed from a ranking start.
2018 Kia Optima Interior
The 2018 Kia Optima inside can be very great, nonetheless it can be very spartan, and prices ramp up steeply for the better-outfitted trim levels. What’s more, the rear seat is minimal ample of this group of competitors.
For 2018, the Optima has the exact same inside layout and passenger space. Nevertheless, Kia has modified the conventional characteristics for some trim levels. The brand new LX 1.6T trim has a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and laminated glass for the front-door windows that decreases noise. The SX adds these improvements as standard, in addition to hot and ventilated top seats.
The 2018 Kia Optima thinks spacious and ample, especially in advance, wherever it’s much more legroom than competitors. Subjectively, there’s satisfactory spread-out room in the rear, too, even though record measure reveals that the Optima is less ample than their rivals. In reality, their rear legroom steps significantly less than in a next-size-down Hyundai Elantra.
2018 Kia Optima Exterior
The 2018 Kia Optima is fine and modest, but it’s overshadowed in the shop by the sexy and nice Kia Stinger. However, the Optima maintains their attractiveness over the selection, which can not be said for many competitors.
In planning for the moderately refreshed 2019 Optima, the 2018 edition holds around generally unchanged. The biggest update is the newest S product that includes a nice top bumper, rear spoiler, 17-inch wheels, and LED haze lights and taillights, and may be equipped having an optional Breathtaking Sunroof package. Also, the EX today wears single-projection headlights rather than the previous dual-projection products; the SX product adds a regular panoramic sunroof and LED haze lights.
2018 Kia Optima Engine
The 2018 Kia Optima’s selection contains a wide array of powertrains, and our ideas are as mixed because the purchase sheet. From the uninspired entry-level motor to the complex but fundamentally unsatisfying cross powertrains to the pair of zippy turbo fours, there’s much to like and a little to protest about.
The 2018 Kia Optima holds the exact same powertrains into 2018. While Kia has released that the sedan will utilize the same gas motors and automated attacks on the moderately refreshed 2019 product, it hasn’t disclosed any powertrain changes for the cross or plug-in cross as of this writing.
The naturally aspirated 2.4-liter motor and six-speed automated indication found in the Optima’s LX and EX trims make-up a workaday powertrain, rapid enough but often gradual to react to inputs and a little coarse when coaxed into their upper ranges. We much like the easier, clearer, and quicker mixture of the turbocharged 1.6-liter four and the seven-speed dual-clutch automated indication that represents the second rung in the Optima’s powertrain ladder. The range-topping turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder is sophisticated and pleasing but less effective and significantly slower from zero to 60 mph than their primary competitors.
