Kia’s good-looking Optima SW estate will go the distance in Europe

Aside from the mild aberration that is the hybrid Niro, which we reviewed recently, the majority of cars in the Kia model line-up are good.

Sun, 23 Apr, 2017 - 01:00

Declan Colley

From the supermini Picanto through the new small family car, the Rio, and on up to the workmanlike Optima and the hugely successful SUVs, the Sorento and the Sportage, the company has a very complete and very sellable range.

One of the very best of them is the Optima SW estate.

As an example of an estate, the Optima SW is an excellent buying proposition and — which is not always the case with a very profitable car — is a very decent thing to drive and own.

As a stylish looker, the Optima SW does stand out from the pack with some of chief designer Peter Schreyer’s neatest touches.

This is hardly a surprise. The car is aimed at maximising sales in Europe and is designed to appeal to drivers there.

Kia’s ambitions are also reflected in the pricing and the specification levels of the Optima SW, which is on sale for less than €30,000 and in only one standard.

Kit includes sat navigation, 18” alloys, android auto and dual zone air conditioning.

While there are a lot of positives about this car, such as its practicality, roominess, comfort and sharp looks, if Kia had tried just a tiny bit harder, then they might have had a five-star contender on their hands.

The two main bugbears are the well-travelled turbodiesel engine and the woolly handling and ride.

The engine is the 1.7 CRDi unit that has propelled many of the Kia and Hyundai mid-range cars and SUVs for some time now, but the thing is that it is the only choice available.

On the plus side, the engine does output some 140 bhp, but is still very tax- and consumption-friendly (€200 p.a. and 4.4 l/100 km claimed), because of its low emissions.

However, with a 10.5 second 0-100 kph time, it is not exactly Usain Bolt out of the blocks, and while the top speed is a decent 200 kph, it might take a while getting there.

On the handling front, the Optima can be treated roughly, but the ride is only ordinary and every road ripple transmits itself through the cabin.

The steering is vague rather than sharp and road noise from the tyres is constant.

The car’s metier is long-distance cruiser and if you’re going from Cork to Belfast, or such, on a regular basis, then it will do the job extremely competently.

The Optima SW is aimed at drivers who are not too bothered about sharpness of drive or feel, but who are more interested in longevity, reliability, cost-effectiveness and practicality, all of which they should get in spades.

I’ve already alluded to the level of spec for the car and the part-leather upholstery and the leather multi-function steering wheel do add class, while the auto lights and wipers add practicality and ease-of-use.

The seven-year warranty also throws in peace of mind.

This car is truly close to being really, really good, but it is only good, when, with a little fine-tuning and a broader choice of powerplants, it might have scored much higher on the appeal front.

Colley’s verdict