Kia Motors->ke41 represents the truest form of the American dream. Long ago in 1992, Kia immigrated into the U.S. and brought with it little more than the proverbial change in its pocket. The Korean automaker had ambitious dreams of striking it big and making a name for itself within the free 50 states that span the North American continent. Ambition and tenacity would come in handy as the young automaker rolled out products that were less than popular with buyers used to elbow room and reliability.

However, as time marched on, the young automaker grew up. It began making vehicles the car-buying public actually took interest in. Sales began to grow, as did the level of talent within the design and engineering teams. Improved looks and better quality interiors soon started finding their way into Kia’s model lineup, improving year over year. Reliability grew as well, netting some notable awards that further assured potential customers. Soon, Kia Motors and its sister company Hyundai->ke201, found themselves unofficially considered a respectable automaker in the land of dreams.

The twins aren’t resting on their laurels, though, as both are rolling out premium products that evenly compete against the vehicular industry stalwarts like Ford->ke31, Toyota->ke88, Honda->ke34, and even Lexus->ke47. That brings us to Kia’s latest and greatest product, the 2014 Optima.

The new Optima->ke1325 carries the torch by sporting a slight refresh and reworked interior over the outgoing 2013 model – one that enjoyed incredible sales of over 150,000 units last year alone. Without messing with success, Kia has moved the Optima into the new year with extra levels of refinement and class – something never associated with the automaker just 15 years prior.

Updated 5/15/2014: Kia has announced that the 2015 Optima will feature a few changes to make things a little easier inside the cabin. These changes include the moving of the cruise control buttons into an easier-to-access part of the right spoke of the steering wheel, new brushed bezels on the SX model's D-shaped steering wheel and white contrast stitching in the SX trim. Additionally, the LX model has optional black cloth upholstery. The biggest change, however, is the addition of the next-generation UVO system as an option on the EX, and SX trims -- the SX Limited gets the UVO system as standard. There are also a few color changes and an upgraded windshield on all trim levels.

Click past the jump for all the info on the 2014 Kia Optima

2014 - 2015 Kia Optima

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 - 2015 Kia Optima
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 192 @ 6300
  • Torque: 181 @ 4250
  • Transmission: 6-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The 2014 refresh includes mostly cosmetic changes to the exterior and interior of the car. Outside, the front and rear fascias get most of the work, while the doors and roofline stay unchanged. Up front, new LED lighting above the headlights and quad-shaped fog lights look sharper and more refined. Kia’s “tiger nose” grille is prominently displayed with piano-black trim flowing to either side and into the clear headlight covers.

Moving rearward, new 16-, 17-, and 18-inch alloy wheels (no steel wheels and hub caps here!) are optional and coordinate to trim levels. Standard heated exterior mirrors feature turn signal repeaters and chrome accents line the door handles. Up above, a glass roof brings light into the cabin while adding a classy look with the continued piano-black trim style. Out back, even more LED lighting is found. A revised taillight design further separates the 2014 from previous model years. Down low, chrome-tipped dual exhausts and faux center air diffuser lend a sportier look to the four-door sedan.

Dimensions:

Wheelbase

110.0 in.

Track (front/rear)

63.0 in./62.6 in.

Length

190.7 in.

Width

72.1 in.

Height

57.9 in.

Ground clearance

5.12 in.


2014 Kia Optima - Standard Exterior Features:

-16" tires with alloy wheels

- Dual exhaust with chrome tip

- Outside heated mirrors with turn-signal indicators

- Solar glass

- Body-color side molding

- Chrome/Body-color exterior door handles

- Projection-style headlights

- Front fog lights

Changes for 2015

- Smokey Blue Metallic, Sparkling Silver and Platinum Graphite colors added

- Bright Silver and Metal Bronze eliminated

- Acoustic laminated windshield standard on all models (only on SX Limited in 2014)

Interior

Kia reworked the interior to be more technically advanced, more inviting, and more comfortable over long distances. Helping achieve those goals, are all-new seats that out-class the outgoing units. Beautiful quilted Nappa leather is optional, and when ordered, continues onto the door panels for a really nice touch. The driver will notice a new steering wheel design that looks cleaner and more refined. Two new info screens make their home on the dashboard – one within the center stack, the other between the analog gauges within the instrument cluster. The latter is a 4.3-inch TFT display designed to inform the driver of critical information, while the optional 8-inch center-stack touch screen hosts the navigation and audio features. Thankfully, Kia left real knobs to control the most common functions.

The Optima offers an eight-speaker Infinity sound system, HD Radio with SiriusXM, SiriusXMTraffic and UVO eServices. Bluetooth and USB auxiliary inputs are present as well. Active safety features integrated into the infotainment system include Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and rear parking sensors.

Rearward, backseat passengers get the same generous legroom as before, along with the optional quilted leather and standard folding center armrest. The rear seatbacks also fold, making hauling long items from the home improvement store a cinch.

Overall, we like the cabin’s new look and expect it to feel much better too. Fit and finish has continually gotten better over the years with Kia, and we don’t expect anything less with this model’s mid-life refresh.

Dimensions:

Dimensions:

40.0 in. / 37.6 in.

Headroom (front/rear)

57.3 in. / 55.7 in.

Shoulder room (front/rear)

45.5 in. / 34.7 in.

Legroom (front/rear)

54.7 in. / 54.5 in.

Hip room (front/rear)

117.6 cu. ft.

Interior volume

15.4 cu. ft.


Cargo volume (rear seat up)

- AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM audio system

- Six speakers with door-mounted tweeters

- USB/auxiliary input jacks

- Bluetooth wireless technology

- Steering-wheel-mounted audio control buttons

- Tilt and telescopic steering column

- Manual air conditioning

- Power windows with driver's one-touch auto up and down

- Power door locks with remote keyless entry

- Dual map lights with sunglasses holder

- Cloth seat trim

- 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar

- 60/40 split-folding rear seats

Changes for 2015

- Steering wheel-mounted cruise buttons moved to an easier-to-reach position

- Black cloth option on LX model

- Brushed steering wheel bezels on SX

- White contrast stitching on SX model

- Next-generation UVO system added

Drivetrain

Beneath all the changes within the cabin and exterior lies two available carryover powertrains: a 2.4-liter in-line-four and a 2.0-liter turbocharged in-line-four. Both feature Kia’s GDI, or gasoline direct injection system and are members of the Theta II powertrain family.

The standard 2.4-liter delivers 192 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque – enough to send the 3,500-pound car from naught to 60 in roughly 8.5 seconds. The smaller-displacement, yet substantially more powerful 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine makes 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The turbo model requires only 7.2 seconds to reach 60. There's no doubt which is the driver’s choice.

Power is routed to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with either engine. The transmission features what Kia calls “Sportmatic clutchless shifting.” New for 2014 and only available in SX trim, (the sportier one) is Drive Mode Select, which adjusts the shifts points and steering weigh. We’ve yet to try it, so we’ll hold our opinions until then.

Engine Type

2.4L, inline 4-cylinder, aluminum block and head

Valve gear

DOHC, four valves/cylinder

Horsepower

192 HP @ 6,300 rpm

Torque

181 LB-FT @ 4,250

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)

Transmission

6-speed manual; Electronically controlled 6-speed automatic Overdrive with Sportmatic

Automatic transmission, city/highway (mpg)

24/34


Suspension and Brakes

The Optima sits on a unibody platform with an independent suspension set-up front and rear. MacPherson struts and a thick anti-roll bar keep the nose planted while a mulit-link setup with coil springs are out back. A hydraulic, power-assisted rack and pinion steering system relays driver inputs to the tarmac while 11.8-inch vented rotors up front and 11.2-inch solid discs bring the Optima to a stop. Red brake calipers are a classy addition to the Limited trim.

The Optima enjoys premium rolling stock coming in three sizes: 205/65R16 on the LX trim, 215/55R17 on the EX trim, and 225/45R18 on the SX and Limited trim levels. Thankfully, no matter what trim level you order, the Optima comes will alloy wheels. No hubcaps or black steel wheels in sight.

Body type

Steel unibody

Front suspension

Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar

Rear suspension

Independent, multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar

Steering type

Rack and pinion, hydraulic power-assisted

Turning circle, curb-to-curb

35.8 ft.

Brakes - Type

Hydraulic, vacuum power-assisted

Brakes - front/rear

11.8 in. vent. discs/11.2 in. solid discs


Prices

Kia seems to have done their homework in this department. Even with all the premium and upscale accoutrements, the Optima has a fairly low starting price of $21,500. Moving past the LX trim into the volume-leading EX trim, prices only jump to $23,900. The sporty SX trim with the base 2.4-liter engine starts at $25,250.

Getting into the SX turbo models is where the price starts to increase, no not wildly out of hand. The base asking price for a SX Turbo is $27,200. Adding the Limited package to that shoots the price to a large $36,300.

In some respects, the $36k is a reasonable price to pay considering all the features and refinement the 2014 Optima offers. However, it’s $36k for a Kia. Allow me to elaborate... The features, strong engine, and refinement may be worth the big bucks, but what’s missing is the clout, the brand-respect that other segment competitors possess. The catch, though, is that Kia is on its way up – now fighting for brand-respect in the up-market segment. It’s reminiscent of Lexus->ke47’ early years.

Model

Description

Price

Optima LX

2.4L GDI I-4 - 6 A/T

$21,500.00

Optima EX

2.4L GDI I-4 - 6 A/T

$23,900.00

Optima SX

2.4L GDI I-4 - 6 A/T

$25,250.00

Optima SX Turbo

2.0L T-GDI I-4 - 6 A/T

$27,200.00

Optima SXL Turbo

2.0L T-GDI I-4 - 6 A/T

$36,300.00


Factory installed options

Price

Technology Package

$2,000

Premium Package

$3,150

Premium Technology Package

$5,150

Convenience Plus Package

$1,400

Snow White Pearl Paint

$200


Port Installed Options

Price

Rear Bumper Appliqué

$75

Cargo Mat

$95

Carpeted Floor Mats

$115

Cargo Net

$50

Cargo Tray

$80

Door Sill Applique

$80

Autodimming Mirror with Compass and Homelink

$350

Mud Guards

$95

Wheel Locks

$55


Competitors

Mazda6

The Mazda6->ke346 has been a mainstay in low-cost sports sedans for a while. With its “zoom-zoom” handing and potent powertrain, the 6 gives buyers a great compromise between a family sedan and a traditional sportster. Its Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter I-4 makes 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is one of the 6’s selling points: 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, and when we last drove it, 26 mpg combined.

Starting price for a base model is $20,990 and climbs with options.

Ford Fusion

The Fusion is a beautiful car inside and out. Its Aston-Martin->ke13-look-alike exterior and cleverly-designed interior make it a solid choice for a family hauler. Although it looks great, the interior does suffer from cheap plastics in more than one area.

Its top-performing engine is a powerful 240-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost in-line four. EPA ratings for the EcoBoost in front-wheel-drive form come in at 22 city, 33 highway and 26 combined. Starting price for a base Fusion is $20,795 and rising to over $33,000 for an AWD 2.0-liter EcoBoost model.

Conclusion

The 2014 Optima is a solid half-step forward for the nameplate. The mid-cycle refresh makes the car more competitive and attractive, while keeping what wasn’t broken. With stellar sales in 2013, 2014 should see its fair share of success considering the handsome improvements made.

Kia represents something special, something respectable in both the automotive and business worlds. It has climbed its way up, seizing opportunities and expanding its reach over the entire globe. It has certainly impacted the American auto marketplace for the better. Kia’s climb is far from over as it looks to move even further up market, but at this point, it’s a long way from the bottom.