Just a year ago at the Geneva Auto Show,->ke228 Kia->ke41 revealed its Sportspace Concept. It was basically a sportier, stretched out Optima Sedan. As Kia put it, the Sportspace was “a totally new breed of grand tourer that promises to bring sportiness and utility under the same roof.” At the time, we didn’t know whether or not the Sportspace would pave the way for an actual model, but toward the end of 2015, our spy photographers caught a similar prototype on public roads.

When we got our hands on the spy shots,->ke166 we speculated that the car was near-production ready and would likely be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this March. As it turns out, we were correct. Kia has just officially announced the Kia Optima Sportswagon and has released several preview images and a plethora of information regarding its first ever D-segment tourer.->ke143

Now that we have official details and photos of Kia’s new Sportswagon, it is time we take a look at what we’re going to see when the car makes its official public debut in Geneva. From a quick glance at the images, it looks like Kia did pretty well on its new tourer, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

Updated 02/18/2016: Kia dropped the official details on the new Optima Sportswagon with just a few days before the car's official debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Kia Optima Sportswagon.

2017 Kia Optima Sportswagon

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2017 Kia Optima Sportswagon
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Moving from concept to production model in just a year’s time is pretty fast, but that just goes to show how production ready the Sportspace Concept really was – and how serious Kia was about its new station wagon. From an initial glance at the images, you can see that it retains the same shape as the Sportspace concept, but takes all of its styling cues from the Optima Sedan. Up front, The Sportswagon takes its hood, grille and headlamps directly from the Optima Sedan. Down below that grille, however, Kia did a little body forming. If you look at the fascia itself, it is a combination design cues from the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid, the Kia Optima GT, and the base-model Kia Optima. The corner vents are more exaggerated and lack the chrome trim insert, just like the Optima Hybrid. The air dam has the same shape as the dam on the base-model Optima, but includes the flat in the middle like the Optima GT, with fog lights mounted in the out corners. It’s not a bad look and gives the Sportswagon a sporty and unique appearance.

To the sides, the Sportswagon maintains all of the same cues of the other Optimas in Kia’s lineup. The vent on the fender is more defined, and while it is doubtful, it looks like it could be functional. The side skirts on the Sportswagon are the same – including the chrome trim insert – and the doors are the same in every way. The rear quarter has a long, stretched out window, and the same wraparound taillights from the other Optimas can be seen from the side.

Around back, the Sportwagon somewhat resembles the rear of the 2016 Kia Sorrento, albeit with its own significant twists. The hatch sports a similar long overhang, and the hatch has a similar crease at the bottom. The fascia sports a chrome insert between the corner reflectors, but the rear diffuser – if that is what you would call it – is uneventful and bears a single, oval exhaust outlet on the passenger side. The handle is incorporated into a lip that runs the full width of the hatch. The taillights themselves look similar to those found on the Optima Sedan, but more stretched out. It does appear as if there is a roof rack on the Sportswagen, but the rails are very short and would require crossbars that will probably be available as an option when the wagon goes on sale.

All in all, the Sportswagon is the same width and length as the Optima Sedan but is five mm taller. When it goes on sale in Europe, it will be available in one of nine different colors and will be available 16-, 17-, and 18-inch wheels.

Interior

As far as the interior goes, the only interior shots we have are of the rear storage compartment, which I must say is quite ample with nearly 20 cubic feet. It is the perfect place for a pet to ride, as a screen can be lifted from the rear seat to separate the rear cargo area from the rear seating. Almost the entire rear floor board doubles as a door that conceals a group of smaller compartments below – this would be a good place for tool and emergency supply storage. To the sides of the door in the floor sit pop-up luggage racks that allow luggage and cargo to be securely stored in place. A mat can also be extended from the rear seat to conceal anything that may be stowed away in the rear.

While Kia didn’t provide any shots of the front or rear seating area, it is safe to assume it probably looks very similar to the Sedan. According to Kia, the cabin is finished with “a high proportion of soft-touch materials, cloth and leather trim in natural tones, and tasteful metallic accents.” It has also be said that the cabin also has a significant amount of soundproofing, which Kia claims will reduce driver fatigue.

At the time of its launch, the Sportwagon will be available with a black interior color scheme, or dark gray and light gray color scheme, with either available in cloth or leather. The console will be finished in black and chrome. As far as technology goes, the Sportswagon will come equipped with Kia’s audio-visual navigation system. The standard model comes with a 7.0-inch screen, while those models equipped with navigation have an 8.0-inch infotainment screen. This system will also lead the Sportswagen to be one of the first Kia’s to support mobile phone connectivity through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Other small features include Kia’s wireless charging system, which alerts the driver if the phone has been left on the charger when exiting the vehicle, and provides the phones charging information on the car's instrument cluster. There will also be two USB charging points – one in the front and one in the rear. The car will come standard with a six-speaker audio system, but a 590-watt Harman Kardon system that includes eight speakers, a subwoofer, and external amplifier will also be available at a premium.

Drivetrain

The Sportswagon comes with the 1.7-liter CRDI diesel that is available in the Optima Sedan, or 2.0-liter CVVL gasoline engine. The 1.7-liter will mate to a six-speed manual transmission or a new seven-speed, double clutch transmission. The new transmission promises to handle higher torque outputs and a sportier drive experience. The Sportswagon GT will come with Kia’s new 2.0-liter, turbocharged, gasoline engine. The 1.7-liter puts out 141 PS (139 horsepower) and 340 NM (250 pound-feet) of torque. The CVVL, gasoline unit pumps out 163 PS (160 horsepower) that is routed to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Kia has yet to release output figures for the 2.0-liter that will come in the Sportswagon GT, but as soon as we have them or performance specifications for the Sportswagon, we will be sure to update our information.

Safety

The Kia Optima Sedan received a Euro NCAP five-star rating, and Kia expects the Sportswagon to obtain the same rating after its release. The car comes standard with seven airbags including front side and curtain airbags. A vehicle stability management system comes standard and will assist in maintaining stability via the ESC system and the electric power steering system. Optional safety features include Advanced Smart Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and a Speed Limit Information System – a system that uses cameras to detect road signs, and displays speed limit information on the instrument cluster.

The Sportswagon comes standard with the same suspension used on the Optima Sedan, but tuned to accommodate the heavier, rear biased weight. As an option, an electronically controlled suspension system can be equipped that will provide handling and ride characteristics tailed specifically to those in the European market.

Prices

It is way too early to be talk anything definite on pricing, but considering the 2016 Optima sedan starts out at $21,840 before options, taxes, and destination, I suspect a similar price point for the Sportswagon. Give the car offers more cargo room and is more utility based, I’m thinking it will probably start out somewhere around $22,500 – still not a bad place to start for a sporty family-mobile.

Competition

2016 Volkswagen Passat Estate

The Passat Estate is offered in six different trims that start out anywhere between £23,870 and £29,090. It is offered with a 1.6-liter TDI diesel, BlueMotion 1.6-liter TDI diesel, and five variations of the 2.0-liter TDI Diesel. The engines are mated to either a six-speed manual transmission, six-speed automatic transmission, or seven-speed automatic transmission. According to VW, the 1.6-liter TDI paired with the seven-speed DSG automatic pumps out 70.6 mpg on the European cycle, and the 2.0-TDI paired with a six-speed manual hits 62 mph in 8.9 seconds.

Read our full review here.

2016 Ford Mondeo Wagon

The Ford Mondeo Wagon is offered in three trims – Trend, Titanium, and Ambiente. Two engines are available including the 2.0-liter Duratorq diesel engine and the 2.0-liter EcoBoost Petrol Engine. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on the Ambiente, while a Powershift six-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard on Trend and Titanium trims. The Ambiente trim level starts out at $38,765, and the Trend wagon starts out at $46,696.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

For a wagon, I really like what Kia has done with its new Sportswagon. I’m surprised to see how similar it is to the Sportspace concept and that Kia managed to give the wagon a truly sporty appearance. When we got the first spy shots of this wagon, the Volkswagen Passat Wagon, and the Ford Mondeo Wagon was spotted at Kia’s testing facility too, so it is clear who Kia has in its sights with this wagon. From what I’ve seen here, I think the competition better prepare itself because Kia just might have a winner here. Assuming the Sportswagon is as modestly priced as the Optima Sedan, I think this sporty wagon is going to do quite well in the market.

Spy Shots

November 23, 2015 - First testing session