Kia Optima. Korean bestseller
Kia Optima is a Korean D-class front wheel drive car produced by Kia Motors since 2000. This car has different names in different markets. The sedan and 5-door station wagon versions are available. The 4th generation of this car has been produced since 2016. In 2020, Israeli buyers could purchase a restyled version of the 2018 Kia Optima.
Kia Optima has been on the bestseller lists for many years and is perceived as an excellent alternative to European brands. The Kia Optima shares its platform with the Hyundai Sonata, a front-wheel drive D-class sedan, and is the successor to the Kia Clarus or Kia Cerdo, which in turn was a copy of the Mazda Capella and was only sold in South Korea and Australia.
The first generation
In Europe and Canada, where sales started in 2002, the first generation Kia Optima was named Kia Magentis, while in South Korea, the second generation Kia Optima was sold under the Kia Lotze and Kia K5 names, and the global name was Magentis, except forthe USA, where the car retained its Optima name. Starting with the third generation, released in 2010, the car was named Kia Optima at a global level, except for the markets of South Korea, Malaysia and China, where it was called the K5.
The first generation Kia Optima or Kia Magentis entered the market in 2000 and was produced until 2005, while its restyling took place in 2003. The Optima was a global project and an important step in Kia’s journey to expand its presence in key markets. Even the very first Kia Optima had a sporty design, expensive finishing materials, thoughtful ergonomics and a set of premium options. The Korean manufacturer used a rather aggressive advertising campaign claiming that the Kia Optima was a dream car that could surprise everyone - from Indians to aliens. And this was confirmed not only by marketers of Kia itself, but also by experts from leading European and American publications. The Optima was a choice of young and active business people who were not yet able to afford a BMW, Mercedes or Audi.
Kia Optima has been on the bestseller lists for many years and is perceived as an excellent alternative to European brands.
It is worth noting that the first Optima has become almost the largest vehicle in its segment, and not only in length, but also in wheelbase. It is not surprising that the manufacturer classifies the model as a business class vehicle. But this car is particularly distinguished by its exterior. It turned out to be so successful that even after a few years after its premiere, the Optima looked more eye-catching and advanced than many of its rivals.
The second generation
The second generation Kia Optima, produced from 2005 to 2010 and restyled in 2008, could boast not only an upgraded design, but also improved safety. During the EuroNCAP crash tests, the second Optima received five stars out of five. In 2008, the famous automotive designer, Peter Schreier, was in charge of its design, so the restyled Kia Optima 2 was equipped with a modified radiator grille, new lighting fixtures, and a start button.
The third generation
The 3rd generation Kia Optima is comparable to the best premium cars. There is a good reason that the third generation Optima has received a dozen of style awards worldwide and has won the ‘Best of the Best’ RedDot Design Award.
The third generation Kia Optima, released in 2010, was designed in full accordance with the concept of Peter Schreier, who also ‘drew’ other Kia cars: Cerato, Sorento and Sportage SUVs, Cadenza business sedan. The ‘third’ Optima encompasses European gloss, German aggressiveness, and Italian swiftness. With its radiator grille, unusual silhouette, upturned window sill line, and complex structure of the rear doors and pillars, the Kia Optima 3 is comparable to the best premium cars. There is a good reason that the third generation Optima has received a dozen of style awards worldwide and has won the ‘Best of the Best’ RedDot Design Award.
The fourth generation
The fourth generation Kia Optima has been produced since 2016 to the present, and it underwent restyling in 2018. This is the very model that is currently available on the Israeli market. In 2016, the Kia Optima Sportwagon was presented at the Geneva Motor Show.
The upgraded Kia Optima sedan has become 10 mm shorter and lower, but at the same time 25 mm wider. The trunk has increased to 510 liters. The Kia Optima 4 boasts an improved exterior and numerous technical innovations. The Optima is easily recognizable by the new radiator grille in the corporate ‘tiger’s smile’ design, the pattern of which is now drawn with vertical lines. The 2018/2019 Kia Optima is equipped with a new front bumper, LED headlights, and taillights. The 2020 Kia Optima comes with a new infotainment system and a new steering wheel, contoured interior lighting and new safety features of the Smart Drive Mode Select system.
On the market, the Kia Optima competes with representatives of the D-class and the E-segment. The Kia Optima’s rivals include both the Toyota Camry and the Mazda 6 Ford Mondeo, with the Nissan Teana and Honda Accord being the most likely rivals.
