2016 Kia Optima review

1. Redesigned for 2016

2016 ushered in the fourth generation of the Kia Optima, making style and engineering changes that evolved this midsize sedan further. The exterior look is more bold, the interior is more comfortable and refined, and new standard features — such as a cooling glove box and back-up camera — were added for this year. Kia focused on comfort and space for the 2016 Optima, introducing soft-touch materials throughout the cabin as well as striking accents.

2. Designed for driver comfort

The driver is very much front and center in the 2016 Kia Optima. The dashboard and instrument panel are laid out well and easy to use, while a focus on ergonomic design ensures comfort as well as ease. Many great tech features – such as rear parking sensors, blind spot detection, Bluetooth^® integration, and a cooling glove box – come as standard and are designed to ensure your life is made just that little easier, enabling you to simply enjoy the journey.

3. Upgraded power

The engine options for the 2016 Kia Optima ensure everyone is catered for, and is a step up from the previous year's model. The base engine is a 2.4L four-cylinder offering 185 hp, which comes with the LX and EX trims and is more than enough grunt for most drivers. Additionally, the LX Turbo has a 1.6L turbocharged engine with 178 hp, while the SX Turbo and SXL Turbo contain a 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged engine which creates 245 hp. This makes it particularly good for highway maneuvers and long drives.

4. Roomy and versatile

The spaciousness of the 2016 Kia Optima really adds another dimension of comfort and luxury to this sedan. It seats five and the passenger volume is a generous 104.8 cu-ft, with roomy front seats. Front headroom is 39.8 inches and front legroom is 45.5 inches. The 2016 Kia Optima also comes with two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on the second-row outboard seats. Cloth seats are standard, but the EX and SX trims offer leather upholstery and heated front seats

5. Useful features

This is a car that's designed to make driving enjoyable and stress-free, and part of that is tied in with the features it offers. The base 2016 Kia Optima comes with satellite radio, a backup camera, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port as standard. The EX and SX Turbo trims add more luxurious leather seating as well as dual-zone automatic temperature control. With the SXL Turbo, expect premium features such as mirror memory, HID headlights, and a 10-speaker audio system to make journeys seriously fun.