2019 Kia Optima 1.6T Review

2019 Kia Optima 1.6T Review - When it debuted at the New York vehicle show in 2010, the now-outgoing Kia Optima wowed viewers with its undermined roofline as well as established visage, penciled under the instructions of style boss Peter Schreyer. That Optima developed Kia's present design language, as well as the new, 2016 variation does not stray much from the manuscript, with the tiger-nose grille, the arc of chrome along the roofing system edge, and the beltline that scoops at the back. Details could have changed, and the cars and truck is 1.1 inches larger and a bit much longer, yet no one will perplex the brand-new auto with anything but an Optima.

Get in the Wee Turbo
2 of the 3 available engines carry over. The mainstay 2.4-liter four-cylinder is a naturally aspirated system making 185 horsepower and also 178 lb-ft of torque; it's discovered under the hood of the base LX as well as the mid-level EX. On top end, the 2.0-liter turbo returns brandishing 245 horse power and also 260 lb-ft; it powers the SX and the SXL. Both obtain a six-speed automated. New to the event is the engine in our test vehicle: a 1.6-liter turbo 4 married to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Its 178-hp result is the lowest of the team, yet its 195 lb-ft of torque betters the 2.4-liter.


Offered just in the LX 1.6 T, the 1.6-liter is developed to be the most economical offering of the lot (aside from the Optima hybrid, still based upon the previous-gen automobile), as well as its EPA scores of 28/39 mpg city/highway go to the top of the class. Its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, nonetheless, is a welcome break from the rising tide of CVTs in this category. It credibly mimics the smoothness of a torque-converter automated at reduced speeds as well as supplies well-timed changes under acceleration. That acceleration is very spry for an environment-friendly person, helped by the fact that the Optima LX 1.6 T danced throughout our ranges at 3241 extra pounds-- more than 300 pounds less than the 2.0-liter SX. That number has to do with on the same level with a four-cylinder Honda Accord.

It's also greater than 200 pounds lighter compared to the Ford Combination 1.5-liter EcoBoost, which is possibly the Optima LX 1.6 T's most straight rival. In a fight in between those 2 eco-misers, the Kia shines. Engine outcome is pretty much a draw-- the Kia's 1.6-liter makes 3 fewer horsepower but 10 lb-ft much more torque compared to the Ford's 1.5-liter EcoBoost-- but the Optima's fuel economic climate is much better by 3 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway (and that's finding the Blend its optional auto stop-start system). And when it's time to put your foot down, the Kia's 7.3-second zero-to-60 time trounces the Ford's 8.2-second result.

Actually, the situation can quickly be made that the 1.6 is the most effective of the 3 Optima powerplants. The 2.0-liter turbo got to 60 miles per hour just half a second much faster in our examination, at a price of 6 mpg in the city and also 7 mpg on the highway. The 2.4-liter four (which we evaluated in the Optima's close kin, the Hyundai Sonata) is both slower, at 7.9 seconds to 60, and also thirstier. Mentioning the Sonata, when we checked the 1.6 turbo in that vehicle-- where it's used in the Sonata Eco-- it was also quicker, striking 60 in 6.7 seconds; that recommends our Optima, which had less than 500 miles on the clock, may have done even better with an extra broken-in engine.

The LX 1.6 T rides on the Optima's conventional suspension, not the "sport-tuned" variation discovered in the SX as well as the SXL; even so, it need not make any kind of apologies for its ride. Happily restrained without too much body activities, it's likewise compliant adequate to alleviate extreme sidewalk, helped by this version's 65-series rubber on 16-inch wheels. The low-rolling-resistance tires, however, caused a lengthy stopping distance of 185 feet from 70 miles per hour, although roadholding was a decent 0.83 g.

You Desired Natural leather with that said?
That the 1.6-liter engine can be found in just one trim level might be its primary downside. One step up from the base LX, the LX 1.6 T is sensibly well geared up (Bluetooth, a back-up cam, keyless access), yet if you want natural leather, seat heating systems, or navigation, you have to go up the ladder. The options list does, nevertheless, include navigating, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic alert.

At this degree, indoor materials are very standard, with great deals of grained black plastic, however at the very least the steering wheel is wrapped in smooth natural leather, the armrests are decently padded, as well as the console has abundant storage. The previous Optima's more driver-oriented dash has actually been replaced by a new style that highlights the cabin's width. It's a simple interior decoration with a gimmick-free design of the controls that recalls the Honda Accord. The comfortable seatsing position is boosted by a noticeable dead pedal for the chauffeur, as well as fairly thin pillars as well as a low cowl afford good exposure. The rear seats flaunts abundant legroom and also adequate headroom under the sloping roofline along with a short-trip-appropriate middle setting.

The 2011 model brought the Optima in from the subprime edge of the mid-size-sedan market, as well as the revamped version ought to maintain it there. While not one of the most effective or luxurious version, the LX 1.6 T might be its most fascinating, offering painless frugality that ought to speak with price-conscious car purchasers.

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