New Kia Optima starts at £21,495 02 | 12 | 2015
KIA HAS CONFIRMED its latest Optima, which is on-sale now at its Scottish dealership network, will be priced from £21,495; that's a £1500 increase over its predecessor.
The later model, according to the Korean manufacturer, is more premium, more engaging to drive and more economical than its predecessor.
Worth highlighting too that the increase in price may also be due to the deletion of the entry-level '1' trim. The updated range now consists of trims badged 2, 3 and 4: these will be further supplemented by GT-Line and GT trims in 2016. According to Kia, this move brings the Optima in line with the Sorento and Sportage, as those cars also start with a '2' trim.
Kia has also ensured the latest Optima is well stacked with standard equipment. For example, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav and a reversing camera, dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control, electric mirrors, DAB radio and LED daytime running lights are all standard o the new entry-level 2 trim level.
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Step up to 3, and you get an upgrade to an 8in touchscreen, plus electronic adjustment to the drivers seat, xenon headlights, faux leather panels on the seats and chrome touches inside and out.
The current range-topping 4 benefits further from 360-degree cameras, park assist, blind-spot detection, high beam assist, an opening panoramic sunroof, and full leather. It also gets a new wireless phone charger, which Kia says is the first of its kind in a production car.
Kia's 1.7-litre CRDi diesel, which has been boosted to 139bhp, is the only powerplant fitted to the new Optima, though buyers have the choice of the standard six-speed manual, of optional twin-clutch automatic gearbox.
That results in a best fuel figure of 64.2mpg and 116g/km of CO2. The range will be further supplemented by a plug-in hybrid later next year.
Related: First sight of all-new Kia Sportage
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Jim McGill