Kia unveils Optima Sportswagon 18 | 02 | 2016
KIA HAS REVEALED its Optima Sportswagon (SW) estate, which will go head-to-head with the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and Mazda 6, and will be on-sale in Scottish dealerships this autumn. It's tipped to cost a few hundred pounds more than the comparable saloon, which currently starts at £21,495.
Designed and conceived alongside the latest Optima saloon — both models were led by Kia's European design team — the estate has the same 4855mm length and 1860mm width of the saloon, but grows 5mm in height to 1470mm. Its wheelbase is 2805mm.
With the rear seats in place, luggage capacity is 553 litres, an increase of 48-litre increase over the saloon. Rather strangely, Kia has yet to confirm a figure for the maximum capacity with the rear seats folded down.
Worth bearing in mind than that the Mazda 6 estate — which Kia says will be its closest rival — manages 506-1648 litres (rear seats up and down), with the Insignia estate 540-1530 litres and Mondeo 500-1605 litres.
Standard fit includes a 40:20:40 rear seat split, plus a low, flat boot lip, a pop-up sliding metal luggage rack to secure single items, a powered tailgate that opens automatically when the key is in close proximity to the boot.
Related: New Kia Sportage starts at £17,995
As you would expect, the interior is based on the latest Optima saloon, and comes with a 7.0in or 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system. The SW is also available with a wireless charging mat and two USB charging points, one of which is located in the rear, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration systems.
Engines? Two powerplants will be available in the UK: the 139bhp, 251lb/ft 1.7-litre turbodiesel, and the range-topping GT version, which will be fitted with a turbocharged 242bhp, 260lb/ft 2.0-litre petrol engine and mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Buyers of the diesel have the option of the standard six-speed manual, or optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
While Kia as yet to reveal economy and CO2 figures for the SW models, the 1.7TD saloon delivers 56mpg and 110g/km CO2.
According to Kia, the Optima SW will also, eventually, be fitted with the same plug-in hybrid drivetrain that is being introduced in the saloon.
The Korean manufacturer also believes the Optima SW represents a significant growth opportunity in Europe: two-thirds of all models sold in the class are estates. That figure rises to three-quarters when sales are restricted purely to fleet.
Related: Kia celebrates Sportage sales
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Jim McGill