2016 Kia Optima review, features, advantages and disadvantages

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with a stiffer structure, bigger interior and trunk, improved engines with better fuel economy, and new technology features. It is a resounding success in design and styling. It remains one of the better-looking sedans on the market today. It is quiet, it has straightforward infotainment, and it has great value for the money.

2016 Kia Optima

2016 Kia Optima combines the sporty exterior with the spacious interior, Kia presents the 2016 model as fully redesigned, other than a few minor tweaks, The exterior looks a lot like last year’s model, Below the surface is another matter as Kia made modifications to almost every other parts of the car, The automaker updated the chassis and added a new engine to its lineup.

The midsize sedans like the 2016 Kia Optima aren’t sports sedans only, but driving dynamics matter even in day-to-day commuting & it is where the new Kia Optima boasts the biggest improvement compared. Kia has optimized the driving experience of the 2016 Kia Optima; it feels quite responsive and nimble relative to the other sedans in its class & more than its predecessors.

2016 Kia Optima advantages

The 2016 Kia Optima offers perky performance, with plenty of power under the hood. The drivers will appreciate the Optima’s perky performance. The vehicle’s seven-speed transmission shifts smoothly from one gear to the next, while the acceleration is responsive.

The headroom in the rear may be a little tight for adults in the 2016 Optima, but the area does not offer an abundance of legroom. The front is spacious, and it includes comfortably wide seats. The new Optima is definitely larger than its predecessor.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes in four different trims to provide options. They are the LX, EX, SX, and SXL. When the car buyers select the LX trim, they will receive features such as cruise control & the rear-view camera.

The EX has 17-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery, while the SX features the sport-tuned suspension and adaptive xenon headlights. With the SXL, Kia decided to offer premium leather upholstery and exterior chrome enhancements.

The 2016 Kia Optima is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, which features a sharp picture and large buttons. The inclusion of physical buttons increases the vehicle’s safety since they require less focus when using them on the road. The smartphone integration is available as a satellite radio.

The 2016 Kia Optima is available with different engines, which are standard. The base Optima LX and mid-grade Optima EX models get the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, which delivers 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque that connected to the 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2016 Kia Optima LX has a Driver Mode Select system, which switches among Normal, Sport, and Eco modes.

Optima SX and SX-L models have the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 245 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. They are connected to the 6-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddles, which is a much-improved power-steering system. The engines have less horsepower but more torque compared to last year’s similarly sized versions.

The 2016 Kia Optima Eco offers the 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Kia has made its blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors available on LX and Eco models.

When rated for the fuel economy, the midsize sedan came in at 24 miles per gallon for city driving and 35 miles per gallon at highway speeds. The turbocharged engine provides you with better fuel economy ratings because it is registered at 28 miles per gallon in the city and 39 miles per gallon on the highway.

The luxurious materials and soft finishes are found inside the 2016 Kia Optima. In the upper trims, the panoramic sunroof is available. The car-maker also included the height-adjusting passenger seat & plenty of cargo space, and the trunk measures 15.9 cubic feet in the 2016 Optima.

The 2016 Kia Optima presents a stylish exterior. While Kia made a few changes to the exterior of the vehicle, the car buyers will appreciate the sedan’s sporty appearance. The grille delivers the aggressive look while the long hood and sloped body give the car a high-end feel.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with exceptional safety features. When developing the 2016 Kia Optima, the automaker added several standard safety features such as stability control, anti-lock disc brakes, side-curtain airbags, the driver’s knee bag, front active headrests, and front-seat side airbags.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with optional safety features such as the 360-degree surround view camera system, the rear parking sensors, the blind-spot monitoring system, the Crash intervention system with automatic braking, Electronic stability control, and hill-start assist to keep the vehicle from rolling back when starting on a steep uphill grade.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with an expansive warranty. It offers a five-year or 60,000-mile warranty, which covers the car bumper-to-bumper. To back the vehicle model, even more, Kia offers a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. In reliability ratings, the vehicle earned a high score.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with an enhanced ride. In developing the 2016 Kia Optima, the car company improved the vehicle’s ride quality. Kia modified the suspension mounting points. The automaker made the body stiffer. The 2016 Kia Optima handles the bumps more smoothly to give car buyers an enhanced riding experience.

There’s a new electrical power-steering assist on the Optima SX and Optima SX-L, which vastly improves the steering feel & feedback, making the new Optima feel much more connected to the road than last year’s model. Note that Optima LX and EX models use the same unloved power-steering system from last year.

Optima LX offers features such as manual air conditioning, Bluetooth, Auxiliary, a six-speaker audio system, and USB inputs. The two front seats both adjust in six different ways, with the power lumbar support for the driver and adjustable height on the passenger side.

The 2016 Kia Optima is taller & wider than before, which adds up to a roomier and more comfortable cabin, along with more trunk space. The seats have been improved in front, and for 2016, Kia has brought a height-adjustable passenger seat to the entire Optima lineup.

The rear seating isn’t the most comfortable in the class, although the long rear doors make getting in and out easier than in most mid-sizers. Trunk space has grown slightly in the 2016 Optima to 15.9 cubic feet, and a wide opening to the cabin, with split-folding rear seat-backs, is standard for cargo flexibility.

On EX and SX models, you can opt to get the heated outboard rear seats, the ventilated front seats, and the safety package with forward collision warning the automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and available surround-view monitors.

The 2016 Kia Optima does not have the road noise issues. It offers a supple ride quality and impressive cabin trims. It is one of the most refined interiors in its class. Ride quality is much improved throughout the lineup.

Optima is one of the first models that offer both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The connectivity systems, which let you interact with your smartphone via the Optima’s UVO infotainment screen.

UVO now contains Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert, and Driving Score, with music, messaging, navigation, and voice calls all available via the screen, the steering wheel, or voice command.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with one of the quietest, most refined cabins in its class—with plenty of space, too. Kia has for years been one-upping other automakers in terms of features and sheer value for money, and the 2016 Optima is no exception.

Optima earns the superior rating by IIHS for crash avoidance and mitigation. Add all that up, and the Optima earns the Top Safety Pick + designation, the highest mark by the independent agency. The 2016 Kia Optima has earned five stars across the board that including the frontal crash, side impact, and rollover safety.

2016 Kia Optima disadvantages

The car company developed the dashboard in a horizontal line, which is highlighted by a single trim piece. While this setup is ideal for the driver, the passengers will be looking at the empty and expansive dashboard.

The 2016 Kia Optima offers sensitive steering. One drawback with the 2016 Optima is that its steering is overly sensitive. When the car is set to the normal driving mode, it will feel a little light and withdrawn. The steering is better in the sport mode, but it still fails to provide complete confidence.

Most drivers will fail to notice the materials used for the buttons, but one reviewer noted that the horn button felt cheap; however, the same tester pointed out that the vehicle offers an abundance of storage areas.

The 2016 Kia Optima comes with visibility problems. It has better visibility than the 2015 model, but the car-maker could make the improvements. So, the car buyers may want to rethink the addition of window tint.

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