Test drive: "Kia Optima" (2014). Photo, design and technical characteristics

"Kia Optima" is a front-wheel drive sedan of business class, which has been officially delivered to Russia since 2012. The car made a huge impression with its exterior. In addition, the sedan has a comfortable cabin and balanced rideability. What is this car? A large test drive "Kii Optima" - the topic of the article.

Design

If in the early 2000s, Kia was associated with something gray and dull, now the Koreans have learned to make very decent cars. The car looks bright and bright. It looks like passers-by, and neighbors in the stream. Particular attention deserves the front end, equipped with modernized lensed optics and a wide grille with chrome trim. Fog lights - four-part. Previously such bold decisions no one practiced. The design of the South Korean sedan - at the level of the "Mercedes" E-class. The appearance of "Optima" is worked out to the smallest detail.

Dimensions, clearance

The car has a very large body size. So, the length of the sedan is 4.85 meters, width - 1.8 meters, height - 1.45 meters. But the clearance is only 14 and a half centimeters. Test drive "Ki Optima" (2013) showed that the machine is difficult to cope with the pits. When traveling outside the city, there is a risk of catching the bottom. The reason for this is not only a small ground clearance, but also a long wheelbase, as well as huge overhangs of bumpers.

Salon

Inside the car resembles the features of the "Kia Rio" model. However, the interior of Optima looks more luxurious. The machine has a sports 4-spoke multi-wheel, modern "dials" on the dashboard, as well as a convenient center console with a multimedia display. By the way, it is slightly turned towards the driver. At the feet of the passenger there is a capacious glove compartment. The rear row of seats is designed for only two people. As well as in front, there is an armrest.

How does the machine behave on the go?

The test drive of the new Kia Optima showed that the car is very maneuverable, despite its huge dimensions. In the city it is an excellent car with good dynamics (technical characteristics will be considered later). However, the suspension is not characterized by high energy intensity. Test drive "Ki Optima" (2014) showed that the machine is difficult to cope with the pits. All impacts are transmitted to the body. Therefore, this sedan performs well only on good asphalt. By the way, the seats have a pronounced lateral support. This is a big plus.

Specifications

In the Russian market, two petrol 4-cylinder units are available. The basic is a two-liter 16-valve engine from the line of Nu CVVL. Its maximum power is 150 horsepower. As the test drive showed, "Kia Optima" (2014) with a two-liter motor has a good traction. The torque is 196 Nm. This allows you to accelerate a one-and-a-half-ton sedan to a hundred for 9 and a half seconds on the mechanic. As for versions with an automatic machine, it is accelerated a second later. The maximum speed is 210 km / h for both versions.

What else was the difference between this unit? Test drive "Ki Optima" (2014) has shown worthy parameters of economy. So, for a hundred in a mixed mode, the South Korean sedan consumes about seven liters of fuel per mechanic and 0.6 liters more on the machine. In top-end configurations, the Theta CVVT power pack is available. With a working volume of 2.4 liters, it develops 180 horsepower. The torque of this installation was 230 Nm. This motor works in pairs only with an automatic transmission on six steps. As the test drive showed, "Kia Optima" (2014) with this engine is not much different from the two-liter version in terms of dynamics. So, acceleration to a hundred takes the same 9 and a half seconds. But the fuel consumption has increased to 8 liters in a mixed cycle. As for the maximum speed, it is cut down programmatically and is 210 kilometers per hour.

Chassis

The South Korean sedan is built on the same platform as the Hyundai Sonata. In front there is a MacPherson suspension with an enhanced stability stabilizer. And here behind - mnogorychazhka. Brake mechanisms - disk type on both axes. Drums are not even in the initial configuration, which is very pleasing. During the test drive "Kia Optima" (2014) showed excellent handling characteristics. And her brakes are very responsive.

Results

So, we found out what the South Korean business sedan Kia Optima is. Now the machine is also available in the secondary market. Its cost starts from 680 thousand rubles for the version of 2011. If we consider the purchase of a new one, then in the basic configuration of Kia Optima costs from 1 million 140 thousand rubles. Many note the generous equipment of the model. So, in the initial configuration already there are climate control, cast 16-inch wheels, ESS, EBD, side and front cushions, a six-speaker audio system, power windows, mirror drive, steering column adjustment in two directions and much more. Analyzing the market of cars, we can say with confidence that "Kia Optima" is one of the cheapest cars in its class, not lacking in dynamics and having good basic equipment.