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“Is that a BMW?” asked my friend Tara upon seeing the new Optima. A fair question, given Kia’s successful borrowing of the best visual elements from more expensive car brands.
While impressive upon approach, Kia’s Camry-killer won’t fool anyone from the inside. Pragmatic and Volkswagen-esque, the interior lacks glamour. Similarly, the driving experience eschews excitement for back-pleasing smoothness. Ironically, the aggressive-looking Optima doesn’t corner as well as a Mazda6 or Honda Accord, but it is more comfortable.
If you’re shopping for an all-rounder for <$30k and looks are important to you, strongly consider the Optima.