Short drive review

Kia Niro

Likes: A hybrid crossover is definitely a smart move on Kia's part. Spacious interior for five with a decently sized boot.

Dislikes: Leisure-hybrid-acceleration. The auto gearbox can be jerky at low speeds.

Overall: It's the hybrid for those who aren't trying to appear snobby.



Land Rover Evoque

Likes: It's stylish and fully capable off-road. The convertible version makes no sense but it looks good.

Dislikes: It can get expensive quickly. Build quality is still iffy no matter how you look at it.

Overall: It's the smallest and the cutest Land Rover of the range.



Honda Accord

Likes: We personally love the way it looks. We love the way it drives and we love the new turbo engines.

Dislikes: Sleek styling makes visibility slightly compromised.

Overall: This maybe the best Accord, ever, and there's a hybrid available.



Alfa Romeo Giulia

Likes: No matter which engine you choose, both are up for the job. Dare we say more fun to drive than a BMW 3-series?

Dislikes: The interior build quality is iffy in build quality. Resale value is weak.

Overall: It's full of Italian flare and charm.



Jeep Compass

Likes: A handsome little thing with real off-road capabilities. The interior is much improved over previous generation.

Dislikes: Engine stop/start isn't very smooth. It needs a 2-liter turbo engine option.

Overall: A decent option in a very crowded segment.

Short-drive with the Kia Optima

You’ll be surprised that not everyone wants a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, and for those buyers there’s a sea of options out there. Where the Kia Optima stands, it all depends upon the depths of your wallet because if you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is. The Optima is a fine choice in a sea of bland. 

The standard 2.4 seems flexible enough and will be the mainstream engine choice for most buyers. We reckon that it’s worth spending the extra for the 1.6 turbo as it has more low-end torque for better highway acceleration and slightly lower running costs. You won’t see too many of them out there but the 2-liter turbo in the top of the range is best avoided if you looking at it from a sporting aspect. The engine itself isn’t bad, but it just feels disappointing when compared to the likes the Honda Accord V6 and Ford Fusion.

You won’t be too disappointed with the way the Kia Optima feels on the road. The steering feedback isn’t as sharp as a Mazda 6 and it certainly won’t win any bragging points like the Mazda either when it comes to driving dynamics. What it does offer is a smooth and competent ride that most people will be quite happy with and if you are feeling spirited, the handling is more on the secure side which won’t encourage you to push through corners and bends but at least it will keep you planted on all four-wheels and for majority of buyers in this segment that’s enough. Despite not being as engaging to drive as a Mazda, the Kia Optima is quite easy to drive around town. Steering feedback is enough for driving through narrow city streets and parking in tight parking spaces. Driving on the highway like a non-hooligan really does showcase how refined the Optima really is, there’s far less wind and road noise than we expected and the engine does spool well. We certainly wished our tester car came with the 1.6 turbo, but the 2.4 did the job well and despite having the most horsepower it still didn’t quite feel as peppy as the 1.6 turbo though.

The interior layout is pretty straight forward. The infotainment screen can get a little distracting while on the go, but it’s interface isn’t as confusing as some of its keen rivals. What we love the most about the Optima is the luxury features that you get standard. The driver’s seat moves back slightly to allow easy exiting and the wing mirrors fold in when you lock the vehicle; also there’s LED headlights and ventilated leather seats that really do come handy on those hot summer days. The rear seat offers ample space for two, three will be pushing it slightly due to the large transmission tunnel and the boot space while it isn’t as practical as a wagon or hatchback, it is decently shaped and sized for most people’s needs.

Our tester car (EX) came fitted with panoramic sunroof with power sunshade; 10-way power adjustable front seats with ventilated leather seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror and LED interior lighting. Autonomous emergency braking, smart cruise control, lane departure warning and premium sound system were also fitted with our Optima. We understand some options being optional for a reason but emergency braking is standard on all Toyota vehicles and should be standard here as well.

You won’t find too much excitement with the Kia Optima but it certainly does have a winning case for itself. It offers tons of value for the money and is an option that’s worthy of the shortlist if you are considering the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. However, you’ll have to stick with the cheaper of the range to get the best value, and while our tester car had all the bells and whistles that we liked. We still find it hard to pay the premium for one when there are many other options that are slightly better in quality and hold their value much better.

Likes: 1.6 turbo offers good flexibility and low running costs. The standard kit list is high and the asking price is reasonable, plus it’s spacious for five with a decent boot to match.

Dislikes: The 1.6 turbo is limited to one trim. We’d love to see the wagon here; also the top of the range 2-liter turbo is disappointing to drive.

Our pick: We’d stick with the trim (EX) that we had as our tester car. It came fitted with all the options we’d like to see without having to pay an arm and leg for it. We just wish that it were as exciting to drive as the Mazda 6.

Top rated cars of 2017 (with our critique of course!)

Toyota Prius 
Likes: It costs peanuts to run and has ultra-low emissions. Interior is much roomier and it isn’t a chore to drive thanks to improved powertrain.

Dislikes: It looks so odd compared to other hybrids.

Overall: It’s the benchmark hybrid and the go to hybrid for those who want the world to know you’ve gone ‘green’.



Volkswagen Golf 
Likes: Zippy turbo engine and low running costs, the boot space is generous for size and the overall interior is roomy. Simplified trim levels yet each trim level is stuffed with kit.

Dislikes: You can no longer option for Bi-xenon headlamps. We miss the SEL trim despite it being pricey.

Overall: This is quite literally the best hatchback money can buy. Power hungry crowd have the GTI and Golf-R, while those who may want an all-electric car can pick the e-Golf.



Kia Soul
Likes: Easy to drive and live with. Driving position is similar to that of a crossover with decent kit standard. Optional turbo engine is a welcome addition to the range.

Dislikes: It's not as engaging to drive as some rivals, and it may depreciate faster too. Despite having a turbo, steering feedback is still numb and there’s no all-wheel-drive option.

Overall: It’s an interesting proposition in the compact crossover segment. It may not be the best but it certainly does have a lot going for it in terms of value for the money.



Honda Accord 
Likes: Low-running costs with four-cylinder engine. Standard kit is decent. The 3.5 six-cylinder is the sweet spot of the range and is actually cheaper than you’d think.

Dislikes: Infotainment system is frustrating to use. This is the last year of the six-cylinder engine.

Overall: The Accord continues to impress but the Mazda 6 is dynamically superior.



Chevy Cruze
Likes: It has plenty of torque at low revs. It’s much lighter than previous generation and the ride quality has improved dramatically.

Dislikes: It's not the sharpest car to drive and it’s not as refined as the class best Volkswagen Golf.

Overall: You can get a diesel hatchback but the premium makes it a questionable buy.

We test drive a Honda Accord (Used)

Despite the popular trend in crossovers, the Honda Accord still has its place in the market of family vehicles.

The standard 2.4 four-cylinder is what majority of Accord buyers will go for. It has a nice blend of flexibility and low-running costs. The top of the range 3.5 six-cylinder is best left for the power hungry and those willing to pay the premium. Our tester car was the 3.5 six-cylinder and it never felt overpowered even when we pushed it on the highway, around town the six-cylinder is smooth and easy to live with. The only gripe we have with this engine is that it feels like it would be better paired with all-wheel-drive because at moments the front-wheels often do feel like they get overwhelmed by the amount of horsepower being pushed to them. Steering feedback is decent and the overall driving experience while it isn’t as thrilling as a Mazda 6, it is comfortable and does offer a bit of excitement. Road noise and wind noise is nothing to complain of and the overall refinement of both engines is actually quite good.

The interior has good space for five people. The front seats offer decent support and visibility outward is good as well. Boot space is generous too but not as flexible as a wagon. The infotainment system is what we hate the most about the interior, the touch screen display is too fiddly to operate and the fact that there’s no actual volume knob makes it even more of a hassle to operate on the go than it should. Honda definitely needs to thoroughly redesign this because it’s just a disaster to operate.

There’s a dizzying number of Accord trims to pick from so bear with is us here. Standard LX trim gets Bluetooth for your mobile device, dual-zone climate control and multi-angle rearview camera; sport trim adds more powerful 2.4 engine (189hp), 10-way power driver’s seat and 19-inch alloy wheels. Sport Special Edition has leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats and special edition badging. EX trim adds Smart Entry and push button start, sunroof and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. EX-L adds leather-trimmed seating surfaces, power front seats with two-position memory driver’s seat. EX-L V6 adds the 3.5 six-cylinder and dual-exhaust. Top of the range Touring trim gets Navigation system, LED headlights with heated rear seats.

The ever popular crossovers may be what most buyers are turning to as their family vehicle, but for those who don’t want a crossover the Honda Accord is worth the consideration, we just wish that the infotainment system more refined and of course it gets quite expensive the higher up the range you travel. Also, the Mazda 6 is more fun to drive if you do care about driving experience.

Likes: Low-running costs with four-cylinder engine. Standard kit is decent. The 3.5 six-cylinder is the sweet spot of the range and is actually cheaper than you’d think.

Dislikes: Infotainment system is frustrating to use.

Devon’s pick: The Sport trim seems to offer the best value. You still get the smooth 2.4 but upgraded to 189hp and few extra bits that makes it worth the consideration. Our money however would go to the EX-L V6 which comes with that excellent six-cylinder engine that’s actually more affordable than you’d think.