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.

Devon test drives a Nissan Altima (Used)

Family saloons have never really been seen as cool or fun to drive. Honda and Toyota have pretty much ruined the family saloon image. Nissan however is trying to change all of that with the Nissan Altima. It's roomy, stylish and offers a suprising level of kit for the money. Can the Altima bring style and substance to the dull market of family saloons?
Performance: There's a 2.5liter four-cylinder with 175hp, a 3.5liter six-cylinder with 270hp and even a hybrid. The pick of the bunch is the 2.5S. There's a great balance of performance, fuel economy and price. The six-cylinder engine is smooth, but feels overwhelming to the car's chassis. While the hybrid form commands a higher asking price, that may seem off-putting to some buyers.

Ride & Handling: The Altima offers decent handling if you don't push it hard. The six-cylinder models offer a sports suspension that makes them more of a kick to drive. You'll either love or hate the ride comfort. It feels floaty even on the bumpiest of roads. Trade-off is the suspension soaks bumps up really well, but there's body roll and not much driver entertainment. The steering feels lifeless and leaves the driver feeling disconnected from the car and road.

Refinement: Wind and road noise is well supressed in the Altima. The transmission sounds buzzy when accelerating from standstill. But once you rev the engine, you'll hear a sporty exhaust noise. But it fades away quickly and continues to pull strongly. There's little noise from the suspension.

Buying & Owning: The Altima is more stylish than its rivals. If you stay clear of the V6 and ignore the base trim level, you'll find a Altima that's reasonably priced and holds its value well. The hybrid offers a fuel economy benefit and tax credit. However, the higher asking price and rarity of the vehicle makes it harder to find at dealer lots.

Quality & Reliability: The Altima has excellent fit and finish inside out. The interior feels logical and well laid out. There's all your controls within easy reach. All the plastics used look and feel like they will last long hard use. Mechanicals shouldn't give any worries as Nissan has excellent reliability record. With above average customer satisfaction scores on JD Power Survey.

Behind the wheel: Some drives may not like the front seats. They lack upright seating position, which makes the driver feel like they're sitting further away from the steering wheel than desired. The seats are comfortable, and there's reach and height adjustments for both the steering wheel and seating.

Space & Practicality: There's plenty of room for five passengers. The trunk has an old fashioned hinges, which eats into the cargo space. The rear seats offer plenty of room for two, there's room for three. However, the third passenger will have to make do with sitting on the transmission tunnel.

Likes: Roomy interior, peppy range of engines, slick shifting transmission, well balance of refinement and quality.
Dislikes: Ride often feels floaty, lifeless steering, front seats don't offer upright seating comfort.
Overall: The Nissan Altima presents an excellent alternate to the class leaders. While there are other rivals that offer more driving satisfaction and extensive safety kit. You'll like the Altima's charm and the low asking price for such a stylish well made vehicle.

Devon M