Already receiving raves for their new last year Optima, they must have asked themselves what to do for an encore.
Turbocharge!
The 2012 Optima SX 2.0T is their answer. Does it fill a void in the lineup? Hop in as we go in search of what Kia was pondering.
What is it?
Currently the highest performing Kia in the lineup, it is a five–seater that builds on the raves that the standard Optima has already received. With the addition of an engine swap that removes the 2.4-liter four-banger and replaces it with a Theta II 2.0–liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, This Turbo Optima betters the larger displacement mill by 74 additional horsepower.
Perhaps North Korea’s “Great Successor” Kim Jong Un might consider updating the executive motor pool from 1976 Lincoln Continentals to the new Optima.
Breakthroughs include a twin-scroll turbo instead of a more common single scroll type. The net result is less turbo-lag, and more available low-end power. Kia’s new voice activated Uvo system makes its appearance on board, bringing with it controls over Bluetooth and audio settings. But it was trumped by the addition of the Technology Package in our tester, which consisted of the Navigation System with Sirius Traffic, which in turn deleted the HD radio functionality, which we missed about as much as a toothache. In order to get, you must first give, but we still find it odd that selecting navigation forces an infotainment comprimise.
Omptima is available in five trim levels ranging from the base LX version to the EX, EX Turbo, SX Turbo and Hybrid. Only the base model can be had with a manual transmission. All others including our SX Turbo version came with the six-speed automatic tranny with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters or the gated shift lever for those wanting to row it themselves.
What’s it up against?
Ghosts of Optima past were never what we would call “lookers.” All we can say is thank goodness somebody in Seoul and Ulsan had the “stones” to pick up the group of Teutonics that now influence Kia’s design studios.
As a result, the brand now features a flagship that can go head-to-head with the Toyota Camry s, Honda Accords, Nissan Altimas and Ford Fusion s of the world.
And there is not another turbo in the bunch – unless you include the similarly-platformed Hyundai Sonata .
But with this style and level of equipment, this most aspirational Optima also goes up against the Buick Regal Turbo and Volkswagen CC .
How does it look?
We love the look of the new Optima. In fact we did so at first glance. But we do think that the standard, non-turbo equipped LX and EX models are what we would consider to be “Summer Camp hot.” Meaning that being seen alone, the LX is pretty good, and the EX is substantially better.
But bring in the SX Turbo model, with its more aggressive body style and 18-inch low-profile tires, and all of a sudden the two lower models are not all that. With the SX Turbo, you have a true belle of the ball.
Perhaps it’s the ground effects. Or the distinctive front and rear fascia. Maybe even the decklid lip spoiler. But these, along with the LED accent lighting and Hot Wheels–inspired alloy wheels all do their part to suggest the Kia Optima SX is not just another pretty–faced sedan.
In fact, it has many characteristics that remind us of a recently departed Scandinavian automaker. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, even if the design language here was penned by ex- Audi scribe Peter Schreyer. Frankly, it’s probably time we stopped referring to him by where he used to draw a paycheck.
And on the inside?
The interior design of our Optima is literally driver–oriented, with a strong cant toward the captain’s seat. A beefy leather–wrapped steering wheel, itself equipped with Sportmatic paddle shift levers, offered a better road feel than we experienced while driving the Kia’s corporate cousin, the Sonata.
We also thought the seats felt better than the previous year’s model and came to find that the seating has been revised for the 2012 model. Regardless, we like the six-way power adjustments, but felt the lumbar support was a little overly boosted, almost as though somebody was putting a foot between our shoulder blades.
The leather package in the SX features a combination leather seating area with woven accents that, while appearing sporting in nature, tend to take away from the overall high quality of this car. We wish there was a full leather–covered option for the seats, which are also heated and ventilated. Legroom in the rear seat was good, although a couple of passengers in the six-foot plus range felt a bit constricted by the sloping roofline.
Our SX also included the premium package, which upped the ante over the EX Turbo by including such niceties as the aforementioned Infinity audio system with navigation and SiriusXM traffic, a rear camera display, and our favorite, the panoramic sunroof. A pushbutton ignition and Smart Key system was also included in the package. Alloy pedals and illuminated doorsill scuff plates finish off what we think is an extremely respectable interior, one with which we really have to nitpick to find faults at this price.
But does it go?
The 2.0-liter Theta II GDI Turbo engine is a potent powerpack that puts out for this four-door sports sedan. Kia is one of those companies that believe in the concept of less being more, with the less in this case being a four-cylinder engine that is even smaller than their base 2.4-liter but produces V6 performance. By the numbers, that’s 274 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 269 pound feet of torque between 1,800 and 4,500 rpm from this direct injection engine.
Front engined and front wheel drive, we felt minimal shift–lag from the six–speed automatic overdrive transmission with Sportmatic shift control.
Assisting the intercooler side of things is Kia’s new Airguide ducting that lowers the outlet temperature by 10-degrees. The company claims it as an industry first, and it seems to perform its duties flawlessly.
NVH was well controlled by the use of high-strength steel on the Optima’s unibody. A pair of MacPherson struts, with coil springs in front and coils with a multi–link kit in the rear, were finished off with anti-roll bars at both ends for added stability. Good road feel is transmitted through the steering wheel by way of the decidedly old school hydraulic power assisted rack and pinion steering system. Sure, it’s probably a cause for parasitic energy loss, but we’re still not totally sold on electric power steering feel.
EPA numbers for this 3,385 lbs. sedan slotted in at 22 city/34 highway, although as hard as we were driving we were lucky to see 20 city/31 highway. Oh, and that’s using regular gas, which helps a little.
On back, the Optima SX behaved like a car that should have cost thousands more.
Acceleration was brisk with a “push you back in the seats” sense of urgency with a nice audio track from under hood adding to it. With torque steer a thing of the past, we managed to experience 0 to 60 mph runs in the mid-six second range.
Handling kept us within the stripes on the twisties, but we do wish the seats had stronger side bolsters in front, at least. Optima rides firmly but in control, with only a vague flinty feel from the low-profile Hankook tires.
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