Segment: Medium
Production years: 2006, 2007, 2008
Kia unveiled the Optima at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and it was the last piece o the puzzle in its lineup.
With the Optima, the Korean carmaker completed the three-year regeneration process of its lineup. It was a mid-size sedan built on the same base as the Hyundai Sonata. It was built to offer good comfort and decent performance at an affordable price. The result matched the promise, and the Optima was sold well around the world, bearing different names such as the Magentis in Europe or Lotze in South Korea.
Peter Schreyer signed the design, and its influence was obvious. It was starting with the big headlights swept-back on the sides and top of the fenders. The grille was wide with horizontal slats and featured the Kia oval logo in the middle. From its sides, the Optima offered a simple sedan look with a sloped rear window.
Inside, a big sound system occupied the center stack's upper side and, underneath it, the designer placed the climate control buttons. In the instrument cluster, the manufacturer decided to offer a four dial panel with the coolant temperature and the fuel level placed in the middle, on the upper side. It was the same idea used by Audi, and that was not a big surprise since Schreyer was an important designer for the German brand.
Under the hood, Kia offered a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines. For the U.S. market, the Korean carmaker installed only gasoline versions.
ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L 16V 5MT FWD (144 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1998 cm3 |
Power: | 106 KW @ 6000 RPM 144 HP @ 6000 RPM 142 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 139 lb-ft @ 4250 RPM 188 Nm @ 4250 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 16.4 gallons (62.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 129.2 mph (208 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.2 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 205/60R16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 186.6 in (4740 mm) |
Width: | 70.9 in (1801 mm) |
Height: | 58.3 in (1481 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61.4/61 in (1,560/1,549 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 107.1 in (2720 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.8 cuFT (419 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.32 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3049 lbs (1383 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4321.1 lbs (1960 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 22.4 mpg US (10.5 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 37.9 mpg US (6.2 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 30.5 mpg US (7.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 184 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.4L DOHC 5AT FWD (162 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2359 cm3 |
Power: | 120.8 KW @ 5800 RPM 164 HP @ 5800 RPM 162 BHP @ 5800 RPM |
Torque: | 164 lb-ft @ 4250 RPM 222 Nm @ 4250 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 16.4 gallons (62.1 L) |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Vented Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | P205/60 R16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 186.4 in (4735 mm) |
Width: | 71.1 in (1806 mm) |
Height: | 58.3 in (1481 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61.5/61.1 in (1,562/1,552 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 107.1 in (2720 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.8 cuFT (419 L) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3142 lbs (1425 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 21 mpg US (11.2 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 31 mpg US (7.6 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 26 mpg US (9 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.7L V6 5AT FWD (188 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | V6 |
Displacement: | 2656 cm3 |
Power: | 138 KW @ 6000 RPM 188 HP @ 6000 RPM 185 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 182 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 247 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 16.4 gallons (62.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 137 mph (220 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 9.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/50R17 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 186.6 in (4740 mm) |
Width: | 70.9 in (1801 mm) |
Height: | 58.3 in (1481 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61.4/61 in (1,560/1,549 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 107.1 in (2720 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.8 cuFT (419 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.32 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3229.8 lbs (1465 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4453.3 lbs (2020 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 17.9 mpg US (13.1 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 33.6 mpg US (7 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 25.6 mpg US (9.2 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 220 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L CRDi 6MT FWD (140 HP) | |
---|---|
Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1991 cm3 |
Power: | 103 KW @ 4000 RPM 140 HP @ 4000 RPM 138 BHP @ 4000 RPM |
Torque: | 225 lb-ft @ 1800 RPM 305 Nm @ 1800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Common Rail |
Fuel: | Diesel |
Fuel capacity: | 16.4 gallons (62.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 125 mph (201 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 10.4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Front Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-Speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 205/60R16 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 186.6 in (4740 mm) |
Width: | 70.9 in (1801 mm) |
Height: | 58.3 in (1481 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 61.4/61 in (1,560/1,549 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 107.1 in (2720 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 6.3 in (160 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 14.8 cuFT (419 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.32 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
---|---|
Unladen Weight: | 3306.9 lbs (1500 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4508.4 lbs (2045 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
---|---|
City: | 29 mpg US (8.1 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 47 mpg US (5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 39.2 mpg US (6 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 162 g/km |