Asian car brands especially those from Japan and Korea have
always been known for the reliability, practicality and of course their
affordability. But, unlike their
European rivals, that exude class and sophistication, these cars’ design and
features are a little bit on the cheap side.
However, all that is about to change with the arrival of the
newest generation of cars from Korea and Japan. Take for example Kia’s newest
flagship model – the Optima, a car that according to its manufacturer offers a
no compromise car for the hardworking Filipino.
Design-wise, the Optima is one of the most attractive
looking cars that South Korea has sent the Philippines. At first glance, the
car looks expensive with its European styling. In fact, the entire look of the
Optima is complete divergence from the styling used in previous Kia cars.
The face of the car has a meaner look while the sides have
very elegant curves. The side air intake located just a few inches from the
front car doors are reminiscent of English styling found in luxury car brands
like Aston Martin and Jaguar. The back section on the other hand looks like
something taken from some German or French carmaker.
The interiors have also been restyled. Prospective buyers of
the car can now choose whether to have raschel cloth or leather for the car’s
interiors. There are also wood and (faux) carbon fiber finishes for the car’s
dashboard. And when it comes to entertainment, the Optima boasts an in-glass
radio antenna, a USB port, AM/FM radio with 6 speakers, CD player, MP3 player
and wireless communication access for Bluetooth enabled devices.
Safety and extra drive features of the Optima can also rival
those from other European models. It has a tire pressure monitor, cruise
control, tachometer, exterior temperature gauge, and a trip computer for
monitoring several aspects of the car’s performance. The Optima also has
several airbags and 3-point seatbelts for front and rear passengers.
Cargo space for the Optima is around 15.43 cu. ft. while
fuel economy is estimated at 22-35 miles per gallon, which is dependent on the
model and driving style.
In terms of suspension, the car is equipped with independent
MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and shock absorbers, while
the rear has independent multi-link suspension. The base model – LX has a
sportmatic manually interactive automatic transmission with adaptive automatic
transmission. Under the hood is a 2.4-liter 16-valve DOHC engine with 200hp at
6300rpm.
But if you’re not sure if all these options are really worth
it, the Optima’s 5-year warranty might change that. And with prices ranging
from $21,000-$28,000 (approximately PHP800,000++), this car is definitely a
bargain compared to other brands like Mercedes Benz, BMW or Audi.
