The stylish Kia Optima premium sedan has finally made its India debut at the 2018 Delhi Auto Expo. Besides Optima, the Korean brand has showcased the Stinger sportback and SP SUV concept. Adding to it, the company has also presented 13 New cars at the 14th edition of Delhi Auto Expo. The regular mode of this elegant sedan will challenge the likes of Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla Altis and Skoda Octavia. However, the company has showcased the Optima plug-in hybrid variant that directly rivals the Toyota Prius Hybrid. First launched in 2000, the Kia Optima has been one of the most popular Kia cars in global market. Also See – Kia SP SUV Concept Unveiled At Auto Expo 2018
This premium sedan is based on the Elantra platform, which is currently one of the best-selling car in its league. The company will have to locally develop this sedan to achieve aggressive pricing. It comes with a plug-in hybrid system, which comprises of a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 9.8kWh Li-Polymer battery. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. You May Also Like – Kia Sorento | Kia Sportage | Kia Picanto
Kia Optima Photo Gallery
Kia Optima India Launch
Unveiled at the Auto Expo 2018, the Kia Optima won’t come early into the Indian market. The company will first launch the SP concept based compact SUV in India in early 2019. It is expected that the Optima sedan could be launched in 2020. We will update our readers as soon as Kia announces anything on the same.
Kia Optima Price In India
The company is likely to develop this model locally at its Anantpura production plant in Andhra Pradesh. In order to grab some share, Kia needs to price this model competitively in the market. Set to challenge the likes of Toyota Prius Hybrid, the new Optima hybrid could be priced between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh. Also See – Kia Carnival People Mover Debuts At Auto Expo 2018
Kia Optima Specifications
The company has showcased the Optima plug-in hybrid model, which is equipped with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, which is coupled to an electric motor and a 9.8kWh Li-Polymer battery. The hybrid powertrain churns out 202PS of maximum power and 374Nm of torque. While the petrol engine is good for 154PS and 189Nm of torque, the electric motor contributes 48PS and 204Nm of torque. The Optima PHEV is claimed to have an all-electric range of up to 53km.
In the global markets, The Optima sedan is also available with two engine options – 2.0-litre MPI petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel. The gasoline engine is capable of producing a maximum power output of 160bhp at 6,500rpm and a peak torque of 196Nm at 4,800rpm. On the flip side, the diesel engine churns out 150bhp of power at 6,200rpm along with a peak torque of 192Nm at 4,000rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox driving the power to the front wheels come as standard, while a six-speed automatic unit comes as optional.
Kia Optima Features
– Tiger nose grille
– LED headlamps with Daytime running lights
– ORVMs with integrated blinker
– Touchscreen infotainment system
– Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
– Automatic climate control
– Wireless charging
– ABS with EBD
– ESC, VSM, BAS
– Six airbags
– Reverse parking sensor & camera
– Cruise control
– Hill assist control
Kia Optima Exterior
This model comes with simple and elegant styling, though there are subtle elements that make it look appealing. Upfront is the signature tiger nose grille with butterfly patterns radiator style with bold mesh design and chrome treatment. The slim headlamps come with HID projector lamps and integrated LED daytime running lights. It features a sporty bumper with horizontally positioned air intakes and blackened air dams at both ends. Side profile of the Kia Optima sedan has large alloy wheels, ORVMs with integrated blinkers, blackened glass area and chrome finished door handles. The rear profile of the car has shark fin antenna, lip spoiler, wraparound LED taillights and a chunky bumper.
Dimensions
In terms of proportions, the new Kia Optima is 4,855mm in length, 1,465mm in width and 1,860mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,805mm. The sedan has a fuel tank of 70-litres, while the ground clearance stands at 145mm. It comes with a boot space of 510-litres that is more than sufficient to accommodate 5 suitcases. The sedan rides on 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 235-45R tyres at front and rear.
Kia Optima Interior
The interior of the Optima shares several components with the Elantra sedan. The sedan has a black interior scheme that adds to its sporty appeal. It is equipped with a flat-bottomed multifunctional steering wheel, analog dials and digital MID instrument cluster. The lower variants come with dual-tone interior scheme. It is equipped with a large touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other features include front and rear armrests, ventilated and heated front seats, leather upholstery, Panoramic electric sunroof, rear air-conditioning vents, automatic climate control, wireless smartphone charging, etc.
