Kia Optima Kombi GT - finally 245 hp!
Let's start with a rhetorical question - was it worth waiting for the Optima GT station wagon? If you're not sure about the answer, a few more paragraphs and you'll believe you knew. Finally, Kia gives us a complete car in our hands - the missing element for a fulfilling everyday life. In this car, you can be a manager, a parent and a passionate lover. The choice is yours. The Kia Optima GT station wagon provides only opportunities. Or how much?
Outside or inside?
In the case of this car, it is really difficult to decide whether we prefer to watch it from the side or immediately jump behind the wheel. With the GT version of the Optima wagon, we'll probably take a longer route to work, just so more people can admire the shape.
First impression: This is a low-profile car with a cheeky design that almost blinks itself at every traffic light and provokes neighbors for a short acceleration test. The body is long, wide, and actually low – making it warm for anyone who prefers traction over left-to-right skidding on the road. It is also difficult to clearly determine which side of the Optima presents itself most favorably - pleasant surprises await us everywhere. Xenon headlights and a black grille dominate the front bumper. When viewed from the rear, it's hard to look away from the dual exhaust and brutal diffuser. In profile, the Optima GT stands out with a silver line along the roofline and a streamlined shark fin antenna. The tinted windows in the rear doors and the trunk lid contrast particularly well with the snow-white bodywork.
When we were lucky to be with the new Optima station wagon, not only outside, but also inside. From the driver's seat, squinting a little, it's not hard to imagine that we've visited the cockpit of the latest Series 3 straight from Bavaria. The center console has the most in common with the BMW, where - when viewed from above - we find an 8-inch touchscreen, and below - the audio control panel (from Harman Kardon) and automatic dual-zone air conditioning. Further in the compartment under an inconspicuous cover are hidden USB, AUX and 12V inputs, as well as an induction charger panel for our smartphone. In addition to a short, slightly flattened automatic transmission control lever, there is another retractable place for small items and a pair of cup holders. Right in front of the armrest (which also hides a deep compartment) we have access to heated/ventilated seats, an exterior camera system and parking brake assist options.
Kia has already taught us the pleasant and easy operation of cruise control, radio or multimedia directly from the steering wheel. With separate buttons, you can also configure the parameters for displaying information on a small display between the large dials of the speedometer and tachometer.
Leather seats with a fairly deep profile are adjustable in each plane - moreover, we have the ability to remember the settings for two drivers. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the steering column - you have to adjust it manually. A nice addition is the function of automatically opening and shifting the driver's seat when entering or exiting.
Inside the new Optima, you should pay attention to a few more pleasant surprises - unlike most new cars, the front door is not covered with a thick plastic panel, the “sidewalls” do not expand around the driver’s left leg. next to the loudspeaker for noticeably more legroom. We also find plenty of headroom – only visually, unfortunately. This is because of the two glass panels in the roof. Only after the front part of the sunroof is pushed back (the rear part does not move away) will a tall driver be able to tell that there is enough space above him. The same problem, even more so, applies to the back bench. These are the side effects of a lowered roofline that looks much better from the outside. As a solace, rear passengers have access to separate air vents and a 12V input, as well as heated seats. The luggage compartment of the Optima Estate, although low, is impressive with a capacity of 552 liters and will meet the expectations of even the most demanding. We are also pleased with the rail attachment system for customizing the space. The auto-closing button on the trunk lid will prevent your hands from getting dirty, especially in winter. Small and fun.
However, nothing is more fun than driving.
Whether you're making a short commute to work, daycare, shopping and back, or traveling thousands of miles across Europe, the Kia Optima Kombi GT has you covered. And in the literal sense - perfect traction, thanks to the low center of gravity and the low position of the driver's seat, contribute to the feeling of "wrapped" in the car. Thanks to this, it can be dynamic and safe at the same time.
The Optima GT offers three masks: normal mode - an example of a manager during working hours; ECO mode is the responsible head of the family during leisure trips and SPORT mode is 20 years younger. In the case of the latter, the pleasant (unfortunately, artificially created) rumble of the 2-liter 245-horsepower engine becomes noticeably louder, and even a light touch on the gas pedal tears the car in front. We have a paddle shifter on the steering wheel, but frankly, a well-tuned automatic transmission that seems to understand what the driver is thinking at any moment will serve us better. We can only focus on driving pleasure without worrying about the potential danger resulting from a mistake.
The Optima GT follows us every step of the way, and the steering behavior during dynamic cornering is a perfect example of this. The slightly perceptible steering resistance means that even at higher speeds, there is no need to nervously strain your arms in preparation for a possible oncoming impact. Acceleration to 100 km / h in 7,6 seconds is not knocking down, but still brings a big smile to the driver's face.
That's what the new Kia Optima GT wagon looks like - it's a lot of fun and asks for nothing in return. PLN 153 thousand in the back and a thousand kilometers of pure pleasure in front. In the case of this model, this is an extremely profitable replacement.
