All New 2021 KIA Optima / K5 Quick Look: What You Need To Know
KIA has made significant progress over the years, going from a boring consumer brand to one of the most exciting. They have been on fire lately, with the recent launch of the all-new Telluride and Stinger several years ago. Once again, KIA is stepping up its game with the introduction of the all-new Optima, known as the K5 overseas. The new Optima looks to be very exciting. It offers a stunning fastback design, several powertrains options, a new eight-speed wet double-clutch transmission (8DCT), and a gorgeous modern interior design.
Interior Highlights
The all-new Optima offers drivers an entirely new interior design that aims to be minimalistic and open. Having driven it, I can attest to the roomy feeling and excellent interior material choices. Depending on the trim level you choose, KIA offers a natural-looking wood trim, sharp metal accents, a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, and a new digital gauge cluster and multimedia system.
In recent years, KIA has done an excellent job of making their vehicles feel more premium than their price tag, but the all-new Optima takes it to the next level.
Exterior Highlights
The designers decided to take the Optima in a sporty direction as it features an aggressive ‘tiger-nose’ grille with integrated LED headlamps and unique daytime running light signatures. The body itself has a fastback look to it with a sloping rear, allowing it to look more like a sports sedan than a family car.
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New LED daytime running lights also span the width of the rear in dashes of light that extend across the tailgate. A sportier lower bumper and dual chrome muffler design complete the look.
New Engine Offering & 8-Speed
KIA is now offering its ‘Smartstream’ 1.6-liter T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine on the Optima. It’s able to produce 177 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 195 ft-lb of torque across a wide range of engine speeds (1,500-4,500 rpm).
Having driven this new powertrain, I can tell you it’s very responsive and should make consumers very happy looking for an efficient yet smooth powertrain. It’s certainly not going to blow your doors off with 177 horsepower, but it manages to feel powerful enough for day-to-day driving.
The engineers have implemented a new wet double-clutch 8-speed transmission, which feels like something out of an Audi. It’s that good. KIA said they can improve efficiency with this new transmission, but in addition to that, it makes driving a lot more engaging and fun. You can even use the paddle shifters without delay in gear shifts, a common problem with manual shifting in family sedans.
AWD Now Offered In Select Markets
Perhaps the most exciting development under the hood is the all-new AWD system, making the 2021 Optima one of only two vehicles in this class offering AWD. Indeed a great option to have if you live in a colder climate with seasonal snow showers.
Updated Technology
KIA’s latest multimedia system seen on the K5 is very good, as it’s easy to use, has a friendly design interface, and makes simple functions like finding a navigation destination easy. The display itself is 10.25 inches, and the digital instrument cluster is 12.3 inches and even comes with four different gauge cluster layouts.
An 8.0-inch head-up display also makes an appearance, which projects driving information such as speed, turn-by-turn navigation instructions, and various safety information.
Like the new Hyundai Sonata, the K5 offers remote parking assist which makes getting in and out of tight parking spaces much more comfortable. All you need to do is remotely start the car and hold down the forward or backward button on the remote and presto! The car is now moving. It uses an army of cameras and sensors to ensure it doesn’t hit anything along the way.
Final Thoughts
While the North American version of the K5 (Optima) won’t arrive until sometime this summer, I believe it will be very successful. Now Mazda and Honda actually have something to be concerned about as the all-new Optima hits all the right points such as styling, interior quality, technology, and efficient yet satisfying driving dynamics.
The New 2021 Kia Optima is a Great-Looking Sedan
The fifth generation of Kia’s mid-size sedan gets a complete and stylish overhaul that’s helped transform its maker to new heights.
Remember when Kia’s lineup was a forgettable fleet of cheap transportation? If you can’t recall those rental-counter bottom-feeders, trust us, you’re not alone. The Korean automaker and its corporate counterpart, Hyundai, have been successfully shedding that stereotype for many years now. They’ve recently blossomed into two of the more interesting brands out there. Kia introduced genre-busting new models such as the sporty four-door Stinger and the terrific three-row Telluride SUV. Now, the all-new 2021 Kia Optima heads further upscale with an even more stylish overhaul that has helped fuel the company’s meteoric rise.
Looks and Comfort
It’s hard to believe that the new Optima is built by the same company—let alone wears the same nameplate—as the outgoing model. (A quick note: To avoid confusion, we’ll refer to the Korean-spec K5 that we drove for this review as an Optima.) Sure, the last generation could be handsome, but its replacement earns more affectionate compliments. Dare we call it sexy, even? Its narrow headlights are outlined by zigzag running lights that merge into Kia’s «tiger nose» grille to give the sedan a fierce face. Its hood and side surfaces are creased for extra character without looking extra busy. A chrome strip runs congruent with the sweeping roofline before crossing the rear pillar, tracing the top of the trunklid, and connecting the opposite side of the car. This helps create a fastback profile that finishes with provocative taillights that span the rear end and resemble a heartbeat monitor.
If the Optima’s dramatic exterior isn’t enough, its impressive cabin ought to do the trick. Kia smartly avoided overdoing the design and opted for an uncomplicated layout with rich-looking materials. The dash is dominated by a piano-black bezel that houses a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.3-inch touchscreen. Seriously, the instrument panel has beautiful displays, including a vista-like background or gauges that transform with the drive modes. The infotainment system is also gorgeous, and its menus are generally easy to navigate. If there’s anything to complain about inside the Optima, it’s the lack of tactile controls. While the audio system has a volume knob, everything else is controlled via steering-wheel buttons or touch-sensitive zones around the screen. The same goes for the HVAC system. Kia claims these functions are more intuitive than traditional switchgear, but we prefer the more dependable and less distracting physical stuff.
Still, the Optima is great because of its luxury-like features and Kia’s obvious attention to detail. The company didn’t disclose the trim level we drove, but it showed what to expect from the fanciest examples. Our tester included cool ambient interior lighting on the doors and dash, a nifty air-purification system, heated and ventilated front seats (toggle operated, thankfully), a useful head-up display, plush leather upholstery, and a wireless charging pad. Except for the narrow door pockets, there’s plenty of spots to store small items in the center console. The Optima’s large trunk also looked capable of holding luggage for all its passengers. While we wouldn’t pack five full adults into the sedan, even though there’s room, four passengers will be very comfortable. The back seat in particular has generous legroom and a large fold-down armrest. The driving position was plenty flexible and includes a convenient dead pedal and floor-mounted accelerator. We only wish we could’ve lowered the seat height more.
Still Under Development
For those who didn’t know, the new Optima is mechanically similar to the all-new Hyundai Sonata. They share a platform, powertrain options, and other less obvious equipment, but they’re endowed with different personalities. Based on our experience driving an Optima on the streets and freeways surrounding South Korea’s capital of Seoul, we don’t think it’s likely to usurp the Honda Accord or Mazda 6 as the de-facto choices for driver engagement. However, that’s more of a testament to those manufacturers’ engineering than a shot at Kia. The Optima provides a pleasant experience that is highlighted by steady handling and a quiet ride. There was minimal road noise and no structural vibrations during our drive. The sedan was easy to maneuver through Seoul’s tightly packed streets thanks to its relaxed but reactive steering. We didn’t feel as confident with its soft brake pedal, which elicited a panicky prod when the binders didn’t always quickly respond. Kia said this will be resolved before production starts, and there will be steering and suspension tuning changes for the U.S. market as well. That may resolve our only other complaint, which is that our tester had a firm ride that was most noticeable on uneven surfaces.
The Optima will offer a variety of different engine options in other markets, but U.S. models will have two choices. This means no more hybrid or plug-in hybrid—for now, at least. However, shoppers can turn to the Kia Niro or Soul EV for electrified alternatives. The 2021 Optima will also be available with all-wheel drive for the first time. This hasn’t been confirmed for the States, but we expect it will since rivals such as the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry offer it. The inevitable Optima GT will give Americans a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four that should make about 290 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’ll pair with an first eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a gearbox that will also be in the Hyundai Sonata N-Line.
The Optima we drove was powered by the other engine that’s been confirmed for the U.S. It’s the same turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four that we tested on a 2020 Sonata Limited. It makes 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, which should apply to the Kia, too. Our Optima also turned the front wheels through a dutiful eight-speed automatic gearbox. This is a welcome reprieve from the moaning continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVTs) that are becoming more and more common. The Optima’s gearbox changed ratios with a refined consistency that could be held or hurried by switching into the Sport drive mode or by flicking the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. However, it denied aggressive downshifts and brief inactivity initiated upshifts. Folks who care about that won’t be interested in an Optima anyways. Instead, the turbo four’s competent low-end power and subdued nature will satisfy most drivers. They’ll just have to be patient when trying to pass slowpokes at highway speeds.
Name Game
K5 Name Is Happening
Although there’s a chance the fifth-generation Optima could be called K5 when it comes to the U.S., that hardly matters because it’ll be almost identical to the Korean version that we drove. We’re not fans of the potential name change, but the new car is so much better than its predecessor that Kia could call it Gangnam Style without hurting its appeal. Not only is it arguably more attractive than its mainstream competitors, the mid-size sedan also offers countless upscale features and—probably—the highly covetable all-wheel drive. That might even steal some Sonata sales. Who knows? What we do know is that the all-new Optima or K5 or whatever Kia decides to call should be a great car and a great value when it hits U.S. showrooms in the second half of next year with a price tag that may start around $25,000.
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.