Kia Optima

[Tan]

Nice enough but lack of any petrol engine in the UK restricts its appeal as an executive carriage . The USA and Australia get a 200bhp petrol direct injection turbocharged 4 for example.

I use an executive car company (London Executive) quite a bit and when I started using them the fleet was all VW Passat's now they are all E class diesels, if they changed to the KIA's and this kept the prices down the I would still be happy.

Only time will tell if they will last as well with 1000's of miles under their wheels.

I do wonder if the likes of Kia may evolve like Samsung have, when Samsung first released their electronics particularly televisions, in the UK they were a budget brand, now they are competing on the same field with Sony and Panasonic TV's

 

[grober]

The latest Mercedes 4 cylinder diesel engine range are a pretty noisy bunch. Tough and torquey to drive they may be, but refined on anything but a gentle cruise is not an adjective I would apply sorry and I am not alone in that opinion Maybe in the bigger better insulated cars they are quieter but they can't hold a candle to nice petrol 6 imho It's rather sad that tomorrow's drivers are going to be denied the experience. To be honest you would need to drive the same car petrol and diesel engined back to back to appreciate the difference . Say a W204 C class Saloon M276 3.5 V6 petrol and a OM 651 250CDi = chalk and cheese in terms of refinement imho
Sadly UK buyers are never going to be able to find that out now

 

[Dieselman]

The latest Mercedes 4 cylinder diesel engine range are a pretty noisy bunch. Tough and torquey to drive they may be, but refined on anything but a gentle cruise is not an adjective I would apply sorry and I am not alone in that opinion Maybe in the bigger better insulated cars they are quieter but they can't hold a candle to nice petrol 6 imho It's rather sad that tomorrow's drivers are going to be denied the experience. To be honest you would need to drive the same car petrol and diesel engined back to back to appreciate the difference . Say a W204 C class Saloon M276 3.5 V6 petrol and a OM 651 250CDi = chalk and cheese in terms of refinement imho
Sadly UK buyers are never going to be able to find that out now

It may have escaped your attention, but the car in question is a Kia, not a Mercedes.

 

[V12]

But the 4 pot petrol is rough as...

Compare the v6 cdi to v6 petrol. Yes the petrol is quieter but the v6 cdi isn't exactly rough!

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[bpsorrel]

While I was in Russia in the summer I noticed a lot of new Hyundai Sonatas which up close bare more than passing resemblance to a certain VW CC...

Looked so good I tried one at our local dealer and to be honest, it was no worse than the CC - great effort and a car I could see me driving in Russia in the future.

 

[grober]

It may have escaped your attention, but the car in question is a Kia, not a Mercedes.

Merely pointing out that if KIA offered a petrol engined version in the UK there's a distinct possibility that it might be slightly more refined then the 1.7 diesel. Sadly we will never get the chance to find out. That's what I personally look for in an executive saloon above performance, economy, on the limit handling, electronic toys etc------refinement. I am aware the current motoring "orthodoxy" is diesels are best. I remain to be convinced.

 

[Dieselman]

I am aware the current motoring "orthodoxy" is diesels are best. I remain to be convinced.

Probably a good job you don't run a car concessionaire, then.

Kia UK will have done their research before making the decision to not take petrol engines.

 

[V12]

Merely pointing out that if KIA offered a petrol engined version in the UK there's a distinct possibility that it might be slightly more refined then the 1.7 diesel. Sadly we will never get the chance to find out. That's what I personally look for in an executive saloon above performance, economy, on the limit handling, electronic toys etc------refinement. I am aware the current motoring "orthodoxy" is diesels are best. I remain to be convinced.

When do you want a ride in the back of my lwb oil burner then?

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[BigSilverEstate]

Merely pointing out that if KIA offered a petrol engined version in the UK there's a distinct possibility that it might be slightly more refined then the 1.7 diesel. Sadly we will never get the chance to find out. That's what I personally look for in an executive saloon above performance, economy, on the limit handling, electronic toys etc------refinement. I am aware the current motoring "orthodoxy" is diesels are best. I remain to be convinced.

It's not just a petrol/ diesel thing though is it? This car would look a lot more interesting to anyone who vaguely enjoys driving if there were a wider range of engines, full stop - 6 or 8 cyl diesel would do just as well as a petrol if they were economical and refined.

I don't care how many toys or how reliable it is, I just stop reading once I've seen 4 cyl 1.7 diesel.

 

[grober]

Probably a good job you don't run a car concessionaire, then.

Kia UK will have done their research before making the decision to not take petrol engines.

Absolutely the high priests of accountancy have spoken. Not that they will have the remotest interest in what constitutes driving pleasure of course. Heresy I know. I should be punished.

 

[Dieselman]

Absolutely the high priests of accountancy have spoken. Not that they will have the remotest interest in what constitutes driving pleasure of course. Heresy I know. I should be punished.

Crickey, it's going to end up as "one of those threads" again.

Kia UK are out to sell cars to make money. They know their business and have decided on a certain model range.

Perhaps you should write to them and tell them where they are going wrong.

How many £multi million companies have you headed up?

 

[MrVix]

Crickey, it's going to end up as "one of those threads" again.

Kia UK are out to sell cars to make money. They know their business and have decided on a certain model range.

Perhaps you should write to them and tell them where they are going wrong.

How many £multi million companies have you headed up?

I head up one multi million £ company, my own, and i think diesels are rubbish lol

 

[Dieselman]

I head up one multi million £ company, my own, and i think diesels are rubbish lol

So, what brand of petrol cars are you selling and hoping to stay in business with?

 

[RichardM]

I've got a Kia Cee'd at the moment from Hertz and I'm really impressed. I was a little hesitant when they said what it was at the desk but it's pretty amazing for the money. 75mpg (apparently) and loads of standard kit, full sat nav, media centre, cameras etc. it's also very smooth and quiet, just a little slow.

 

[V12]

Similar performance figures to a brand new e200cdi and better economy just to put things into perspective.

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[st4]

Similar performance figures to a brand new e200cdi and better economy just to put things into perspective.

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And a £10k price difference?

Is the Optima as large as a 212 E class? That really put things into prespective for a middle management car or high miles cabbie

 

[redbaron]

I head up one multi million £ company, my own, and i think diesels are rubbish lol

are you powerfully built with a goatee beard too?

 

[wemorgan]

The cars are the same length but the E-class is 240mm wider, which I imagine would make a real difference if you regularly have 3 in the back.

Bit of a review here: Kia Optima Review | Autocar

 

[V12]

And a £10k price difference?

Is the Optima as large as a 212 E class? That really put things into prespective for a middle management car or high miles cabbie

It didn't feel as big, but the salesman was quick to point out that it is. Never really looked up the facts but it feels a heck of a lot smaller than my s class.

The one we tried was middle of the road spec and price was approx £21k. How much are 212s, gotta be well over £30k for a middle spec one?

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[Dieselman]

The cars are the same length but the E-class is 240mm wider, which I imagine would make a real difference if you regularly have 3 in the back.

Bit of a review here: Kia Optima Review | Autocar

240mm. Is that to the edge of the mirrors?

At 240mm less than a W212, it would make the Kia about the size of a MINI and it was certainly the same size as a Passat coupe.