Kia has been teasing us with the next generation of its Optima/K5 sedan for quite some time now, so the newly revealed technical specs are welcome.
Among other things, it is now official that the next-gen Optima sources its engine from the Hyundai Sonata N Line and gets four-wheel drive for the first time ever.
The generation switch makes the sedan 50 mm (2”) longer, 25 mm (1”) wider and 20 mm (0.8”) less tall with 45 mm (1.8”) of added wheelbase. The radiator grille now houses integrated LED headlights, and the wheels are available in sizes from 16 to 19 inches.
Inside, the digital dash screen measures 12.3 inches across, while the media display is only 8 inches large (but you may pay for a larger 10.25-inch version). Other paid extras include an 8-inch HUD, nine airbags, a wireless charging device, adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, special ambient lighting, a Bose 12-speaker audio set, and plentiful electronic driving aids. As for the trim, you are free to choose from cloth, fake leather and natural leather, as well as single- and dual-tone.
In the USA and South Korea, the next Kia Optima/K5 will ship with a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine under the hood, rated at 180 hp (134 kW) and 265 Nm (195 lb-ft) of torque. Other markets will be offered a choice between a 2.0-liter non-turbo (152-160 hp, 113-119 kW) and is larger 2.5-liter counterpart (194 hp, 145 kW). Customers in the USA will be getting a top-of-the-line 2.5 TSI variant with 290 hp (216 kW) and 422 Nm (311 lb-ft). It will link to an eight-speed DSG transmission and make 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 6.6 seconds. All other engines will receive automatic transmissions (six- and eight-speed). A few hybrids, both mild ones and PHEVs, will join the lineup in the future.