Item: Kia Optima Sportswagon
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

As is usual with Kia models, the Sportswagon comes with lots of standard equipment. Even the entry-level 2&nbsp;model has plenty of luxuries, such as climate control, cruise control, power-folding door mirrors, 17in alloy wheels and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob. As a consequence, we’d stick with that to make the most of the Sportwagon’s competitive list price, although 3&nbsp;trim is still worth considering if&nbsp;you like your toys.

Anyone who pays for their own fuel will appreciate the Sportwagon’s impressive claimed combined fuel consumption of up to 61.4mpg.&nbsp;Company car drivers will face fairly palatable monthly tax bills, with CO2 emissions from 121g/km for the diesel engine, but that’s still beaten by the Superb 2.0 TDI 150’s 113g/km&nbsp;and the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi’s 112g/km.

Although we’re yet to drive it, it’s unlikely that the 241bhp 2.0-litre petrol will prove highly recommendable. It’s available only in the pricey GT trim&nbsp;and halves fuel economy to 30.7mpg, nearly doubling CO2 emissions to 211g/km. If you want a petrol, we’d steer you towards more economical options offered in rivals, such as the Superb 1.4 TSI 150.

Euro NCAP awarded the Optima (it hasn’t tested the Sportswagon specifically) a five-star safety rating. However, it’s disappointing that preventative safety features are reserved for the more expensive trims; you have to step up to&nbsp;GT-Line S to get automatic emergency braking, and you can’t add it as an option on cheaper versions. The entry-level 2&nbsp;trim also misses out on lane-keeping assistance, speed limit information and driver attention monitoring.

Kia finished a very impressive fourth place in our latest Reliability Survey, and the firm’s excellent standard seven-year/100,000-mile warranty is on hand should anything go wrong, whereas most rivals offer only three years.

We’re yet to drive the 2.0-litre petrol engine, but the 1.6-litre diesel is generally fine for a car of this size. Sure, 134bhp looks modest next to an equivalent Superb or Mondeo, but while it’s not as quick as its rivals away from the lights, it’s flexible enough during normal driving, picking up smartly from around 2000rpm. The problem is that flexibility is short-lived: it runs out of puff by 4000rpm.

On a cold start, it grumbles away, and it still sounds a bit strained even when warm&nbsp;– especially if you stretch it beyond the mid-range. Even though a Superb 2.0 TDI 150 isn’t whisper-quiet&nbsp;either, it’s less raucous than the Optima.

The Optima's manual gearshift has a long throw, but it's light and fairly precise. The optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic 'box is clunky at low speed, but once you're in the flow of things, it changes smoothly.

But the Sportswagon isn't as engaging to drive as its rivals. Its steering is vague along the straight-ahead, before gaining weight suddenly and unnaturally as you turn the wheel. Both the Superb and Mondeo are less wallowy, steer more intuitively&nbsp;and, as a consequence, are easier to drive over a distance.

Ride quality is more of a mixed bag. At low speeds across broken town roads, the Sportwagon can be a bit lumpy, but it works better on the motorway, feeling rather more settled and comfortable.

The Kia range is continuing its spread its wings to all corners of the market, offering everything from the excellent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Picanto</a> city car to the sporty rear-wheel-drive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/stinger/saloon/review/n177">Stinger</a>, with its&nbsp;<a href="//www.whatcar.com/category/family-suv">family SUV</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Sportage</a>, and its gargantuan one, the extraordinarily spacious <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Sorento</a>, in between. But it hasn’t abandoned the more traditional markets, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/optima/saloon/review/n157">Kia Optima</a> Sportswagon still offering buyers the choice of a big, practical estate.

Speaking of traditional, the engine options include a&nbsp;1.6-litre CRDi diesel, a 2.0-litre T-GDi turbo engine in top-of-the-range GT trim&nbsp;and, for those of a more progressive mindset, a plug-in hybrid option.

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As you might expect, the Sportswagon&nbsp;comes in a variety of trims and with a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes, but when all’s said and done, does it do enough to elevate itself above the competition? After all, that includes cars that arguably spring more readily to mind, such as the venerable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/estate/review/n107">Ford Mondeo</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/estate/review/n17344">Skoda Superb</a> estates.

To answer that question and help you pick your way through the Optima Sportswagon line-up, keep reading through our review and we’ll furnish you with all the information.

Don't forget, for the very best deals on the new Optima Sportswagon, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> section of our website.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

The Sportswagon's interior has been given some improvements, including a new steering wheel and chrome trim on the centre console. It feels more polished than the Mondeo inside, thanks largely to its nicely damped switches and pleasant mix of materials.

There’s a cracking infotainment system, too, with either a 7.0in or 8.0in touchscreen, depending on the trim you go for. Both screens are bright, while the menus are responsive and easy to navigate. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring are included as standard.

Drivers of all shapes and sizes will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel. There’s a broad range of height and reach adjustment to the steering wheel, while the manually adjustable driver’s seat offers good variation.

The electrically operated seats that come if you move up the range can be tweaked to an even greater extent, while all versions get lumbar adjustment as standard. 2&nbsp;trim&nbsp;gets you black cloth upholstery, while 3&nbsp;models include faux leather and the top GT-Line S gets leather upholstery with red stitching.

The pedals line up nicely with the driver’s seat and steering wheel to leave you relaxed behind the wheel. Generally, the switches are clearly labelled and easy to reach, with just a few exceptions: the heated seat and steering wheel buttons are hidden down by the front centre armrest, and some of the climate controls – the ones to change the airflow from face to feet, for example – are embedded in the touchscreen, rather than on&nbsp;physical buttons.

Visibility forwards is very good, although the view behind is more difficult to make out, due to the Sportswagon’s swooping roofline. Luckily, every version comes with front and rear parking sensors as well as a rear-view camera.

Estate

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

OPTIMA

A good estate car, but there are more reasons to buy its equally spacious, practical and better-driving rivals.

There’ll be no complaints from those in the front, thanks to the generous&nbsp;head and leg room. The rear seats&nbsp;aren’t quite as humongous as they are in a Skoda Superb, but they're still relatively impressive for the class, seating two tall adults with knee and head room to spare, even when behind another couple of similar-size&nbsp;people in the front. As with most cars in this class, though, three large adults sitting side-by-side will feel a little cosy.&nbsp;

A family estate is pointless without a boot size that can cope with everyday life, and in this respect, the Sportswagon holds its own in the class. It can't match the class-leading Superb's massive load bay, but it's bigger than the Mondeo's and provides good access, a low boot floor and no annoying lip at the boot entrance. A powered tailgate is standard on GT-Line S models.

Furthermore, the Sportswagon's rear seats split in a handy 40/20/40 configuration and fold down – using levers just inside the boot entrance – to leave a flat floor from boot entrance to the front seatbacks.

A good estate car that impresses on the practical side of things, with a decent boot and generous space inside, but in other areas it falls down. On the road the ride is unsettled at low speeds, while neither the noisy diesel engine nor the dull handling make it enjoyable to drive quickly. A Skoda Superb offers even better practicality along with a more enjoyable and comfortable driving experience.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

Kia Optima Sportswagon review

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Buying advice for the Kia Optima Sportswagon covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

As is usual with Kia models, the Sportswagon comes with lots of standard equipment. Even the entry-level 2 model has plenty of luxuries, such as climate control, cruise control, power-folding door mirrors, 17in alloy wheels and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob. As a consequence, we’d stick with that to make the most of the Sportwagon’s competitive list price, although 3 trim is still worth considering if you like your toys.,Anyone who pays for their own fuel will appreciate the Sportwagon’s impressive claimed combined fuel consumption of up to 61.4mpg. Company car drivers will face fairly palatable monthly tax bills, with CO2 emissions from 121g/km for the diesel engine, but that’s still beaten by the Superb 2.0 TDI 150’s 113g/km and the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi’s 112g/km.,Although we’re yet to drive it, it’s unlikely that the 241bhp 2.0-litre petrol will prove highly recommendable. It’s available only in the pricey GT trim and halves fuel economy to 30.7mpg, nearly doubling CO2 emissions to 211g/km. If you want a petrol, we’d steer you towards more economical options offered in rivals, such as the Superb 1.4 TSI 150.,Euro NCAP awarded the Optima (it hasn’t tested the Sportswagon specifically) a five-star safety rating. However, it’s disappointing that preventative safety features are reserved for the more expensive trims; you have to step up to GT-Line S to get automatic emergency braking, and you can’t add it as an option on cheaper versions. The entry-level 2 trim also misses out on lane-keeping assistance, speed limit information and driver attention monitoring.,Kia finished a very impressive fourth place in our latest Reliability Survey, and the firm’s excellent standard seven-year/100,000-mile warranty is on hand should anything go wrong, whereas most rivals offer only three years.

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