The mid-sized sedan segment has always been fiercely competitive in Singapore, with capable cars such as the Toyota Camry, the Mazda6 and the Honda Accord all forming up to take a bite of the pie.
Thus, if Kia hopes to win buyers in this saturated sphere with its updated Optima K5, the Korean marque will have to exceed the current high standards and give buyers a reasonable proposition to switch from established class leaders.
While that may sound like quite a challenge for Kia, the carmaker has yet to disappoint.
Up close and Personal
When the Kia Optima came to Singapore in early 2011, it possessed a rather gorgeous styling that managed to place the Korean's marque's design capabilities at the forefront. It was almost like the Optima K5 helped launch the brand as a major aesthetic force and placed itself in a position where it can put the established segment players on notice.
Now that the updated car has arrived (second update since 2011, actually), the Kia K5 brings about freshened styling and handy features that will easily put some of the European makes to shame.
Thus, if Kia hopes to win buyers in this saturated sphere with its updated Optima K5, the Korean marque will have to exceed the current high standards and give buyers a reasonable proposition to switch from established class leaders.
While that may sound like quite a challenge for Kia, the carmaker has yet to disappoint.
Up close and Personal
When the Kia Optima came to Singapore in early 2011, it possessed a rather gorgeous styling that managed to place the Korean's marque's design capabilities at the forefront. It was almost like the Optima K5 helped launch the brand as a major aesthetic force and placed itself in a position where it can put the established segment players on notice.
Now that the updated car has arrived (second update since 2011, actually), the Kia K5 brings about freshened styling and handy features that will easily put some of the European makes to shame.
For starters, it still looks good. With a clean sheet metal, a sporty roofline and the snarling 'Tiger Nose' (that has become Kia's signature design), the Optima K5 is fashionable. More relevantly, the front fascia has been slightly tweaked, with new fog lamps and LED daytime running lights now nicely incorporated with the headlamps. Even the new 'tube' taillights have been updated to match the looks of the new K3.
Just as simple but classy is the cabin. The minimalist cockpit doesn't make waves like how some brands do. It's relatively understated here, which is a very good thing because occupants are bound to be surprised with the vast amount of features they can meddle with.
The car comes with useful features such as ventilated seats with memory options (excellent for our climate), steering wheel audio controls, aux-in and USB options and an eight-speaker Infinity audio system, among others.
Just as simple but classy is the cabin. The minimalist cockpit doesn't make waves like how some brands do. It's relatively understated here, which is a very good thing because occupants are bound to be surprised with the vast amount of features they can meddle with.
The car comes with useful features such as ventilated seats with memory options (excellent for our climate), steering wheel audio controls, aux-in and USB options and an eight-speaker Infinity audio system, among others.
Drivetrain
Unlike its predecessor, which was fitted with a 2.0-litre engine, the updated Optima K5 has a bigger and better powerplant residing under its long bonnet. Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the newly-fitted four-cylinder 2.4-litre block produces some 177bhp and 231Nm of twisting force - 12 more horses and 33Nm more torque than the previous model.
While the difference isn't much on paper, you can easily feel the extra figures coming into play in real world driving. As before, the Optima also rides well, giving it a somehow agreeable and amiable characteristic when going over bumps and ruts. The suspension may lean towards the firm side, but it's never harsh and is relatively quiet even over coarse surfaces.
For a car measuring over 4,800mm in length, the K5 holds its own pretty well in the handling department, thanks to the precise steering wheel. Although a tad too light for our liking, it requires little adjustments on the road, giving you the much needed confidence to go faster and harder for the fun of it.
Unlike its predecessor, which was fitted with a 2.0-litre engine, the updated Optima K5 has a bigger and better powerplant residing under its long bonnet. Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the newly-fitted four-cylinder 2.4-litre block produces some 177bhp and 231Nm of twisting force - 12 more horses and 33Nm more torque than the previous model.
While the difference isn't much on paper, you can easily feel the extra figures coming into play in real world driving. As before, the Optima also rides well, giving it a somehow agreeable and amiable characteristic when going over bumps and ruts. The suspension may lean towards the firm side, but it's never harsh and is relatively quiet even over coarse surfaces.
For a car measuring over 4,800mm in length, the K5 holds its own pretty well in the handling department, thanks to the precise steering wheel. Although a tad too light for our liking, it requires little adjustments on the road, giving you the much needed confidence to go faster and harder for the fun of it.
The only setback here for the car is the lack of refinement necessary to make a stronger case for itself.
Conclusion
Five years ago, buying a car in this segment meant that you had to sacrifice looks for driveability and vice versa. But the Kia Optima K5 is a game changer.
It's clear that the abundance of interior features, together with its striking sheet metal, can overcome such a trade-off. Various carmakers (Japanese and European alike) may not offer ventilated seats in its cars, but you can have one on the K5. There's even a panoramic glass roof that makes the cabin a lot more airy and brighter when driving on a sunny afternoon!
It goes without saying that as good as this package can be, it would be a total waste of time for everyone if the K5 could not step up to the plate. And in this regard, it didn't disappoint.
Conclusion
Five years ago, buying a car in this segment meant that you had to sacrifice looks for driveability and vice versa. But the Kia Optima K5 is a game changer.
It's clear that the abundance of interior features, together with its striking sheet metal, can overcome such a trade-off. Various carmakers (Japanese and European alike) may not offer ventilated seats in its cars, but you can have one on the K5. There's even a panoramic glass roof that makes the cabin a lot more airy and brighter when driving on a sunny afternoon!
It goes without saying that as good as this package can be, it would be a total waste of time for everyone if the K5 could not step up to the plate. And in this regard, it didn't disappoint.
