New York 2015: 2016 Kia Optima Arrives

by Cameron Aubernon

Published: April 1st, 2015

Coming on the heels of the Sportspace Concept, the 2016 Kia Optima made its global debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show.

Two engines carried over from the outgoing model will join a third engine for the 2016 model year. The carry-overs are a 2.4-liter direct-injection naturally aspirated four and a 2-liter direct-injection turbo-four, delivering 185 horses and 247 horses through a six-speed automatic to the front. The third engine is a 1.6-liter turbo-four paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox found in the Hyundai Sonata Eco.

Inside, soft-touch materials, metallic accents, real stitching in the dash and door panels, and cloth or leather seating await occupants. Meanwhile, Kia’s UVO connected-vehicle system comes with four new features not previously found in the Optima, including curfew alert and geo-fencing. The Optima itself is the pilot vehicle for the brand’s introduction of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems, allowing iPhone and Android users to use their smartphones in conjunction with UVO.

Pricing wasn’t announced at this time, but Kia said to expect the 2016 Optima to hit showrooms in Q4 2015.

#Kia #MY2016 #NewYork2015 #Optima

Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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2 of 32 comments

Tsoden on Apr 02, 2015

Hello 2011 Stretched Kia Forte... oh wait!

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TMA1 on Apr 02, 2015

Well, it was nice while it lasted. The previous K5, I mean. That was a handsome car, the one that made me aware of Kia as a brand. This... studied hard at the Sonata school of disappointing sequels.

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Alan My view is there are good vehicles from most manufacturers that are worth looking at second hand.I can tell you I don't recommend anything from the Chrysler/Jeep/Fiat/etc gene pool. Toyotas are overly expensive second hand for what they offer, but they seem to be reliable enough.I have a friend who swears by secondhand Subarus and so far he seems to not have had too many issue.As Lou stated many utes, pickups and real SUVs (4x4) seem quite good.
28-Cars-Later So is there some kind of undiagnosed disease where every rando thinks their POS is actually valuable?83K miles Ok.new valve cover gasket.Eh, it happens with age. spark plugsOkay, we probably had to be kewl and put in aftermarket iridium plugs, because EVO.new catalytic converterUh, yeah that's bad at 80Kish. Auto tranny failing. From the ad: the SST fails in one of the following ways:Clutch slip has turned into; multiple codes being thrown, shifting a gear or 2 in manual mode (2-3 or 2-4), and limp mode.Codes include: P2733 P2809 P183D P1871Ok that's really bad. So between this and the cat it suggests to me someone jacked up the car real good hooning it, because EVO, and since its not a Toyota it doesn't respond well to hard abuse over time.$20,000, what? Pesos? Zimbabwe Dollars?Try $2,000 USD pal. You're fracked dude, park it in da hood and leave the keys in it.BONUS: Comment in the ad: GLWS but I highly doubt you get any action on this car what so ever at that price with the SST on its way out. That trans can be $10k + to repair.
28-Cars-Later Actually Honda seems to have a brilliant mid to long term strategy which I can sum up in one word: tariffs.-BEV sales wane in the US, however they will sell in Europe (and sales will probably increase in Canada depending on how their government proceeds). -The EU Politburo and Canada concluded a trade treaty in 2017, and as of 2024 99% of all tariffs have been eliminated.-Trump in 2018 threatened a 25% tariff on European imported cars in the US and such rhetoric would likely come again should there be an actual election. -By building in Canada, product can still be sold in the US tariff free though USMCA/NAFTA II but it should allow Honda tariff free access to European markets.-However if the product were built in Marysville it could end up subject to tit-for-tat tariff depending on which junta is running the US in 2025. -Profitability on BEV has already been a variable to put it mildly, but to take on a 25% tariff to all of your product effectively shuts you out of that market.
Lou_BC Actuality a very reasonable question.
Lou_BC Peak rocket esthetic in those taillights (last photo)