2017 Kia Optima Sportswagon: A Quick Overview
2017 Kia Optima Sportswagon: A Quick Overview
Posted on March 8, 2016
We have spoken about the Kia Optima Sportswagon before when we were looking forward to the Geneva Motor Show. Now the show is over we have time to reflect on what we saw. Kia have really pulled it out of the bag with this new car and we’re still hoping it will make it over here.
Not since the Audi RS4 Avant has a wagon been as interesting. Rather than go for awesome power and four wheel drive like Audi, Kia are concentrating on design and features to convince the world to buy it. We think those efforts will definitely pay off.
2017 Kia Optima Sportswagon
The Sportswagon leans heavily on the existing Optima design, which is a good thing. We think the Optima is one of the most handsome sedans out there and deserves much more credit than it gets. We like the Optima and we like the look of the Sportswagon too.
By adding the wagon part, the Sportswagon gets 553 litres of cargo space in the back, which is a huge amount of space for any family. The seats fold flat in a 40/20/40 configuration, offering a flat space to transport just about anything. It’s as practical as it gets.
The cabin is a lot like the Optima, with plenty of space, good visibility, lots of head and legroom and a feeling of quiet capability about it. It isn’t just about hauling family stuff, it’s about comfort and ease of use too and we think it delivers. The sedan certainly does anyway.
The engines are all European, so are smaller than we get here. Currently there is a 1.7-litre turbodiesel that produces 141 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, a 2.0-litre that produces 163 hp and a turbocharged version of that 2.0-litre that delivers 245 hp. They will send power to the rear through an automatic or manual transmission.
While at the Geneva Motor Show, Kia also hinted that the Sportswagon is going to get a GT version with the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine. It will feature adaptive suspension and a range of performance additions to mark this out as something different.
2016 Kia Optima
As we have mentioned before, Kia currently have no plans to bring the Sportswagon to North America. However, this is an industry within which you never say never. Given how well the sedan has gone down in Canada, we think there is a distinct possibility that if the Sportswagon does well in Europe, it might appear over here soon enough.
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