Kia optima
Kia Optima Kia Optima
In fairness, I note that I happened to drive a Kia Optima last year in Rüsselsheim when I visited the company's research center. I confess, then a stylish car, sold only in the North American market, did not really interest me in comparison with the new Kia Picanto on the eve of its launch in Russia. In addition, that German, that is, Korean, car was equipped with a hybrid powerplant, and in this version its prospects in Russia were too foggy. It is noteworthy that even now, when Kia Optima can be ordered from any of the dealers, something is not heard about the Optima hybrid in Russia.
Kia optima
LED daytime running lights will be on all Russian Kia Optima LED daytime running lights will be on all Russian Kia Optima
But in full voice you can talk about the design, about what happened to the clever Schreyer from the same material from which the new flowing Hyundai Sonata was made. Different styles, but the essence is the same - a family sedan with the same engines and characteristics, and even at a reasonable price. This is really a situation in which sympathy for the brand decides everything, the girl’s smile at the reception and the attentive approach of the technical center master. Optima product manager Nikolai Merenkov talks about Russian specifications for new items from Kia …
Perhaps Kia’s marketers themselves wouldn’t bother living this way if it weren’t for the one and a half year sales success of the Kia Optima sedan in the South Korean, North American and Chinese markets. It remains to prove itself in Russian, which is one of the growing and promising. I was thinking calmly about all this while my colleague confidently drove the brand new Optima along the dry asphalt of the beautiful 50th highway east of Seoul. From the point of view of the passenger, everything suited me in the car. Convenient, comfortable, soft interior lighting through the glass of the roof, while the sky is covered with clouds. The only thing that hurt a bit was the inability to raise the seat cushion to sit higher, like in a driver's seat. But unlike the driver tied to the pedals, I could push my chair far back and sit cross-legged. He could pamper his back with heating, he might not turn it on. When outside the window -8ºС, when landing in a cold car, seat heating is very helpful. However, in terms of comfortable offers, the Optima driver's seat is not a passenger's seat. There is ventilation … There is only a pool with a hydromassage. But let's leave it for other, more prestigious classes!
Interior Kia Optima
The interior of the Kia Optima in the maximum configuration The interior of the Kia Optima in the maximum configuration
Until recently, I naively thought that the law of meanness is valid only in one, separately taken by our country. Was wrong. As soon as he himself got behind the wheel, the sky frowned, and after a while it snowed. Yes, what does it mean to go - tumbled down in huge flakes. In South Korea, it is not customary to put winter tires on wheels, so the test "Optima" were not ready for this turn of events. But we were ready for the worst - in the trunk along with our suitcases lay a box with snow chains. Only no one could have imagined that the worst would come so soon. I did not have time to properly evaluate the comfortable fit in the driver’s seat, listen to the smooth and smooth operation of the 180-horsepower engine, coupled with a 6-speed “automatic”, and feel the American heavy weight of the steering wheel in a straight position, as the Korean attendants first slowed down movement, and then, when the height of the snow cover on the roadbed reached a good 10 cm, they decided to put on chains.
I never would have thought that in South Korea there are such snowy winters
I would never have thought that in South Korea there are such snowy winters I would never have thought that in South Korea there are such snowy winters
You can understand my feelings. Dragging along an ultra-modern highway in chains at a speed of 40 km / h in a comfortable, modern and dynamic car was a real torture. It would be more offensive only if a real sports car of the BMW M3 type appeared in place of the Kia Optima. But Optima itself was not discouraged and confidently headed towards the goal. The clang of chains, the adhering snow on the roof and trunk - all this remained outside. It was warm in the cabin, the wipers raked the windshield, the heated rear heater turned into a snow melting station, providing visibility. And only the inevitable vibrations transmitted to the body from 18-inch wheels chained by chains violated comfort. As a result, our one and a half hour journey to Pyeongchang turned out to be as difficult as the struggle of this South Korean town for the right to become the capital of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Kia Optima Spicy Red
Kia Optima in the brightest color of Spicy Red Kia Optima in the brightest color of Spicy Red
Well, now I have the right to sing, paraphrasing the words of the famous Soviet song "… but you are my own, " Optima "is dear, and in bad weather". In fact, in chains the car turns into a kind of caterpillar tractor, which will go wherever its geometric cross-country allows. By the way, the ground clearance of Kia Optima is not too big - 145 mm, although in the Russian version it is 10 mm more than the standard. So, choose detour routes.
Snow fell asleep all over the car while wearing chains
Snow fell asleep throughout the car while chains were being dressed Snow fell asleep throughout the car while chains were being dressed
A day later, on my way back, with a detailed map of radars and video clips, I was able to truly anneal. I will not say that the speedometer needle rested at the maximum declared 210 km / h, but under 170 km / h they went quite a long time. The main impressions are excellent sound insulation and well-tuned steering. Against their background, the power reserve under the gas pedal and the car’s readiness to accelerate further seemed quite natural. True, in this case another speed limiter has already been switched on - a consciousness of rationality and sufficiency, as well as responsibility to other participants in the movement. Well, everything is correct, as a person who sees freedom, has cast off the shackles of Optima runs briskly and predictably.
Kia optima
Kia Optima is ready for big trips Kia Optima is ready for big trips
It was pointless to use Active ECO, an active fuel economy system on chains, a novelty installed on the Optima with automatic transmission. But without chains - necessary. According to the designers, it allows saving from 7 to 9% of fuel depending on the type of engine, optimizing its joint work with the transmission. In Active ECO mode, nothing supernatural happens. With a measured ride, the engine runs mainly in the middle-speed zone, the automatic transmission shifts to high gear, preventing the engine from spinning. How much I saved on the trip, so no one will ever know and appreciate. I liked the new system for another. For the fact that, if necessary, it allows the car to forget about its economic obligations. With a sharp pressure on the gas, even in Active ECO mode, it is immediately ready for high-speed maneuvers. But then, without reminder, the appetite dies.
In Russia, they offer engines of 2.0 liters (150 hp) and 2.4 liters (180 hp)
In Russia, they offer 2.0 l (150 hp) and 2.4 l (180 hp) engines. In Russia, they offer 2.0 l (150 hp) and 2.4 l (180 l) engines..with.)
I don’t know, maybe it was precisely for the ability to behave optimally in various road conditions that the model was called Optima. If so, then I support this idea. But there remain other aspects of car life. In particular, how optimal is the price of a family sedan (from 940, 000 to 1, 300, 000 rubles). This question will not be resolved in Korea; future Russian clients will give an answer to it.
