The 2016 Kia Optima is offered in five trim levels which are LX, LX Turbo, EX, SX Turbo, and SXL Turbo. The sedan gets three engine options, a single transmission option, and a standard FWD drivetrain layout. The price of the base LX trim starts at $22,140 and offers a decent list of features for the price tag. The LX Turbo gets a smaller 1.6-liter turbocharged motor with similar power but higher torque output for enhanced performance at an affordable price. The EX trim offers some premium features generally found on slightly higher-end cars such as a heated steering wheel, full leather upholstery, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Both the SX Turbo and the SXL Turbo get the most powerful engine and get a performance-oriented suspension setup. Moreover, the top two trims get the very best when it comes to premium and luxury features.

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We would recommend the LX Turbo trim for a wholesome experience with the sedan at an attractive price. The EX trim is best suited for those who seek a feature-rich daily driver.

Kia offers a choice of three engines with its Optima sedan and the most common one is the base variant. The 2016 Kia Optima engine is a 2.4-liter Theta II GDi I-4 motor developing about 185 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of maximum torque. This engine powers only the base LX and the EX trim levels of the sedan. Even though it is an entry-level motor, the power figures are quite commendable when compared side-by-side with the rivals. The overall refinement levels are acceptable since the motor tends to get coarse at higher rpm. The standard 6-speed automatic transmission delivers all the power to the front wheels of the vehicle as standard. The 0-60mph time is decent at 8.2 seconds while the standing quarter-mile comes up within 16.4 seconds.

The Ford Fusion is the least powerful competitor here but only by a small margin despite getting a marginally bigger 2.5-liter motor. The Hyundai Sonata is the mechanical twin of the Kia Optima hence its power and performance stats are identical with the latter. The Nissan Altima has similar performance figures as compared to the Hyundai siblings. Its CVT unit is not as refined or energetic as the 6-speed automatic units found on the rest of its rivals here. Notably, the Ford is the slowest option in the segment, while both the Nissan and Hyundai manage similar timings as the Kia in both the tests.

The 2016 Kia Optima gas mileage numbers are commendable in comparison to its segment rivals. With the base engine under its hood, the sedan returns a healthy 24mpg of city mileage along with an impressive 35mpg of highway mileage. The combined mileage is rated at 28mpg. The sedan comes with a big 18.5-gallon gas tank which translates to some impressive driving range numbers.

The Ford Fusion is the least fuel-efficient offering here and disappoints since its performance stats are also the lowest among the rivals here. The Hyundai Sonata is surprisingly more fuel-efficient than its sibling averaging 30 MPG, and also offers more driving range. The Nissan Altima makes full utilization of its CVT unit and takes the crown of being the most fuel-efficient sedan here. It also offers the highest city, highway, and combined driving range numbers of 486, 702, and 555 miles, too.

The 2016 Kia Optima interior comes in a decently-equipped state right from the base trim, making it one of the best value for money sedans in the segment. The interior gets a new design and the sedan gets that much-needed modern appeal. The dashboard design is a bit driver-focused with all the controls within the reach of the driver. The infotainment display is aligned towards the driver too and the new gauge cluster units look better than before. The steering wheel gets a new three-spoke design with controls mounted on it for convenience. The front seats offer decent comfort levels and are spacious even for tall adults. The rear seats are spacious too but the roofline restricts the headroom for tall adults. The cabin gets adequate storage cubbies for day-to-day practicality and the rear seats can be folded in a 60/40 ratio to increase the trunk space. By default, the trunk space on offer is 15.9 cu-ft.

The Ford Fusion’s interior looks quite dated as compared to the Kia Optima’s cabin and lacks some features too but it offers better space for the rear seat passengers as compared to the Optima. The Hyundai Sonata’s interior has some mild similarities with its sibling, the Optima, but it lacks the driver-oriented touch of the latter. It offers more headroom at the front but its rear-seat space is identical to the Optima as well. The Nissan Altima has a classy interior design but feels quite dated as compared to the Optima like the Ford Fusion. But the Altima also offers a more spacious cabin like the Fusion. In terms of cargo space, it is difficult to distinguish between the sedans due to the diminutive differences, yet statistically, the Hyundai with 16.3 cu.-ft of space can be coined as the winner.

Some interior features include:

• Full power accessories
• Six-way power-adjustable driver seat 
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats
• Driver memory settings(optional)
• Power-folding mirrors
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery

How intuitive is the 2016 Kia Optima’s infotainment unit?

The 2016 Kia Optima gets a 5-inch infotainment display with the base trim while the EX trim gets a bigger 8-inch touchscreen display. Both the systems run on Kia’s UVO interface that is quite easy to use along with a user-friendly layout. The fluidity of the interface will surprise you and it offers almost all the basic infotainment features as well.

Some of the Infotainment features are:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen display with UVO Infotainment system
• 6-speaker Audio System with CD player
• Satellite Radio
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• HD Radio

The 2016 Kia Optima exterior design looks even better and more appealing with the new redesign. The front end now has more aggressive styling with Kia’s new tiger grille design. The sharp styling cues on the front bumper and the sleeker headlamp units make the car quite a looker. The roofline of the sedan tapers to quite an extent at the rear that restricts the headroom inside the cabin. On the other hand, this slanting roof design makes for a swept-back design, making the Optima look sportier than before.

The Ford Fusion’s design looks dated too as its interior. Despite that, the design has a distinct muscular appeal to its making it look like a true American sedan. Like its interior, the Hyundai Sonata also needs an update regarding its exterior as well since it looks dated in front of the Optima’s all-new appearance. The Nissan Altima is one of the best-looking sedans in the segment after the Optima. Its front end looks quite intuitive with an interesting grille design and the sedan gets an overall sporty design theme as well.

Some exterior features are:

• LED Brakelights
• Power-folding and heated ORVMs
• Lip Spoiler
• Adaptive xenon headlights
• Chrome Door Handles and Bodyside Insert
• 18-inch Chrome Alloy Wheels

Vehicles from Kia are generally excellent when it comes to offering safety at an affordable price. The all-new Kia Optima is even better than the previous generation’s model, bagging a full 5-star rating from the NHTSA and the “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS as well. Moreover, the sedan comes with some optional advanced safety techs such as lane departure warning, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a forward collision warning and intervention system among other features.

Some Safety Features are:

• Electronic Stability Control and Driveline Traction Control
• Rear Parking Sensors with 360-degree camera
• Rear Cross-traffic alert system
• Lane Departure Warning
• Distance Pacing w/Traffic Stop-Go
• Forward Collision Mitigation 

With the new design and mechanical upgrades for the fourth generation, the Optima has become one of the best offerings in the segment. It has a stylish cabin with a handsome list of features, advanced safety techs as options, and an interesting lineup of powertrains to suit almost every buyer’s needs. Overall, the updated Optima poses as a better alternative to its rivals such as the Ford Fusion or the Nissan Altima.