2012 Kia Optima Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Hyundai’s premium-slanted Kia subsidiary has hit the proverbial home run with the value-laden 2012 Kia Optima. After all, what’s not to...

Hyundai’s premium-slanted Kia subsidiary has hit the proverbial home run with the value-laden 2012 Kia Optima. After all, what’s not to like? This midsize 5-passenger sedan boasts all kinds of techno-gizmos, offers a turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant in higher trims, sports a roomy cabin (including surprisingly spacious rear-seat head- and legroom) and features a hefty 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space. And for a bit more money, a gas-saving, eco-friendly Hybrid version, engineered by Hyundai but inserted into the upscale Kia body, can even be had. Besides the midlevel Hybrid, trims range from the base LX and notched-up EX to the performance-oriented EX Turbo and the sporty SX. All trims are front-wheel drive and all are designed for comfort over pizzazz, though the SX, with its standard sport-tuned suspension, ought to make the drive home from work a bit more fun.

After a significant redesign for 2011, a forging that brings it from blah to ahh, the latest version of the Optima pretty much carries on unchanged, though a few slight cosmetic tweaks are alleged. Rivals, of course, abound, but a number of reviews claim the Optima is the value leader, with more than a few even stating that it’s among the best-looking and best-performing vehicles in its class. Sharing a platform with the similarly reworked Hyundai Sonata, the 2012 Optima lineup may not be at home on the raceway, but it get the job done with a measure of élan that many midsize sedans would envy, and in most cases for a lot less money.

Powering the LX and EX trims is a 200-hp 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine that’s easy on gas but packs a pretty fair wallop. Mated with the standard 6-speed manual transmission in the base LX or with the 6-speed shiftable automatic in the EX (and available in the LX), look for 186 lb-ft of torque out of the normally aspirated I4, with gas mileage in the area of 24 mpg city and 35 highway.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter I4, meanwhile, graces the EX Turbo and SX trims. Combining with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic, the I4 turbo slams down 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, with mileage estimated at 22/34. As is becoming fashionable, both the manual and automatic 6-speed transmissions sport a brake hill-holder feature.

Finally, a 2.4-liter Hybrid I4 gasoline engine combines with a 40-hp electric motor to produce a total of 206 hp and 193 lb-ft of torque. Again, the 6-speed shiftable automatic is standard in the Hybrid, and fuel efficiency is estimated at 35/40.

The 2012 Optima LX boasts such standard appearance, comfort and convenience features as 16-inch steel wheels, heated power-adjustable mirrors, cloth upholstery and a rear folding armrest, just for starters. Then there are remote power door locks, driver’s side power window, telescoping tilt-wheel steering and, of course, air conditioning. An MP3-capable single-CD player and 6 speakers provide entertainment aboard the LX, bolstered by satellite radio and Bluetooth hands-free technology.

The EX and EX Turbo amp things up with 17-inch painted alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, front power windows, dual-zone automatic climate control with its accompanying cooled storage compartment, front and rear floor mats and a universal remote garage door opener. Some extra plush is added to the midlevel EX and EX Turbo trims via a leather steering wheel and leather-trimmed shift knob. The flagship SX, meantime, adds 18-inch polished alloy wheels, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and an electrochromatic rear-view mirror to the mix of standard features. Finally, the Hybrid sports unique 16-inch alloy wheels and Kia’s UVO infotainment system, which allows an interface between hands-free phone and audio functions and includes a rear-view camera.

Options for the LX with manual or automatic transmission include several items that are standard in higher trims, while the EX, EX Turbo and SX are eligible for the Premium Package with wood-grain cabin accents, a power sunroof, heated and power-adjustable front seats, memory for the driver's seat and mirror settings, as well as heated rear seats. Remote engine start is available across the lineup, while the Optima Hybrid can be delivered with Infinity audio that includes 2 additional premium speakers.

Standard safety equipment for the 2012 Optima lineup includes 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head-restraint whiplash protection. Additionally all trims sport standard turn-signal-integrated mirrors, front fog/driving lights, xenon high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights and a remote antitheft alarm. The Hybrid, meanwhile, also sports standard daytime running lights.

Numb steering, as well as hard, squirmy seats, significant blind spots and some curiously placed dash controls sum up the majority of issues owners have with the 2011 Optima. However, suddenly spiffy looks, a decent if not jaw-dropping ride, plenty of standard techno-features in the higher trims, hefty trunk space and a ton of value quickly lets owners forgive and forget this handsome sedan’s few shortcomings.