2018 Kia Optima Owner’s Manual

The 2018 Kia Optima is an excellent family sedan. It features an elegant design, a luxurious interior and a whole host of options to suit your needs. You might even think that the 2018 model is your best option if you’re looking for a family sedan. But this is where you would be wrong. Whilst the Optima is a great car, it’s situated in a highly competitive market and it simply fails to stand out or keep up with competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Overall, it’s a great car, but not good enough for the market it’s in.

The 2018 model updates the 2017 Kia Optima in a few ways. The infotainment system has been updated, and the SXL trim has now been discontinued. In its place stands the new S model. Beyond this, this 2018 version is virtually the same as the 2017 model.

Under the hood, the 2018 Optima has a vast range of engines to choose from. The best one has to be the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 178 horsepower thanks to a turbocharger. This is a great engine for all tasks- it’s refined for city driving, but powerful on the motorway. There are also more economical options available, such as a plug-in hybrid.

The overall ride of this 2018 model is very good. The suspension is firm enough as not to compromise performance but soft enough to ensure a comfy ride. And the steering is sharp and makes the Optima feel agile. However, the Optima simply doesn’t handle as well as competitors, who will offer a comfier and more refined ride for the same price.

The interior of the Optima looks great and it’s also well equipped. For instance, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment centre comes as standard, and this is sharp and easy to use.