2016 Kia Optima LX Turbo Test Drive Review
I can honestly, without any reservations say the 2016 Kia Optima has been my favorite car to drive to date! This car is amazing from bumper to bumper!! Platinum Graphite with a black interior, soooo pretty!
I just want to remind you that I am not a ‘car gal’ I know where to put the gas, check the oil and can, if need be, change my own oil. So, this review is not filled with a lot of technical jargon like torque, rpm and cylinder and such. However if you want to know from the NaNa slash Mommy aspect then continue on!!
This is a midsize family sedan with beautiful lines and a oh so comfy interior. This is a comfortable, smooth ride. The Optima is a roomy, sporty, sleek looking car. The 2016 Kia Optima LX Turbo is responsive. It handles like a dream. I truly did not want to give this one back.
Starting with the exterior. This has the sleek styling of a very expensive car, yet the Kia Optima LX Turbo is $26,590.00 plus tax.
The LX Turbo is a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine
7 speed dual clutch transmission
18″ Alloy Wheels
The side mirrors are power folding AND heated!! I had the Optima during the week it rained a lot here, the mirror stayed clear of raindrops!! That was very nice! Speaking of side mirrors. I love the blind spot indicator. MAN! I wish my Honda had those. 2 little cars light up and stay lit until the danger of an accident has passed. The Optima even has a Rear Cross Traffic Alert. These guys have thought of everything.
Another perk I really liked concerned the windshield wipers. When they are on a small display pops up and tells you the speed or mode the wipers are in. It was great to know for SURE my wipers were off!!
Gas mileage is amazing. 32 miles per gallon. 39 mpg on highway and 28 city. I drove everywhere during the week I had the Optima and never even made it to the half tank mark! I fill my Honda CRV once a week. The Optima I could have gone 2 weeks. When all was said and done I had 30 miles per gallon for the week. That was a sweet change.
Safety
WOW!! This car has major safety perks! Where isn’t there an airbag?
Dual Front Advanced Airbags
Front Seat Mounted Airbags
Drivers Knee Area Airbags
Full-Length Side Curtain Airbags
Back up camera is so clear you could take pictures from it!
Interior
So comfy! You can set the driver’s seat to fit you and then use one of two memory settings. I love that!! No more having to find the ‘perfect’ position. The Kia Optima remembers for me. The driver seat has 12-way power adjusting and has excellent lumbar support. This car would be a joy to take on a long road trip.
We drove around on Christmas Day to visit Grandkids; our son and The Husband road in the backseat and said that it was a comfortable ride with plenty of leg-room. (Both are at least 6′) The center fold-down armrest contains cup holders. There is a heating/cooling vent in the backseat, but no independent controls.
The anchors for the carseat is on the back window dash and made installing the carseat a breeze.
Storage! WOW!! Seriously the trunk is so large we had no problem delivering Santa’s haul to the kids. Need more room? The back seats will both fold down or with a 60/40-split. My favorite feature though is the automatic opening trunk. With the key fob on you or in your purse simply stand behind the Optima and after a series of beeps the trunk will open on its own. SO convenient when your hands are full!!
Warranty
Is there any other car manufacture that offers such an amazing warranty? 10 Year/100,000 Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty. 5 Year or 60,000 Mile Limited Basic Warranty and 5 Year or 60,000 Mile Roadside Assistance! Very impressive.
WHINES
The Kia Optima LX Turbo is a true joy to drive. The ride is smooth, the look is sleek. I got fantastic gas mileage and I did NOT want to give this car back!!
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Disclosure: I received a complimentary week driving the 2016 Kia Optima LX Turbo from DriveShop for the purpose of my review. No, they didn’t let me keep it…. they NEVER let me keep these cars?? WHY??? No other compensation was provided. The opinions are mine and 100% honest. I have not been influenced in any way. Hey DriveShop guys; how about letting me test drive the new 2016 K900?!
23 Comments
CatherineC
It looks like it would be a okay car to own
Richard Hicks
This is such a nice looking car. It is LX and has a turbo. What more to ask for!
Ashley O.
This sounds like I just need to go buy one asap! I nee.d a new vehicle!!!
dari
It sounds like load of fun. Envious you got to test drive!
veronica lee
Awesome! The Optima certainly is a roomy, sporty and sleek looking car!
Sandra Watts
Really nice car. What I would not give to have a new car for myself.
Rita Spratlen
Nice car. I drive a GMC Envoy and not a new one. I love it for I am always moving stuff and taking things to the recycling center. This is a cute car!!
Laura
I love the outer exterior of the car! Very stylish!
Nikolina
Thank you for your honest review, much appreciated!
Michelle Elizondo
I have never driven this car before. I am curious about it.
Dee Schwark
Great article! I was looking at one of these a while back. My parents have an older one and I love it 🙂
Rosanne
I have a Lexus but your car seems to get much better gas mileage and it sounds as comfortable as the Lexus
Angela Poplar
This is a sweet looking car! I’d love to have one! My truck is a gas guzzler!
Monica
I WANT A CAR!!! I´m sooo poor hahaha, I need a car to get to school because I´m tired of spending my money in the crappy bus that we have here. Jesus, I want a car so badly! And this one looks fair enough for me!
Patty R.
LOL Loved the “whine” on this review. Didn’t want to give it back. Yeah, that’s always the worst part on something you enjoy.
Tamra Phelps
That blind spot indicator is a great idea! That would prevent a lot of accidents. And I love that the side mirrors are heated! Goodbye, scraping ice, lol!!
Donna B
I love this car, I’m thinking of buying a new car soon and never thought of Kia until reading this review.
Lisa Brown
I appreciate good gas mileage. Looks like a nice car and comfortable.
Nancy Burgess
This is a very nice car! I really like it a lot.
Patty R.
That’s a nice looking car. I can’t even begin to tell you how much my family could use a new car. We just had to have the transmission rebuilt, but have been having problems with the car since then. We’ve taken it back twice since, they look it over, keep saying nothing is wrong, and send us away. Now the 4-wheel drive won’t engage, so we’ll have to check to see if that could have been affected by the transmission rebuild, and quite possibly take it back yet again. But it’s more like banging your head against the pavement. Sorry for the rant.
Sarah L
I WANT THIS CAR!!!! My car is a 2002 so it’s now 14 years old. This one has so many neat features that mine doesn’t have. When I got my current car after having my previous one for 20 years I was thrilled just to have intermittent wipers and adjustable side mirrors. Oops. does this mean I have 6 more years before a new car? Start saving now….
KATE SARSFIELD
26 and a half thousand dollars – what a price! If it ever comes to Ireland you could expect to pay almost double that by the time the Government has added on Vehicle Registration Tax, Carbon Emissions Tax, Value Added Tax …..
Tamra Phelps
It certainly looks great! The trunk opening on it’s own is always a big bonus! I always love that feature!