Kia Optima Sportswagon 1.7 CRDi 3 review

Kia would be the first to admit that the Optima has failed to capture the imagination of fleet drivers in the same way its stablemate, the Sportage, has here in the UK.

That’s all set to change this year, though, with the launch of the all-new Optima Sportswagon, the firms first ever D segment estate, which is predicted to account for 70% of fleet sales over its saloon sibling.

Frugal diesel engine

Estate cars don’t have the best reputation when it comes to styling, that said we think the Optima Sportswagon is one of the most striking models you can currently buy. It’s elegant lines and distinctive grille help the car stand out from more conservative rivals like the Volkswagen Passat.

The 1.7-litre diesel under the bonnet of our test car is the only engine currently available in the UK, although a plug-in hybrid and higher-performance petrol are expected to join the line-up next year.

Overall the Sportswagon is accomplished to drive, the ride quality is good and the steering well-weighted, although it lacks any real feel. There’s a little bodyroll and the engine can be noisy at times but the estate retains a great deal of composure when tackling corners at speed.

When cruising on the motorway the engine performs very well indeed, there’s 141hp and 340Nm of torque available and the 0-60mph sprint is officially achieved in 9.8 seconds.

We’d avoid the automatic gearbox, which can be slow to react at times and doesn’t justify the £1400 premium and sacrifice in running costs in our book.

When equipped with the manual the car officially achieves 64.2mpg on the combined cycle and emits 113g/km, placing the car into a 22% BIK band for the current 2016/17 year.

It’s competitive rather than class leading for running costs and CO2, with the comparable (and slightly more powerful) Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb estate models achieving better figures.

Mid-range 3 trim is the one to pick

There are three trims to choose from in the range, the same as the saloon; 2, 3 and GT-Line S, a sporty GT version will join the line-up in early 2017.

Likely to be the most popular fleet choice will be 3 trim and there’s a whole host of kit offered as standard including roof rails, an 8-inch infotainment system with satnav, reversing camera, front electronic memory seats which are also heated, 18-inch alloy wheels, a premium sound system, dual-zone aircon and LED fog lights.

There’s also a variety of safety tech included on this trim like lane keeping aid and speed limit warning systems.

All this comes in at a P11D price of £24,440, presenting excellent value for money.

Spacious and practical

As a standalone car, the Optima Sportswagon’s practicality credentials are very good indeed, but compare it to one of its biggest rivals, the Skoda Superb, and the car falls down somewhat.

That said, the 552-litre boot is still big and includes two useful underfloor compartments to store items out of view.

Interior roominess is also very good, plenty of space for adults to stretch out over longer journeys and the cabin offers a mix of high quality materials throughout. Inside doesn’t quite match the premium sophistication of the VW Passat, but stands up well against the Skoda Superb and Mazda 6 in the quality stakes. It’s also easy to find a comfortable seating position and the infotainment system is intuitive to use.