New Kia Optima Wipes Out All The Charm Of The Old One

The new Optima is like the old one but more bland and with less expensive trim.

Seriously, look at this trim.

Nah.

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Nah.

One of the Kia reps claimed this looks like a BMW interior. Doesn’t feel like it.

Looks soft. Isn’t.

I mean, the optional leather seats look good.

The new Optima: you get a lot of stuff for your money. Is it good stuff? Not so much. But you get a lot of it.

Photo Credits: Raphael Orlove

Contact the author at raphael@jalopnik.com.

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DISCUSSION

Chairman Kaga

4/01/15 5:35PM

Can I admit something? I objectively know Kia and Hyundai now make good cars. Maybe not great, but certainly better than most people require.

However, whenever I see someone in a new Sonata or Optima, my bias kicks in and I say to myself, “Oh. Are they doing OK? Are they sad? Do they need a hug? Hey... What’s wrong, buddy? You can tell me.”

This is prejudice and I’m working on it.