Said to have been inspired by the Koreans' Sportspace concept revealed at last year's Geneva Motor Show, the Sportswagon hasn't actually grown any longer than the Saloon.
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| Kia Sportspace concept |
At the back, some sharp creases remind us that it's related to the bold Sportage. Its elongated grille flows into the headlights, below which are two light clusters that are also borrowed by the Sportage. All models will have alloy wheels as standard.
Inside, the minimalistic dashboard shouts quality, whilst calm blacks and greys used in conjunction with gloss black and chrome finishes help keep the Optima Sportswagon attractive to buyers who may have their eyes on its German rivals.
The 7-inch touchscreen can be upgraded to an 8-inch version, although both are capable of receiving DAB. They're capable of Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ as well as live traffic updates and speed camera alerts from the TomTom database. The 5-watt wireless charging dock at the base of the centre console and USB connectivity in the front and rear of the family estate give it upper hand among some of its mainstream rivals.
As a rule of thumb, buyers of estate cars expect improved bootspace. That's why it has grown by almost 50 litres to hold up to 553 litres. The low, flat load lip makes it ideal for loading that spur-of-the-moment flatpack furniture from the unexpected Ikea trip. If you walk towards the tailgate with the smartkey on your person, it will even open for you. The standard 40:20:40 split folding rear seats mean carrying two rear passengers and a set of skis will no longer cause any arguments. Because I'm sure that's a scenario that you find yourself in often.
It's not only cabin occupant-orientated technology that makes the new Optima Sportswagon such a showstopper. Active safety tech means that Kia's targeted 5-star Euro NCAP rating is easily within reach.
A Smart Cruise Control will keep you from getting to close to that Citroën in front, while Autonomous Emergency Braking will bring you to a safe stop if he or she decides to stop. It's made up of a short-range radar that deals with speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph) and a long-range radar for 30-80 km/h (19-50 mph).
Lane Keeping Assist System will ensure that, if you're not indicating, you do not drift between lanes. When it is time to overtake, though, Blind Spot Detection is your guardian angel.
Reversing out of a tight parking bay can be difficult at the best of times. That's why Kia will equip the Sportswagon with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Lastly are the system that displays the current speed limit in the instrument cluster and High Beam Assist to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
Engine choices are simple. No, really. It's as simple as petrol vs diesel. The 1.7-litre turbodiesel kicks out 139 bhp and 340 Nm, driven through a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Petrol comes in the form of a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated unit that produces 161 bhp and 196 Nm. It will have six gears whether you opt for automatic or manual.
There is one last hidden gem, though. Go for Optima GT and you're presented with a 242 bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol powerhouse. No doubt running costs won't be pleasant, but it produces 13 Nm more torque than the punchy diesel!
The Optima Sportswagon will go on sale at the end of 2016 with Kia's 7-year 100,000-mile warranty.
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