First of all…Ms can’t take a photo to save her life too the photos in this post. I guess when you’ve got a backdrop of Aspen and Vail along with the gorgeous 2016 Kia Optima, it’s pretty hard to take a bad shot. I needed a getaway from Palm trees and the rain to see some leaves change, and the mountains of Colorado proved the perfect escape. Being in the car with two friends was just the icing on the cake.
I’m a bit of a scaredy cat behind the wheel, so having a friend drive the windy roads at a good clip meant that I could feel how well it hugs the road as they put sport mode to the ultimate test. My fear of driving narrow roads high in the mountains with no guardrails was put to rest as the Optima SXL tore up the road. The exterior of this mid-size car exudes luxury, something that the interior dash lacked. While I LOVED the lumbar seats (even a short gal like me could get good and comfortable), nappa leather seats with detailed stitching, and spacious interior, I found the dash to lack the elegance that I’d expect from a car with a $36,615 price tag.
What it lacks in interior pizzazz, it makes up for in fun…especially the driving and isn’t that what getting behind the wheel is all about?
Safety features
The 2016 Optima offers more, more, more than I expected in features to make me feel safe behind the wheel, including
- Autonomous emergency braking
- HID bending lamps (helping you see around corners)
- Lane departure warning
- High beam assist
- 360 view backup camera
- Advanced smart cruise control
- Blind spot monitoring
2016 Optima
Goodies
- Qi wireless charging
- Android auto, with Apple car play coming soon
- 360-degree surround-view monitor
- 10 speaker Harman Kardon QuantumLogic premium sound system
Trims
- LX 1.6L turbo with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission – $23,990
- LX 2.4-L – $21,840
- EX 2.4-L – $24,890
- SX 2.0-L turbo – $29,690
- SXL 2.0 turbo – $35,790
2016 Optima SXL 2.0 turbo & SX 2.0 turbo
For more details
- Kia Optima online
- Take a drive at your local Kia dealer
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