Refined KIA Optima Drives Gracefully in 2016 as Brand’s Best-Seller

Improved handling, premium interior perfects 2016 Optima in competitive midsize segment

For St. Louis KIA fans, the 2016 Optima has finally been officially revealed by KIA, and the wait was well worth it. The 2016 KIA Optima took what it learned from the previous model year and perfected it.

“The Optima changed the way people felt about the KIA brand, and KIA owes much of its growth and success in this country to the car’s head-turning design and sporty performance,” Orth Hedrick, VP of Product Planning at KIA Motors America, said. “The all-new Optima ... has matured in all the right ways, from the European sport-sedan design to the premium materials to its improved ride and handling.”

2016 KIA Optima’s Premium Interior

A longer, wider and stiffer chassis offers a larger cabin for the refined Optima. With the bigger size comes increased comfort for all five trim levels — LX, LX 1.6, EX, SX and SXL. The Optima’s luxurious K900 and Cadenza cousins definitely see an influence in the design.

According to KIA, real stitching along the dash and doors, complemented by tasteful metallic accents, varying by trim level highlight the interior craftsmanship. The cabin is now even more driver-friendly as a cleaner, more unified design will please drivers of the 2016 Optima. By grouping and reducing the number of functional keys and buttons, KIA’s already-superior ergonomics are improved.

Ride Handling Improved for the 2016 Optima

The Optima’s engineering team worked to help improve the ride and handling for the 2016 model year. A lighter and stiffer chassis improves the steering response, handling and stability.

Under the hood, three engine choices can help new St. Louis Optima owners find the balance they want between sport and efficiency. The previous’ Optima’s two engines carry over — the 2.4-liter I4 (available on the LX and EX models) and the 2.0-L turbo engine, available on the SXL and SX trims. Both engines are mated with a six-speed auto transmission with the Sportmatic shifting. Maximum torque is now available at a lower RPM than 2015 thanks to some retuning. This also helps improve the fuel economy of these two engines.

New for 2016 is a smaller yet still feisty 1.6-L turbo I4 engine, exclusive for the LX trim. This engine churns up to 178 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. This new engine is also mated to a new transmission for KIA with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

To learn more about the KIA Optima or to schedule a test drive, call Jim Butler KIA today at 636-256-9600 or contact us online. As your St. Louis KIA dealer, we invite you to check out our new Optimas in-person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler KIA, you can make your new vehicle purchase with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, MO, and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights KIA dealer.

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