Car and Driver Confirms 2021 Kia Optima Addition of Two Turbo Engines, AWD

There have been rumors lately that the alluring new Kia Optima, which is still named the K5 in the Korean market, will soon just bear one name. Although that cannot yet be 100 percent confirmed, what can be is that the redesigned mid-size sedan will now offer two different turbocharged engines right here in the States, and very likely now brandish all-wheel drive. The entry-level Optima is powered by a new turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four that is also present in the Hyundai Sonata.

This engine cranks out 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and also uses Kia's new continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) technology. Putting this to use can result in 4 to 5 percent better efficiency, along with a 12 percent improvement in tailpipe emissions. A variable duration adjuster moves up and down, and actually shifts the contact point of the cam lobe. When the duration adjuster is moved determine the duration of time a valve is open. The predominant benefit is that a long valve duration takes place during low engine speeds, allowing more time for the air to sufficiently enter the cylinder.

As Car and Driver reports on the blog this week, the top of the group GT variant makes 286 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, with much of the credit going to the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four. Speed tests have proven it to go from 0 to 60 in around 6.6 seconds, and there is talk of a hybrid powertrain in the works as well. There is also a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, a higher-output continuously variable valve lift version of the identical 2.0-liter. All of these engines come standard with either a 6 or 8-speed automatic transmission. The updated Optima features front-wheel drive as standard, and all-wheel drive is expected in the United States variant as well.

The seasoned staff on duty at Cnet's Roadshow claimed regarding the 2021 Optima that “if you're staring, you might want to keep staring because this one's deeply attractive”. Everyone here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis is so excited about the “Tiger Nose Evolution” we have seen with our brand line's sedan appearance: you know when one is coming up on you, and the looks are striking as well as modern!

Another very cool element of the 2021 model's design is the band of chrome outlining the side window line, which looks attractive combined with frameless doors and blacked-out roof treatment. We will keep you posted about developments and release dates regarding the Optima here on the blog and are completely geared up to show you after a test drive how fantastic and fundamentally useful a brand-new Kia can be for you this New Year!