Kia Optima V6 2004 review

Kia and desirability were pretty much mutually exclusive. The cars that the Korean manufacturer produced were largely crude and rude copies of something the bigger boys made.

Times have changed – dramatically.

Build quality out of Korea – and Kia in particular – has moved forward in leaps and bounds. Design has also moved along – not in leaps, and not a bound in sight, but with small and steady steps.

Explore the 2004 Kia Optima range

• Kia Optima V6 2004 review
• Kia Optima 2004 review
• Kia Optima 2004 review

This is all good news for Korean manufacturing's status but not enough to explain the boom in popularity Kia is currently enjoying.

That is the secret of value. Give the punters something they never thought they could afford for a price they can.

The Carnival people-mover set the standard for Kia value – a six-cylinder seven-seater with a fair degree of fruit for less than $30,000.

Forget that it has more than its share of problems with engine replacements and some pretty crude dynamics; this is the car that brought people-movers to the people who really needed them at a price they could afford.

With the latest Optima large sedan Kia has polished its successful marketing approach to a positive shine.

Even with badge-reluctance a Commodore/Falcon/Magna/Avalon alternative with full leather trim and a fruit salad of kit as standard would be an interesting proposition at a mid-$30,000 price.

At less than $27,000 the immediate question is "What's wrong with it?".

The answer is: "not a lot".

The quad cam 2.7-litre V6 is at the very bottom end of what would be acceptable to most buyers of a large sedan and it suffers from comparison to the powerplants in most of the cars the Optima will be shopped against.

With 132kW available at 6000rpm and peak torque of 245Nm at 4000rpm the Optima takes a little while to get off the line and pulls up short of breath well before it reaches the higher end of the speedo.

However, even in full auto, where the four-speed box can tend to hunt a little if the car is loaded, the engine is smooth and quite willing in the mid-range.

Using the standard tiptronic function is a viable option to modify the auto's indecision.

Steering is light and a little woolly but certainly not the worst available and ride comfort is a points scorer.

On the standard 15-inch alloys shod with P205/60R rubber the Optima soaks up the worst Sydney's urban roads have to offer without conveying any large degree of the harshness to the cabin.

Brake feel is a little soft but the ventilated front and solid rear discs do a sterling job. Four-channel ABS is standard, as is traction control and electronic brake distribution.

The interior of the Optima is not fancy but there are functions and features available that do not make it into far more expensive models.

Apart from the leather (well done for a budget job) and wood (not so well done) the steering wheel and driver's seat have height adjustment.

Seating is comfortable, with the front seat belts fitted with pre-tensioners, and the twin airbags are standard.

The audio system has six speakers and an in-dash CD, and other standard features include cruise control, power windows, central locking and power wing mirrors.

Space is generous for front and rear passengers and there is ample luggage room in the deep boot, supplemented by a 60:40 split rear seat.

The Optima is not going to win awards, falling short of benchmarks across the board, except for its price.

That should win hearts where it really does count – in the showroom.