This good-looking wagon is the all-new Kia Optima Sportswagon which makes its public debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show.
Well the sedan version of the Optima is a styling triumph so its stands to reason the Sportswagon would be similarly easy on the eye.
Very much a car for Europe (where these sorts of vehicles do brisk business), the all-new Kia Optima Sportswagon goes on-sale there later this year.
Kia Australia is investigating the Optima Sportswagon for local launch.
Drawing inspiration from the ‘Sportspace’ concept car shown at Geneva last year, the all-new Optima Sportswagon lineup in Europe will naturally include a high-powered GT model for motorway, autobahn and autostrada cruising!
The newcomer will be offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines but no word yet on a hybrid version.
Diesel power comes from the improved 1.7-litre CRDi (104kW/340Nm).
There are two petrol engines – most Kia Optima Sportswagon will run the 120kW 2.0-litre CVVL engine while GT versions will score the new turbocharged 2.0-litre T0GDI GT unit.
Styling sees everything forward of the A-pillars identical to the Optima sedan , but then things get interesting with striking steeply-raked side glass, a sloping roofline and bold rear-end with wide LED tail-lights
In Europe, the Optima Sportswagon will run Kia’s latest audio-visual navigation (AVN) system with a 7.0-inch or 8.0-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB digital radio.
A 590-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system is on the options list.
There’s also a four-camera 360-degree ‘Around View Monitor’, smart cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot detection and rear cross traffic alert.
Luggage space behind the 40:20:40 split-fold rear seat runs to 553-litres (48-litres more than the Optima sedan).
The cargo area has a remote-opening tailgate and pop-up sliding luggage rails for securing loose items.
European models will be manufactured at Kia’s plant in Hwasung, Korea.
