Kia Optima Sportswagon (2016 – 2019) Review

The traditional estate car might be a rarer sight these days, but the Kia Optima Sportswagon proves it can still be a great choice for used car buyers. It provides loads of room for people and cargo and is easy on running costs, giving rivals such as the Ford Mondeo Estate and top-value Skoda Octavia a lot to consider. Read on for our full Kia Optima Sportswagon review.

In the fine tradition of sexing up the estate car, the Kia Optima-based model is called a ‘Sportswagon’.

It evokes an exotic lifestyle choice rather than reflecting a basic need to carry a lot of stuff, but don’t be fooled – the Kia Optima Sportswagon is a thoroughly practical estate.

But it has plenty of appeal beyond simply being a very long hatchback. It’s a stylish car for a start, and it also continues another fine tradition: of models from the South Korean firm being high quality, decent to drive and thoughtfully designed.

The Kia Optima Sportswagon was originally a bit more expensive than its key rivals, the Ford Mondeo and Skoda Octavia. However, in the used market, prices have evened out.

One key attraction is the Kia Optima Sportswagon’s superior standard equipment roster, which includes touchscreen navigation, a reversing camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, DAB radio, 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails and one-touch folding rear seats.

Three trim levels make up the range, named simply 2, 3 and GT-Line S, although at launch in 2016, the 1.7-litre CRDi diesel with 141PS was the only engine choice.

In 2017 a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was added with up to 38 miles of all-electric range and CO2 emissions of 33g/km.

In 2018 the 1.7 turbodiesel was replaced with a smaller and more efficient 1.6-litre CRDi. A 180PS 1.6-litre T-GDi was also added, with a petrol particulate filter and seven-speed DCT transmission.

The diesel comes with a dual-clutch automatic option as an alternative to the standard six-speed manual gearshift, but regardless, the Kia Optima Sportswagon drives with a smoothness and solidity that’s close to a Volkswagen Passat Estate.

The manual gearshift may be a little on the light side, but the ride quality on non-GT cars is generally smooth (big wheels make it a little fussier over road surfaces) and the ergonomics are fantastic.

Anyone will find a comfortable driving position and there is no shortage of headroom or legroom in the rear. 

Aside from that, the interior build quality is excellent, and there’s a simple, intuitive cabin layout. Add to that plenty of safety equipment and you have an estate that’s easy to recommend.

Fancy a new Kia Sorento? Read our Kia Sorento review here.

For the most part, there’s little difference between the Kia Optima Sportswagon and the Kia Optima saloon – expect plenty of headroom all around, and more than enough leg space for adult rear passengers. 

The dashboard is intuitively designed and the switchgear is chunky, well damped and clearly marked. 

Of course, the main difference is the boot, which is not only 42 litres bigger than the saloon’s by volume (552 litres against 510 litres), but is far more useful by virtue of the load deck being 1090mm long and 1010mm between the wheelarches.

It widens out to 1380mm behind the arches for carrying bulky items, like golf clubs. 

By size, it’s smaller than a Skoda Superb Estate’s boot, but that’s true of most cars.

In reality, the Kia Optima Sportswagon is on the large side for luggage space in its class. A Mazda 6 Tourer has a 506-litre boot, for example, while the Ford Mondeo Estate offers 500 litres.

The Kia Optima Sportswagon also has a 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench as standard, which as anyone who has ever been to Ikea with a child or two in tow will know is a very handy feature. 

The boot floor is flat and was available with all manner of accessories to secure loads in place, although the rear suspension does eat into the space more than we’d like.

The Kia Optima Sportswagon has a very well-finished and comfortable cabin. Quality is excellent everywhere you look, with plush yet durable materials and very good fit and finish – there are no creaks or rattles.

The boot area also feels more than up to regular, hard use such as shopping, DIY store trips and carrying the family dog.

The eight-inch touchscreen – seven inches in the base 2 trim – in the Kia Optima Sportswagon puts function above form, just like the car itself.

It’s easy to use and reacts quickly to inputs, and all but the base spec comes with a Harman Kardon Premium Sound System.

However, the 2 trim does have a reversing camera that uses the infotainment screen display.

£8500 seems like an excellent price for a Kia Optima Sportswagon that’s six years old and has a very reasonable 75,000 miles on the clock.

This sum gets you a car in basic 2 trim, but with the frugal 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine. The higher spec 3 and GT models add around £1000 to that tally.

If you want a plug-in hybrid version, you’ll need to spend from £13,000 for a seven-year-old car with 60,000 miles under its wheels.

A Kia Optima Sportswagon fitted with either of the turbodiesel engines that are available offers more than 60mpg claimed economy.

Our Real MPG data shows this works out to economy in the mid-to-high 40s in normal driving, although longer motorway trips should see that nudge easily into the mid-50s.

We’d avoid the 2.0-litre turbo petrol, though, as it claims 30.7mpg and delivers a true economy in the high 20s.

The plug-in hybrid might not achieve its claimed 201.8mpg in real-world conditions, but we won’t complain too loudly about an achievable 85.3mpg in a large estate car of this quality and comfort.

In addition, it comes with carbon dioxide emissions of 33g/km, which mean a £10 discount on the usual £180 flat fee for road tax paid by other Kia Optima Sportswagon models registered from 1 April 2017 onwards.

The 1.7 diesel offered before that date will pay road tax of only £35.

Servicing a Kia Optima Sportswagon will cost the same as the saloon, which means you’ll spend much the same as you would for any of its rivals.

The same applies to insurance cover, with the estate sitting in groups that range from 19 to 25.

‘Smooth’ is the word that comes to mind when driving the Kia Optima Sportswagon.

Despite the name, which suggests a sporty drive, this estate was engineered with motorway miles in mind – at higher speeds, the Kia Optima Sportswagon settles into a lovely, calm cruise.

The seats are comfortable, the driving position is designed for all shapes and sizes with lots of adjustment in the seat and wheel, while on the standard 17-inch wheels, it flows over the motorway tarmac serenely.

Bigger wheels – as on the GT version, for example – will unsettle things.

It’s also worth noting that the Kia Optima Sportswagon does not deliver an involving drive.

The steering is weighted for comfort rather than feel, meaning it’s light and largely ‘disconnected’ from the road, while the diesel engines really don’t like being pressed.

The 1.7-litre CRDi diesel has plenty of torque low down – 340Nm at just 1750rpm – which makes it feel nippy at low speeds.

But it’s not an engine that likes to go above 3000rpm. It’s noisy and lacks punch from thereon.

For that reason, the twin-clutch automatic is a good option to go for. It changes gears smoothly and its software is instructed to keep the engine at low revs – where it works best.

In this configuration, the Kia Optima Sportswagon is impressively refined, assisted by minimal wind and road noise, even at motorway speeds.

The 1.7-litre diesel was replaced with the 1.6 CRDi in mid-2018. On paper, the 1.6 provides similar performance, with 135PS and 320Nm of torque at 2000rpm.

However, on the road, the engine is smoother, more refined and less strained over 3000rpm.

The Kia Optima Sportswagon PHEV combines a 155PS 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine with a 50kW electric motor.

When working together, the combustion engine and electric motor generate 205PS and 375Nm of torque, while CO2 emissions range from 33-37g/km. 

The petrol range features two powerful four-cylinder turbos, with the 180PS 1.6-litre T-GDi and 245PS 2.0-litre T-GDi powering the high-performance Kia Optima Sportswagon GT.

The 180PS unit is paired with the seven-speed double-clutch transmission as standard.

Kia’s Optima scored well when tested by Euro NCAP in 2015, notching up a full five-star rating.

All models come with six airbags, ESP and ABS, a tyre pressure monitoring system, hill start assist and a reversing camera. There’s also cruise control with a speed limiter.

The 4 trim ups the ante with a 360-degree surround view parking camera set-up, Smart Park Assist System, blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assistance, high beam assist and automatic emergency braking.

It also comes with adaptive cruise control and Dynamic Bending Lights to see further into corners at night.

As you’d expect of a large estate car, the Kia Optima Sportswagon is rather good at towing.

It has a capacity of up to 750kg with an unbraked trailer or you can pull as much as 1800kg with a braked trailer.

That latter figure means that the car is well up to the task of dealing with most caravanners’ needs.

In the Kia Optima Sportswagon 2, you’ll find 17-inch alloy wheels, auto lights, auto wipers, power lumbar support, dual-zone climate control, electric windows, cruise control and a speed limiter.

It also features a DAB radio, seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay support, navigation, Bluetooth, front and rear USB ports, roof rails, luggage partition and one-touch folding rear seats.

The Kia Optima Sportswagon 3 adds 18-inch alloy wheels, part faux-leather upholstery, four-way power lumbar support, a power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, upgraded audio system, eight-inch touchscreen and lane-keep assist.

For the Kia Optima Sportswagon 4, you have a DCT automatic transmission, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and automated parking.

Add to that wireless mobile phone charging, a 360-degree parking camera, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, rear door window blinds and a smart keyless system.

The Kia Optima Sportswagon GT-Line S gets LED foglights, 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels, black mirror caps, side sills and air intake grille, twin exhausts, ambient cabin lighting and black leather seats with red stitching.