Refreshed Kia Optima range led by £33,350 Sportswagon GT fast estate

Kia has updated its Kia Optima saloon and Optima Sportswagon estate with revised styling, new engines and additional technology, with a new price of £22,260 for the entry-level saloon, and £33,350 for the fast, sporty Optima Sportswagon GT. 

The models were first displayed at the Geneva motor show, but are now open for order in the UK. Equivalent Sportswagons take a premium of around £860 over their saloon counterparts. 

A new 1.6-litre diesel engine with 134bhp and 236lb ft replaces the 139bhp 1.7 CRDi unit in the Optima. The new powerplant employs selective catalytic reduction, which, Kia claims, "significantly reduces emissions".

Kia's existing 178bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol unit, which is also used in the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Kona, has also been added to the engine line-up, slotting between the naturally aspirated 161bhp 2.0 GDi and the 242bhp 2.0 T-GDi of the Optima GT. This is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

In addition, a new drive mode selector, which alters accelerator and steering responses, lets drivers choose from four set-ups: Eco, Comfort, Sport and automatic.

Styling revisions to the Optima include a new front bumper design, chrome grille highlights, headlight design, foglight design and LED tail-lights. The saloon also gains a new rear bumper design. There's also a fresh paint colour, Runway Red, and new 16in, 17in and 18in alloy wheel designs.

Sporty GT and GT-Line models add LED foglights, twin tailpipes and gloss black highlights for the door mirror caps, side sills and air intake grille.

Inside, a new steering wheel, extra trim on the dashboard and six-colour ambient lighting have been introduced, along with leather and brown cloth upholstery options.

The infotainment is Kia's latest system, displayed on a 7.0in or 8.0in touchscreen, featuring sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging and a new 360deg parking camera.