Kia Optima: mid-life facelift debuts

The 2014 Kia Optima is identified by a new front bumper, featuring sweeping black inserts and four-bezel LED fog lights on some models, and redesigned rear diffuser with new LED tail-lights.

Inside, it adds a new eight-inch touchscreen and 4.3-inch central screen. The US-spec Kia Optima SX-T flagship also gets red brake callipers, HID lights, Nappa leather, and an electronic park brake – it is unclear whether these features will be offered in Australia.

Our market may get the 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine available on some US-market Optima models, but will continue to miss out on the 1.7-litre turbo-diesel engine and petrol hybrid model available in other markets. The carry-over 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is the single confirmed variant.

The six-speed automatic transmission has been revised, incorporating a new rev-matching manual mode dubbed ‘Sportmatic clutchless shifting’. A Drive Mode Select (DMS) system is also now available, which adjusts transmission shift points and steering weighting.

While satellite navigation will be available in Oz-bound Optima models, Sirius digital radio is not available locally, while app functionality – including Pandora, a live music streaming application to be offered by Holden in some models – is also as-yet unconfimed.

A blind-spot detection system (BSD) is also available for the first time on the Optima, and should make it onto the specifications list when the car debuts here in the first quarter of 2014.