Kia Optima saloon (2016-present)

Kia Optima saloon prices from £8,196  Finance from £156 per month

The Kia Optima is a family saloon whose rivals include the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and the Hyundai i40. First launched back in 2016, it's price tag has reduced somewhat, but there are also plenty of used examples around that you can pick up for even less.

In recent times, family saloons like the Optima have been overtaken in buyers’ affections by SUVs due to their higher driving position and greater sense of space. This being so, you should ask yourself what a car like the Optima can offer you.

How about lower running costs, greater comfort and better value for money? On top of all this, like all Kias, a new one comes with a seven-year warranty, even used models are likely to have a substantial amount of that warranty left.

Until last year, the Optima was offered with a choice of three engines: a 1.7-litre diesel, 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid offering up to 30 miles of electric-only driving. The diesel was the most popular among company car drivers and there are plenty of these on the used car market as a result.

In 2018, the line-up was reduced to just one engine: a new 1.6-litre diesel. On paper it looks less economical than the old 1.7-litre version, but that’s because it’s been tested under the new, more accurate economy test that makes the economy figures of more recent cars appear less impressive. But, in actuality they are probably much higher than those tested under the old system.

Whichever way you go, both of these diesel engines are a little slow and not especially refined. However, the Optima’s suspension does a good job of smoothing out rough surfaces and the handling is tidy and grippy, which is some compensation. The steering lacks feedback and is a little vague but, overall, the Optima is a comfortable, secure and predictable car to drive. Motorway cruising is especially smooth, while it is just as happy and pottering around town or winding along country roads.

It may lack the headroom of a large SUV but the Optima’s interior is nevertheless quite roomy and even rear-seat occupants enjoy plenty of legroom. It's also quite practical for day-to-day use, there are numerous cubby holes for storage ranging from a chilled glovebox to a convenient centre storage box.

By design, however, saloons are never going to be the most practical cars you can buy. The Optima is better than most though, with rear seats that split and fold as standard. While the boot measures a reasonable 505 litres (the Ford Mondeo’s is 540 litres) it is spoiled by a large lip you have to lug things over, and the space created by the folded seats is awkwardly shaped. It gets worse: if you go for a used plug-in hybrid model the presence of the batteries means the boot is only 307 litres.

Despite being a little bland looking, the Optima’s interior is well finished and solid-feeling, and features lots of high-grade materials. It’s well equipped, too, even in level 2 trim.

Until 2018 there were three trim levels called, unimaginatively, 2, 3 and 4. However, as of 2019, new Optimas are offered only in levels 2 and 3 trim. Unless you really want fake leather, larger wheels and a powered driver’s seat, we’d save the £2000 required to have it and stick with well-equipped level 2 trim.