Kia's new Optima Sportswagon is here

Good news. About a year ago, we confirmed that the quite lovely Kia Sportspace Concept would make production. Well, we’re pleased to report that we were right, because it has and it’s here, minus a lot of the things that made it quite so lovely. Ah. 

But no matter, the newly-named Optima Sportswagon is still a smart enough thing. Few of the Concept’s little details remain, but the basic form remains mostly unaltered. We’d say it’s comfortably better-looking than, say, a Vauxhall Insignia wagon, particularly in semi-hot GT trim, complete with its 242bhp 2.0-litre turbo four, twin exhausts and biggish wheels. 

What is Kia’s first go at an estate of this size will be offered with a choice of three engines when it goes on sale in the last quarter of this year. There’s a likely quite economical 1.7-litre diesel and a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol, plus the auto-only turbo of the GT. No word on performance figures yet, but bet on slow but worthy for the diesel and quite adequate for the GT. 

There’s plentiful tech on offer, too. Adaptive cruise, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and more can be specified, as well as a big Harman Kardon stereo and a 8in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The boot is predictably massive as well: 553-litres with the seats up, which is more than you get in a Ford Mondeo but less than a VW Passat. 

Interested? We’ll see it at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks.