Kia Prices the 2016 Optima

2016 Optima SX 2.0 turbo

For 2016, Kia gives the Optima a full redesign. Included in this overhaul is a 0.4-inch longer wheelbase and a 1.2-inch wider body that is sleeker and sportier than it’s ever been before. Considering the success that the Korean automaker has enjoyed with its resident midsize sedan — it was the first Kia ever to crest the 150,000-units-sold mark in a single year — I expect this redesigned sedan to do quite well. Today, Kia has announced all of the pricing details and more on the 2016 Optima.

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Starting out the Optima lineup will be the LX trim. This model will start from $21,840 – the same price as the 2015 LX trim – and comes powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 185 horsepower. Standard on this base model will be six-way adjustable seats, a rearview camera, a 5-inch touchscreen, anti-microbial and anti-static protection on the seats, and stain-resistant upholstery.

The next step up is the LX 1.6T, which is an all-new trim level for the Optima with a new 178-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a dual-clutch transmission for increased fuel economy. This model will start from $23,990 and will apparently have all of the same standard features as the LX.

The EX trim returns for 2016, and it starts out at $24,890 (a $550 increase). The extra cash nets buyers dual projector headlights, LED positioning lights, LED taillights, folding and heated mirrors, a 12-way adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory, a heated steering wheel, and leather seats with heat up front.

The SX model, which starts from $29,690 (a $1,990 increase) drops the 2.4-liter engine it had in 2015 and gains the 245-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, bi-xenon HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Lamps. The SXL model, which replaces the Limited trim, jacks the price way up to $35,790 (a $290 increase over the 2015 Limited), and its adds in High Beam Assist, paddle shifters, and more.

Kia has yet to confirm when the 2016 Optima will hit showrooms, but it should be before the end of the calendar year.