MONDEO Man is the next target for Kia as the Korean car maker adds an executive grade saloon to its line up. The Optima is not only big, good looking and capable but it has all the right qualities to cause a stir in the company car market. Available as a diesel only, it is on sale in February and puts Kia into a place many would have thought unimaginable. If any nation has come of age in the car world over the past few years then is has to be South Korea – and Kia, along with sister company Hyundai, are leading the way. From makers of cheap and cheerful little hatches the two brands have matured into credible players and the Optima is a prime example. It is good enough in every way to take on the likes of the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Insignia but its qualities run deep enough to pitch it against the BMW 3 Series. The Optima range is priced from £19,595 to £25,995 and pound for pound this Kia has plenty going for it. The 1.7-litre diesel engine develops 134bhp and is available with either manual or automatic transmissions. Both are six speed and even the auto comes in below the crucial 160g/km CO2 emissions threshold so important to fleet operators. The manual versions are the most fuel efficient and the best to drive – although there is not much to moan about from the auto. Kia is claiming average fuel consumption of 57.6mpg for the manual with emissions down to 128g/km which is helped by a stop/start system. The auto is rated at 47.1mpg with CO2 of 158g/km – figures good enough to make the Optima very competitive in the business market. On the road those figures proved to be on the optimistic side. We managed just under 42 to the gallon in the auto and slightly shy of 46 in the manual over routes which took in both town and motorway driving. In fairness the cars we tried had only a few hundred miles on the clock and economy would be likely to improve as the engines bedded in but even so the Optima impressed. Its handling is neat and composed – possibly not as taut as its European rivals but nothing to cause concern - and the steering delivers plenty of feedback. The manual had slightly more urge about it and the top speed is a claimed 125 with 0 to 60 acceleration of 10.2 seconds. The auto is not quite as quick at 11.5 seconds with a maximum of 122mph but the box – its Kia’s own – is smooth and the changes rapid when made via the steering wheel mounted paddles. Inside the Optima is a league ahead of any other Kia on the market at the moment. The sound insulation is highly effective, the ride is smooth and there is plenty of room, especially in the back where legroom is very generous. So is the boot at 505 litres which is slightly bigger than that of the Insignia saloon. What is an eye opener is the standard of the trim and switchgear, which has a Lexus-like quality. It is also a very driver focused car with the instrument panel angled out from the dash towards the driving seat. On all but the entry level Optima 1, the binnacle in front of the driver includes a TFT display panel between the dials. Overall finish inside is both posh and practical. All come with alloy wheels, air conditioning, LED running lights, Bluetooth and voice control and compared to Kia’s last offering in the saloon market – the Magentis – it is hard to believe the two come from the same stable. On the mid-range Optima 2 models Kia is offering a choice of finishes, Luxe or Tech with both having upgraded features including a reversing camera display incorporated in the rear view mirror. The two are priced from £21,695 (autos are £1,500 more) with the Tech having an integrated sat nav, Infinity sound system and 17-inch alloys as standard. Luxe models miss out on the nav system but come with some extra body kit and sit on 18-inch wheels. The high specification Optima 3 costs from £24,495 and comes with sat nav, full leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof and even an auto parking system among its features. Factor in Kia’s seven year 100,000 mile warranty and the Optima package becomes quite compelling. It has all on board to impress even the most demanding of user-choosers and with its swish styling has the necessary stand out factor. Nevertheless, Kia is playing it safe. This is part of the market where it has never competed before and supply of the Optima is being restricted to around 1,500 a year to start off with. That will keep it scarce and help to prop up resale values – but this car is good enough to hold its value in its own right. | 
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