Kia Optima saloon (2016-2019) - Practicality & boot space

Being a saloon means the Kia Optima loses out to hatchback rivals like the Ford Mondeo and the Skoda Superb, as its boot opening isn’t that wide and you can’t remove the parcel shelf if you’re transporting bulky items. These compromises aside though, the Optima is a pretty practical car. If you need more boot space, check out the Kia Optima SW estate, which we’ve reviewed separately.

Kia Optima interior space & storage

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Front and back-seat passengers in the Optima get plenty of head, leg and footroom, with a height-adjustable driver’s seat making it easy to get comfortable. The middle rear seat is slightly raised, though, so it’s only really suitable for children. There’s plenty of storage space on offer, thanks to a lidded central cubby, a cooled glovebox and a fold-down rear armrest, complete with cup-holders. The door bins aren’t large enough for big bottle of water, though.

Boot space

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The Optima’s 510-litre boot is a good size and while the rear seats offer 60:40 split-folding capability. Note the hybrid’s batteries eat into boot space significantly, reducing the Optima’s load volume to 307 litres.

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Towing

The diesel Optima can tow up to 1,800kg when fitted with a manual gearbox, dropping to 1,500kg if you choose the automatic option. There’s no word yet on the hybrid’s limits, though cars with a petrol-electric setup tend to have lower tow limits and are sometimes not recommended for towing at all.