Quick Drive: 2016 Kia Optima SXL

Album created by William Maley · Updated November 30, 20169 yr

These eight photos cover the 2016 Kia Optima SXL in Phantom Blue Metallic, Kia's top trim pairing a 2.0L Turbo GDI four-cylinder with a well-appointed cabin. Exterior shots range from lakeside profiles to a graffiti mural backdrop that puts the sedan's fastback roofline and red brake calipers in sharp relief. Under the hood and inside the cabin, the Turbo GDI engine cover and quilted leather interior with UVO navigation round out the full picture. Read the 2016 Kia Optima SXL Quick Drive

There are no comments to display.

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Followers

Support Independent Automotive Journalism

25 years of honest automotive coverage — because someone has to do it.

Cheers & Gears has never been filtered by manufacturer relationships or driven by algorithm. Just real people, real opinions, and a genuine love of cars. Subscribers keep the lights on and get an ad-light experience starting at $2.25/month.*

View subscription options

*A small number of ads feature member-exclusive coupon deals and will still appear.

Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

I'm old enough to remember when there were Xes on the eyes of cartoon characters, that meant they were dead.
- 1 hour ago1 hr
- 30,781 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Yep. That's why it makes so much sense to me. Bad MPG + decent commute = actual possible savings with an EV.
- 1 hour ago1 hr
- 30,781 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

That brings up another good point. This may seem obvious, but the calculus for an EV works better the worse the mileage of the equivalent gas vehicle is. I remember a while ago people trying to compare the Hummer EVs to a Corolla and saying it didn't make financial sense for the Hummer. But the real comparison is probably something more like an Escalade. A Hummer EV may not be a great savings compared to a Corolla, but it blows away an Escalade.
- 6 hours ago6 hr
- 30,781 replies
- - 2
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

I honestly thought about writing an opinion piece on the stupid house measure passed about autos that are perceived to be connected to China. So, with it we have the death of Polestar, but Volvo gets a pass and yet both are Chinese owned and connected to China. US bans Polestar but not Volvo in baffling EV ruling This is one of the biggest idiots moves by the current ignorant administration. Cool news from BMW BMW Group Completes $1.7 Billion U.S. Investment and Premieres New BMW X5 at “Home of X” Event in Spartanburg, SC The new BMW X5. The new BMW iX5 – the first battery-electric BMW X5 – is launching with the sixth generation of BMW’s eDrive technology. This means longer ranges of up to 845 kilometres (525 miles) in the BMW iX5 60 xDrive, fast charging, 800V technology and practical bidirectional charging. Start your engines on your thoughts of the style?
- 14 hours ago14 hr
- 30,781 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

G. David Felt replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

For me in comparison to the SS I replaced with the EV9. Insurance was a wash on my policy, no real difference. The difference was clearly in Home Charging versus the Premium fuel and low MPG that the SS got. The monthly fuel cost for the SS covers the EV9 payment and charging and I still have no maintenance in comparison to the SS. Big win for me in a state that has some of the cheapest electrical rates and highest gas prices. Washington state does have a flat $250 fee added to your yearly license to make up for the lost gas tax which here is 56.5 cents per gallon plus the federal gas tax so a total of 74.9 cents per gallon tax. Filled up the Escalade today, $146 for the fill-up.
- 14 hours ago14 hr
- 30,781 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

A Horse With No Name replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

The self driving thing is pretty amazing.
- 21 hours ago21 hr
- 30,781 replies
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

To many variables to be able to make a blanket statement. Are you in a cheap gas state or a cheap electricity state? Are you in a state that has big differences in car insurance? Are you going to charge at home on Level 2 or are you using Superchargers mostly? You'll save money on oil changes by driving the Tesla, but you'll pay more in tires every 5(?) years simply because the Model 3 has bigger, more expensive tires. Are you buying a RWD Model 3 or an AWD Model 3? Are you buying the standard Corolla or the hybrid? My bet is that if you're in a situation that makes an EV make more sense (cheap electricity to charge at home) and you drive a lot of miles, the savings on gas wipes out the difference in insurance pretty quickly It's a full pros-cons spreadsheet. I asked Claude to calculate it for us. So it looks like as long as the difference in insurance is less than $900 a year, the Model 3 wins. Personally, even though I loath Tesla, I would probably pick the Model-3 over the Corolla for my use-case scenario just to have the self-driving feature. Having a less exhausting journey for myself is helpful being a consultant. That wouldn't necessarily be something I can quantify in a spreadsheet. My travels, currently, are also through mountainous areas that kill fuel economy in my gassers but could be advantageous for an EV for regen. It's a weird "uphill both ways" scenario that I could use to my charging advantage if I was careful. (I'm tempted to rent a Tesla just to try it now)
- Yesterday at 07:10 PM1 day
- 30,781 replies
- - 3
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

ccap41 replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

I agree, which is why I said they'd be "similar". But I guess what kind of savings over 15 years would the Model 3 net you? What're you thinking? I also expect the Model 3 to have overall savings, but 15 years is a long time and if it only ends up like 2k in savings, that's pretty negligible for that period of time.
- Yesterday at 06:47 PM1 day
- 30,781 replies
- - 1
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Eh, I think the Tesla would still end up being cheaper, but pretty much any other EV would be cheaper still due to the Tesla insurance issue. I think comparing an Ioniq 6 to a nicely equipped Sonata 2.5T is a closer match and likely similar insurance rates. the BMW i4 v BMW 440i is one where the performance gets pretty close and the price difference is a rounding error. In the end the i4 will be cheaper because of fuel economy and not needing premium gas. Ionic 9 v. Tahoe is another as long as you're not trying to tow 9,000 lbs and it is just doing family hauler duty, the pricing between the two models is very close.
- Yesterday at 04:04 PM1 day
- 30,781 replies
- - 2
Random Thoughts Thread
Random Thoughts Thread

A Horse With No Name replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge

Give us time, American Stupidity runs major deep. I can't tell you how much I would love to just be able to bike or take public transit over owning a car. Seriously. I am ready for a life change. Anyways, going to stir the pot.
- Yesterday at 03:54 PM1 day
- 30,781 replies
- - 1

Quick Drive: 2016 Kia Optima SXL

8 images

0 Album Comments

Join the conversation

Support Independent Automotive Journalism

Recent Activity

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

Random Thoughts Thread

| About Us

| Sitemap

| Social

| Support and Policies

Important Information

Account

Navigation

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)

Chrome (Desktop)

Safari (iOS 16.4+)

Safari (macOS)

Edge (Android)

Edge (Desktop)

Firefox (Android)

Firefox (Desktop)