The 2019 Kia Optima is expected to arrive later this year. For its mid-cycle refresh, the midsize sedan will be updated with new features that have been previewed by the 2018 Kia K5.
Optima and K5 are essentially just different nameplates for the same vehicle. The latter is designed for the automaker's home base, South Korea, while the former is meant for Western markets such as the United States and Europe. As such, the updates for the recently unveiled 2018 K5 are expected to be carried over to the fourth-generation Optima.
The midsize sedan's front fascia will feature an updated tiger nose grille with vertical slats, a sportier bumper, revised headlights and LED daytime running lights. The rear, on the other hand, has updated LED taillights, reflectors on the bumper and a diffuser. Meanwhile, the midsize sedan's dynamic profile is accented by new alloy wheels.
As for the cabin, not much has changed from the current-generation Optima. However, there are a few tweaks peppered throughout the luxurious and refined cabin. This includes a slightly different steering wheel, new upholstery options, ambient lighting and Kia's latest UVO infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen display.
The 2018 K5 has four different powertrain options — a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque; a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that yields 163 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque; a 1.7 turbocharged diesel engine that produces 141 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque; and a 2.0-liter LPG unit with 163 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque.
There's no confirmation yet which engines will be powering the 2019 Optima.
In terms of available technologies, there is Highway Driving Assist (HDA) — which maintains the midsize sedan's speed on highways, adjusts its distance from other cars, automatically changes speed and assists the driver with steering — as well as Lane Keep Assist and a rearview camera.
Kia has not yet announced a specific launch date for the 2019 Optima.
