Kia’s all-new Optima attracted some rather unexpected attention after we picked it up the other day. We dropped back an upmarket European car after getting the Optima and the Kia immediately drew a crowd around itself.

Staff from the (unnamed) Euro car dealer admired the striking lines of the Optima from the outside and within the cabin, heaping praise on the style and at the same time being stunned by the price tag of just $36,990. Keep in mind that just because you work for an upmarket car company doesn’t mean you can afford one of the cars and you will understand that one of the European dealer staff is now seriously considering buying an Optima…

The all-new Kia Optima is the latest work of automotive art from the South Korean company’s German designer Peter Schreyer. So it goes without saying that the large sedan has the now-familiar ‘Schreyer’ radiator grille with its indented upper and lower horizontal surfaces. Interestingly, the indentations have been repeated in the top edge of the windscreen to create an unusual look unique to this model.

The domed upper surface and high waistline are big talking features and are further emphasised by a wide chromed strip that runs from the base of the A-pillar, over the upper sections of the doors and then ends at the lower section of the C-pillar.

One of the upmarket features is a European style panoramic sunroof and this black glass ties in neatly with the aforementioned chromed arches that frame it at the sides.

Optima’s cockpit puts the main focus on the driving position, with a Saab-like dash layout where everything is angled in the direction of the driver. The quality of the interior finish and materials is high and at least equals most of the rivals in this class.

Power comes form a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing up to 148 kW of power and a useful 250 Nm of torque. This strong torque means the engine can provide good performance while minimising emissions and fuel use. Most owners will use about seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres during country running, and the consumption isn’t likely to rise much over 10 litres per hundred kilometres in suburban use.

Engine performance is good without being exciting as the Optima isn’t in the sports sedan market. It gets off the mark in a lively manner and the powerplant has a silky smooth feel that will appeal to those who like quality in their cars.