Kia Optima vs VW Jetta
Which of these sensible saloons is a better used buy?
Kia Optima ‘2’ 1.7 CRDI auto
Years: 2012 to 2016 Engine: 1.7-litre 4cyl, 134bhp Ins grp: 17 Official econ/co2: 47.1mpg/158g/km Why? Kia offers head-turning looks, the ability to carry five people in comfort and a refined diesel engine. Prices from: £6,795
THE Kia Optima is a family saloon sister model to the Hyundai i40, and comes well equipped, with 16-inch alloy wheels and Bluetooth fitted as standard across the range.
The 1.7-litre diesel is the only engine option in the range, but you can pair it with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Performance is brisk enough, with 134bhp and 325Nm of torque – but sadly the car isn’t much fun once you’ve picked up speed, with light and vague steering and a notchy gearshift.
Inside, a logically laid-out dashboard boasting some high-quality switchgear gives the Optima an upmarket feel. With a 505-litre boot, it’s impressively practical as well, and matches the Jetta on usable space in the back. The car serves up plenty of legroom for rear seat passengers, while a high driving position means there’s good visibility, too.
The Optima didn’t rank in Driver Power 2016, but all used models will still be covered under Kia’s market-leading seven-year warranty.
VW Jetta 2.0 TDI (150) SE DSG
Years: 2011 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Ins grp: 22 Official econ/co2: 62.8mpg/120g/km Why? Jetta is a saloon version of the refined Golf, and adds extra practicality with boot space. Prices from: £6,795
VOLKSWAGEN’S Jetta has been around for nearly as long as the Golf, and while much of the running gear is still shared with the hatch, it’s carried over from the previous model; the latest Jetta doesn’t benefit from the advanced MQB technology of the Mk7 Golf.
It handles adequately, but the steering does feel slow and a fraction heavy at low speed. Still, the 2.0-litre TDI engine is punchy and ensures there’s enough performance on offer.
Inside, the black plastic, dark upholstery and white-on-black instruments all look a bit plain. Still, the Jetta’s trademark long rear overhang makes space for a vast boot that offers a maximum capacity of 510 litres. Even better is the fact it unlocks and swings open with the press of a button on the key fob.
Back seat space is decent, while the large back windows make up for the dark interior. The Jetta has never been hugely popular and didn’t rank in Driver Power 2016, but VWS traditionally score well for build quality.