In 2003, at the Geneva Motor Show, the South Korean manufacturer Kia presented its new model Kia Opirus, which became the most expensive car of this concern in the entire history of its existence. In the United States, this version was named Kia Amanti.
The Korean concern Kia has occupied a strong position in the global automotive industry for many years. Today the model range of this manufacturer is represented by a decent number of versions, among which Kia Opirus can rightfully be considered one of the leaders. Even the spoiled American market, which is widely represented by all world manufacturers, was very loyal to this model.
And this is entirely due to its high competitiveness. After all, the high demand for the "Korean" is ensured by its elegant appearance, chic interior trim and excellent technical characteristics. And in their reviews, American motorists, who were able to familiarize themselves with the capabilities of the Kia Opirus vehicle in their own practice, especially noted its economy, reliability and democratic price.
It is clear that the Korean car industry in general, and the Kia concern in particular, are currently experiencing an unprecedented rise. This is expressed both in the economic indicators of the manufacturing company and in the number of models that are found, including on Russian roads. It should be noted that the attitude towards Korean cars in our country over the past two decades has changed very seriously towards absolute loyalty. This is directly related to the high quality and reasonable prices for the products of the Korean automotive industry.
Historical excursion
An important factor in the creation of the Kia Opirus is that the model was created on the same platform as the Hyundai Equus. This allowed Kia to significantly reduce the cost of developing a unique technical base (167 million euros), which ultimately affected the cost of finished products.
And in 2006, the model was restyled, which primarily affected the optics of the kia opirus, which is very clearly expressed even in the photographs. An external review clearly shows that the changes have affected the rear optics, represented today by a round brake light, side lighting and main headlights, which are designed in the form of concentric modules. And in the extreme part of the optical equipment there is a built-in direction indicator. In addition, of the significant changes, it is worth noting the new shape of the radiator grill.
At the same time, the modification also affected some of the technical parameters of the Kia Opirus in 2006. So, a six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 203 hp. was replaced by a more powerful power unit with a larger engine capacity and 266 hp.
Engine and chassis
The next restyling of the Korean model Kia Opirus took place in 2008. As a result of this modernization, the outdated engine was replaced with a gasoline engine with a volume of 3.0 liters and a power of 194 hp. This power unit is equipped with an automatic transmission.
The chassis of the Kia Opirus is represented by a front multi-link and independent suspension, which is equipped with a transverse stabilizer. And the rear semi-independent and combined suspension is a set of diagonal and transverse levers made in a triangular configuration. The levers, in turn, are combined with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. The lateral stability of the vehicle is provided by the articulated beam.
Interior
The luxurious interior of the executive car deserves special words. Its layout provides for a one-time and comfortable accommodation for five people. The high ceiling allows passengers to be seated freely. The seat upholstery in the Kia Opirus is made of genuine leather, which has light colors. On the thresholds of the car there are stamped metal plates with the name of the model.
The console panel in the central part is equipped with a navigator display. And on the steering wheel there are touch control buttons for multimedia equipment. In general, the convenience of controlling all car systems is due to the fact that the driver can carry out these manipulations by controlling their work from the steering wheel. I would especially like to note the convenience and ergonomics of the seats in the car of the Kia Opirus model, the design of which provides for the adjustment of the head restraints.
The servo drive allows for convenient adjustment of the steering wheel and front seats. Control and measuring devices (speedometer, tachometer, fuel level and temperature sensors) are recessed into the panel, and their backlight is made in red and white. The list of advantages is crowned by the silent operation of the power unit and the excellent noise insulation parameters of this car, which allow the driver and passengers to feel quite comfortable in the cabin.
Maintainability and safety
The very fact that the Kia Opirus model belongs to executive class cars implies its unconditional high quality, which is ensured primarily by high reliability or rare failure. However, this circumstance does not exclude timely and competent maintenance, regulated by the manufacturer. According to the experience of Kia Opirus owners, minor maintenance repairs may be required only once in several years, which speaks volumes about its ease of use.
Thus, when purchasing a Kia Opirus car, the driver can be completely sure that in terms of resource development and maintainability, this model meets the highest operational requirements. That is, a potential buyer should not worry about costly and complicated repairs if he fulfills the simplest conditions for the maintenance and operation of this "Korean" executive class.
Comprehensive safety of the Kia Opirus is provided by eight airbags, ABS (anti-lock brakes) and ESP (exchange rate stability) equipment. And the suspension control under conditions when the road surface has an uneven surface is carried out by the ECS system, which practically excludes the vibration of the chassis and, accordingly, the swinging of the car body.
Testimonials
Do not forget that the Kia Opirus is the most expensive model from the entire car lineup of the Korean manufacturer Kia. According to the owners of this executive class sedan, it is characterized by excellent dynamic characteristics, ease of control, high reliability and a decent level of comfort. Thus, it has gained a strong position in its segment of the consumer market. The high level of world quality is also confirmed by the assignment of the Euro-5 environmental standard.
The high demand for this Korean-made model in the Russian market is primarily due to its modern and original external design and unpretentious operation. Among the many positive reviews, there are quite a few references to the high reliability of the Kia Opirus, its maintainability and low fuel consumption.
Pavel from Samara: “I would like to share my impressions of the car. In general, the machine is extremely unpretentious and comfortable. In general, 95th gasoline eats somewhere 8-9 liters in the city. Very economical machine! For the entire period, only the generator broke down. Was replaced by a rebuilt one. I changed only 2 levers in the front suspension on the chassis”.
Nikolay from Orenburg: “We bought a car in the winter of 2010 (2nd owner). Service book. Bought it on studless rubber. Because of this, I got stuck several times. The stove is perfect. This summer, in the abnormal heat, the air conditioner worked at full capacity. And when the car was toned (85% light-darkening), it became generally perfect! Economical, 10 liters in the city with the included air conditioning and headlights. Great car."
