Different options on US and Euro/Asia models

[pgomes]

I'm in the market for a family sedan, and will probably end up getting a 4-cyl Optima EX, loaded with every available option (except for the spoiler and mud guards). I considered the 6-cyl, but the ~20 horse difference didn't justify the difference in price, and the worse mileage would cost me as long as I owned the car.

At first, with the 2006.5 I couldn't get some of the options because the option "packages" conflicted. For instance, I could get the Appearance Package, but if I did, I couldn't get the Leather Package, and vice-versa. Well, now with the 2007 they've added the Convenience Package, which covers the gap, so if you get Appearance+Convenience you get everything.

Before the 2007 was added to their site, I was researching Kia's foreign sites to see the options on their models, and the differences annoyed me. Basically, the non-US models have more options, and they are all available at every trim level.

What's available on non-US Optima/Magentis?
- Back-up sensors from the factory
- Lid on the front cup holders
- Fuel consumption on the trip computer

Why are these not available on the US models? I'm not sure. They would be options, so they wouldn't add to the base price.

I know how easy it is to add back-up sensors, and how much the dealer would love to help me there. Actually, I don't want the sensors, I rather have a clean bumper. But it surprises me how the UK model has them.

The trip computer not displaying MPG in the US model may be Kia hiding the lower than expected numbers. Here's what this article at Car.com had to say about that:

"The available trip computer doesn’t display an average mpg readout; that’s odd because it’s got distance-to-empty data, so it must be calculating something. However, given the disparity we experienced between EPA numbers and real-world returns, the omission of average mpg in the trip computer may not be accidental."

And finally, the cup holder lid bothers me because I don't drink in my car and the open cup holders look lame.

Here are pictures of what's available if you don't buy your Optima/Magentis in the US:

The back-up sensors, body-colored.


The trip computer, with average consumption.


The front cup holders, with lid.


I'm still going to get my Optima, but I wish Kia wouldn't have offered us less than they offered to UK and Asia buyers.