We, as people, try our level best to never seem shallow. We look past minor issues with other people, in the hopes that we will be rewarded with meaningful friendship, deep conversation, or even something even more valuable. And to avoid being seen as shallow ourselves, we read books we might not be that interested in, and try activities that force us out of our comfort zones, just so we won’t be as boring as the next guy.

We can’t help it. We know how judgmental we can be, and so we assume the rest of the world to be just as quick to draw conclusions. We go out of our way to make a good impression, and we cannot deny that appearances do wonders to aid our cause. And so we spend heinous amounts of money at clothing stores, buying shirts with the right fit, and pants that flatter our butts. Of course, what you wear can only do so much, and our attention will eventually turn to what we drive.

There’s no point being dressed to the nines if you drive an old banger with no character, or something so generic you often forget what shade of grey yours is. You want something that stands out, something that makes an impression. And the higher your climb up the career ladder, the more important it is (seemingly) to have the right set of wheels at your disposal. So what happens when you finally get that executive position you’ve been eyeing, but you don’t really want to drive something you’ll lose in the office carpark?

Enter the Kia Optima. Launched in January 2014 to much fanfare, the K5 remains a looker in its segment, despite new rivals trying to steal its thunder. Gone are the dish-style alloy wheels, making way for more refined-looking alloys, and minor nip and tucks here and there have ensured that the big Kia’s looks stay competitive in its segment. Inside, the headlining features are its ventilated seats, Infinity audio system, and full-length glass roof. That said, I took more notice of the racing-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel (with paddle shifters) and the rather small 4.3” touchscreen headunit in the dash; The former for its very exciting design, and the latter for its relatively small size (outdone by the smaller Kia Cerato, no less).

Getting comfortable, I quickly noticed how it’s nigh-on impossible to get a commanding view out of the cockpit. Having jacked the seat up so high that my head touched the roof, I realized that this was an interior that was made to be sat in, and not on, so I lowered it to a more sports-car like position. As I negotiated my way out of a very tight carpark, I was immediately grateful for the all-round parking sensors and lightly-weighted controls. As I began to plough through KL’s streets, I soon realized how comfortable the K5 is. Sure, the ride’s a little less forgiving than one might expect, but it never really feels uncomfortable.

As I began to leave the congestion the capital, the roads began to open up, so I nudged the Optima a little harder. The 2.0L CVVT Nu engine, with its 160PS was happy to oblige, letting out an unobtrusively pleasant note as it did. Flicking through the gears with the paddle shifters, it isn’t hard to grab full control of the K5, and it never second-guesses you and your driving style. I appreciated the level of driver-involvement the Kia gave me as I hustled it through large sweeping bends and tight motorway exits, making my way to my next appointment.

Through the weekend that I had it, the tone never really changed with the K5. It was always impressive to look at, relatively fun to drive, and never really obtrusive. Though I admit that I have a soft spot for the way it looks, I didn’t once feel compelled to go for a drive to savour it a little more,  and passengers that rode in it while I had it also remarked that it wasn’t particularly memorable in any particular way.

Of course, the middle-of-the-road experience was somewhat expected. Korean cars have gotten incredibly good looking of late, especially with men like Peter Schreyer holding the pen. But build quality and quality-control remain a point of contention with these cars, and even my relatively-new test car was beginning to show signs of wear. The Infinity sound system was marred by rattling sounds throughout the cabin, which I couldn’t get rid of even after removing every. single. thing from every compartment in the car. There was also quite a few crashes and bangs coming from the spare wheel well under the boot floor, which I also couldn’t fix despite repacking everything in there twice.

To be honest, I’m quite glad that there’s a new Optima that’ll be making its way soon. Though a strong contender, the current K5 just cannot match its competition by way of refinement and all-out luxury. Where the Japanese have become obsessed with making the most comfortable, most quiet D-segment barge money can buy, it seems this particular Korean is still slightly off the mark, with questionable noises and equally odd ride quality. I think the current K5 shouldn’t really be viewed as a contender in the segment, but more of a preview of what’s to come. The Optima is a great display of how far Kia’s have improved in the past few years. And if they keep up the pace, I might be giving up one of my luxury cars for one of these, even if it has a particular liking for kimchi.