Attack of the Giant C-Pillars: Kia Optima SX Turbo

"Earthbound And Down" (andrewkrok) 06/16/2014 at 16:36 • Filed to: kia, kia optima, c pillars, design

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This is a 2014 Kia Optima SX Turbo. It's a decent-looking car; hell, most everything put out by Kia these days is pretty easy on the eyes.

However, there's one design element that bothers the absolute shit out of me. It's this stupid C-pillar.

Look at that fucker. It's gargantuan. It's so big, it's pushed the window line forward, making room for even more fucking C-pillar . Not only does it make the rear windows look tiny, but it makes the C-pillar ... okay, you get the idea. It just looks off. Streamlined and somewhat aggressive, yes, but still off.

With a pillar that big, you'd think the rear sight lines would be hella lacking. Like, to the point where blind-spot checking resembles backing up in a Lamborghini Countach. A quick glance into the cabin reinforces that idea. You thought the C-pillars looked big on the outside? HA!

Of course, from the angles I took the pictures, they do look rather imposing. Thankfully, that's not the case from the driver's seat. Through witchcraft, a pact with the devil — something not of this world — Kia made the rear sight lines halfway decent.

Yes, the beltline moves upwards towards the C-pillar, which diminishes some lower-angle visibility, but when you're sitting in the driver's seat, the C-pillar isn't as thick as it is long ( heh ). That means you're not actually losing too much behind that metal. Here's a shot where I tried to replicate a quick over-shoulder glance:

It's not as bad as it looks from the outside. Yes, a thinner C-pillar would add a little visibility, but in all honesty, I think you lose more from the rising beltline. It's nothing that also looking in your mirror can't solve.

Still, even with this Korean hexenwerk at play, the massive C-pillar makes the cabin look small from the outside, which could spell trouble for Kia, as this segment primarily contains buyers that are trying to maximize space without also maximizing the budget.

And when you're going up against the Honda Accord, the Mazda6 and the Ford Fusion, every inch of perceived spaciousness counts.

RacecaR > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 16:41

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They should have put a fake window there.

Earthbound And Down > RacecaR 06/16/2014 at 16:43

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Fun story: If you notice on the exterior, there's more door after the window ends. However, look at the interior; the door ends at the window.

Behind that little strip of on-door C-pillar is nothing but door jamb. Solid metal, and that's it.

Such a weird design.

RazoE > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 16:45

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beltlines are so high because they're supposed to protect the driver more. Pretty soon we'll only have gun-slits to look out of.

Jagvar > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 16:48

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KIA: You've come a long way, baby.

Earthbound And Down > RazoE 06/16/2014 at 16:50

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I forget where I heard this, but I remember an autojourno discussing a conversation he had with one of Ford's current engineers. Apparently, as much as high beltlines help safety, they're also an aesthetic decision. According to that autojourno, the engineer said something like, "We could totally make lower beltlines and larger greenhouses, but that's not what the public wants right now."

So I think it's more than just safety. But, in the event of backlash over the design, you can count on PR folks to say how it's a decision that was made purely for safety purposes.

Otherwise, the Camaro and the 300 would be the safest cars on the road.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 16:51

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I still think the Dodge Avenger might be worse.

All dat plastic.

Earthbound And Down > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/16/2014 at 16:53

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Holy fucking shit.

Then again, if there wasn't a category in which "the Dodge Avenger might be worse," I'd be worried.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 16:55

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I dunno, I wouldn't call it last place with the Pentastar V6.

I like the Avenger so... My opinion is a little biased.

Brian, The Life of > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 16:56

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Crash test ratings: ensuring that we get into more accidents due to poor visibility bought on by changes meant to protect us from said accidents.

And now my head hurts ...

Milky > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 17:01

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That looks like all glass to me.

Visibility gets worse too when the wing goes up.

Earthbound And Down > Milky 06/16/2014 at 17:06

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Is that the Panamera? I had a 4S for a press loaner a few weeks ago. It didn't have blind-spot monitoring installed.

Each lane change involved three steps:

-Clench butthole.

-Smash gas.

-Move over.

bob and john > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 17:06

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I dont think it looks that bad. i always thgouht it was a handsome little car.
fucking useless at being a car. but handsome at it. (also, great at cruising)

Earthbound And Down > bob and john 06/16/2014 at 17:08

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I've always considered it Chrysler's "Old GM" car. It may have looked nice when it was new, but in 2014, it needs to be put out to pasture in favor of something that doesn't look inherently cheap. But that's just my opinion.

bob and john > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 17:30

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oh, its old and it hasnt had a refresh since never, but none of the other compacts look that...mean. the rest are just happy, joyous faces bouncing aorund, and the avenger is more like: fuck you guys for being better cars.

Moves-Like-Senna > Jagvar 06/16/2014 at 17:44

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BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 17:50

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Porsche 944 likes the side window profile, although the rear glass does make the sight lines a bit more generous....

The only thing I don't like about the Kia, is the awkward roof arch termination at the top of the C-pillar that makes for an odd transition between the roof and the rear glass... If the Kia were my car, I would black out the whole roof above the chrome strip, and try to figure out a transition between black and body color at the base of the A-pillar.

And all these new cars have such a high belt line that they make almost any size wheel look too small, under acres of steel above the rear tire.

Earthbound And Down > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 06/16/2014 at 17:53

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You're right about the roof. There's a lot of incongruent details all smashed together in that little bit of real estate. It's way too busy to give any sort of sprezzatura ambience. Instead, it's like, "We may or may not have built this bit of the car last."

bobkustofawitshz > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 18:25

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I think the Optima is a pretty attractive car (especially with those gorgeous quilted leather seats!) and actually like the big C-pillar. But what bugs me to no end about this car is the jumble of seemingly random panel gaps and shutlines that converge around that pillar. It's just not a clean design. I've tried to illustrate them all in different colors:

Those seats, tho...

Hermann > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 18:28

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I've unseen things you people wouldn't believe. Bicycle pelotons all around my my shoulders. I watched C-Pillars get bigger and the inside of cars get darker making the freaking Brandenburger Gate look small and invisible on my mirros. All these motorcycles, SUVs and pedestrians will be hit because of my blind spots... like cones in the rain.

(Every time I read or say C-Pillars I remember Blade Runner because of the freaking C-Beams)

Milky > Earthbound And Down 06/16/2014 at 19:02

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Crossfire, too old for blind spot monitoring. Just gotta get real good with your mirrors.

Mike > Earthbound And Down 06/17/2014 at 07:15

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This is the one gripe I have with my '09 Civic coupe - other than it not being a RWD manual. The damn C-pillar is huge. It looks nice, but lane changes are...interesting. A lot of mirrors, general blind faith, and stomping of the gas pedal are involved.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Earthbound And Down 05/20/2016 at 12:01

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Something something Cadillac Etcetera