IT has been a long time coming, but it has been worth the wait. Kia has finally turned its attention to building a seriously competitive saloon, and it has done a brilliant job.

The Optima cuts a sharp-suited dash in the company car park and that’s entirely appropriate, as the car is aimed squarely at the business market, which makes up the vast majority of customers for cars of this size in the UK.

Priced from £19,595, with just one engine, a 134 horsepower, 1.7-litre diesel unit, and four trim levels, the Optima comes with a package of equipment which ensures every user-chooser business buyer will have to take a look.

Confident styling from design teams in Frankfurt and California is clean-cut, with a coupé-like profile and a muscular flared wheel arch appearance, giving upmarket first impressions.

The transformation is reflected inside with features not seen before on a Kia, including a 12-speaker, 550W Infinity audio system. Self-parking, heated and cooled ventilated seats, cornering lights and an automatic cabin defogging system are also available, as is a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Optima’s ride is firm, but well controlled, and makes the car much more entertaining to drive than previous wallowy saloons from Korea. Economy has also improved, thanks to fuel-saving measures such as Intelligent Stop & Go.

The interior is properly sporty and Kia says the fascia, tilted towards the driver, has been designed on aircraft principles so that all the major controls are within the driver’s sight-line.

The safety package is comprehensive with anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist as standard. All versions have electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, and an emergency stop signalling system, that flashes the brake lights rapidly to warn following drivers.

Every Optima also comes with front, side and curtain airbags, plus active front-seat head restraints to minimise the risk of whiplash injuries.

The boot is a whopper, with a lower lip to make loading the car less awkward and 60:40 split-folding rear seats. Inside the cabin are a range of storage spaces, including a cooled glovebox, a centre console box, cupholders front and rear, a sunglasses holder, space for bottles in the front and rear doors, and pockets in the backs of the front seats.

The Optima became Korea’s top-selling car within a month of going on sale and is in such demand in America that Kia is building the car at a plant in the US state of Georgia just to keep pace.

Whether it proves such a runaway success here, faced as it is with a raft of top-class competitors including the Vauxhall Insignia and Ford Mondeo, remains to be seen, but it is more than capable of doing the business.

Price: £21,695 Insurance group: 17 (1-50.

Fuel consumption (Combined): 57.6mpg.

Top speed: 125mph.

Length: 484.5cm/190.7in.

Width: 183cm/72in.

Luggage capacity: 17.8cu ft.

Fuel tank capacity: 15.4 gallons/70 litres.

CO2 emissions: 128g/km.

Warranty: SEVEN years/100,000 miles