KIA’S Mondeo-sized medium range Optima model made little market headway in its original guise –- but that was partly because the range lacked the estate body style that many buyers in this sector want.

The Korean brand has now put that oversight right with the launch of the car we look at here, the Optima Sportswagon.

Though a thoroughly practical vehicle for everyday use, this estate offers a long, lean and dynamic profile.

The Sportswagon retains the same width (1,860mm) and length (4,855mm) as the saloon, and grows by 5mm in height (to 1,470mm) to accommodate the expanded boot which can swallow 553-litres.

While the front of the car remains the same as the Optima saloon, its strong, rising shoulder and gently sloping, swept-back cabin continue for longer to produce its distinctive tourer body shape. 

The overhang at the rear adds greater visual volume to the back of the vehicle, though this extra mass is disguised by the raked rear window and tapering roofline, giving the Sportswagon more of an athletic stance in a typically conservative segment.

At the rear of the car, wide LED tail lamps wrap around the corners of the bodywork.

The rear bumper houses a single oval exhaust and features an integrated air diffuser, for a sporty finish.

Under the bonnet, all mainstream models share the same 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine developing 139bhp.

This unit can also be mated with 7DCT seven-speed auto transmission.

If you really don’t want a diesel, then you can ask your dealer about the 242bhp 2.0-litre T-GDI petrol unit in the minority-interest GT flagship model.

We think that this Optima Sportswagon has much to offer for those willing to look beyond the established contenders in the medium-sized estate segment and give it a try.

The decent cabin room will please families and it’ll certainly be a very smart set of wheels for the middle-ranking managers who sweep backwards and forwards across the country, from motorway service areas to shiny industrial estates then home again.

As for the established brands, well if they’re smart, they’ll be taking this car very seriously indeed.

Because potentially, that’s what an increasing number of thoughtful buyers might already be doing.