Mid-size with unprecedented value

Overview Information

The Kia Optima is based on the same platform as the recently updated Hyundai Sonata. Compared to the previous Optima, the new version looks far more upscale than its price would suggest. Unlike its sister sedan, the Optima has a more curvaceous front fascia that is significantly more sporty than the conservatively angular Hyundai. Kia aims to attract a younger, less affluent buyer for the Optima, so the 3.3L V-6 is reserved for the Sonata. Nonetheless, the smaller 2.7L V-6 combined with the optional 5-speed automatic should be adequate for most customers. The midsize Optima offers more room and standard features than other competitors in its price range, and is a credible family sedan value.

Official Word:

Redesigned as a 2006.5 model, the current-generation Kia Optima returns to the midsize sedan segment in 2008 as a leader in safety, comfort and convenience. A recipient of a "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star crash rating in frontal and side impact tests from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Optima continues to offer consumers the highest level of safety in the midsize sedan...Read.