| Introduced as Kia's first midsize sedan, the | | | | In its third model year (2003), the Optima's front end |
| first-generation Optima couldn't promise the | | | | was restyled, which gave it a more upscale European |
| refinement, documented reliability and assured resale | | | | look. In addition, Kia began to offer Sportmatic |
| value of its key Japanese competitors. The Optima is | | | | manual-shift capability on four-cylinder automatic Kia |
| produced for the Chinese market by the Dongfeng | | | | Optimas. The biggest improvement of the new Kia |
| Yueda Kia Automobile Company, a joint venture with | | | | Optima is its exterior look. Unlike the previous |
| Kia. Available in four- and six-cylinder models, the | | | | generation of Optima's, this vehicle is actually based |
| first-generation Kia Optima midsize sedan debuted for | | | | on the Hyundai Elantra HD (2007-) platform. Like the |
| the 2000 model year. For the small selection of | | | | Sonata, the Optima is also longer and taller than the |
| buyers it did find, the Optima delivered a lot of bang | | | | previous model and has a longer wheelbase. The |
| for the buck with its solid build quality, jackpot of | | | | differences between the Optima and Sonata are |
| features, super warranty and low price. The current | | | | mostly in styling details, though the Kia is priced at |
| Kia Optima comes in two trim levels: base LX and | | | | $500 less. |
| premium EX. Although the base four-cylinder provides | | | | Kia has emphasized the safety features on the |
| adequate acceleration, the Optima's V6 is | | | | Optima, claiming that it comes standard with many |
| disappointing. | | | | safety features and received a crash test rating of |
| The recently introduced second-generation Kia | | | | 5-stars from the NHTSA[1] and 4-stars from Euro |
| Optima follows much the same playbook. The Kia | | | | NCAP[2]. Surprisingly, while other cars are adding |
| Optima's cabin is spacious, and the interior materials | | | | power with model-changeovers, Optima's optional V6 |
| as a whole give an impression of quality. Because of | | | | only makes 185 hp (138 kW), which is seriously |
| their mechanical similarity, the Kia Optima has | | | | lacking compared to a lot of other models. Though |
| comparable reliability to Hyundai Sonatas of the same | | | | not known to be a competitor in any road racing |
| model year. The Kia Optima's cabin is spacious, and | | | | events, the Optima has proven to be an acceptable |
| the interior materials as a whole give an impression of | | | | rally racing machine. |
| quality. | | | | |