Impressive Warranty
Hyundai is Kia's corporate parent, so the Optima gets Hyundai's impressive warranty; it includes 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain protection and 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance.
Kia is putting more marketing muscle behind the new Optima. Its predecessor received little marketing support, and most folks wanting a Kia sedan brushed past it in showrooms and headed for the automaker's Spectra model.
The front-wheel-drive Optima has quick steering and a decent ride, but the softness of an older Buick and thus just average handling. The brake pedal has a linear action to help provide smooth stops.
See also:
If the engine will not start
If engine doesn't turn over or
turns over slowly
1. If your car has an automatic transaxle,
be sure the shift lever is in N (Neutral)
or P (Park) and the emergency brake
is set.
2. Check the bat ...
Cruise control system
The cruise control system allows you to
program the vehicle to maintain a constant
speed without pressing the accelerator
pedal.
This system is designed to function
above approximately 40 km/h (2 ...
THE VERDICT
Just a few years ago, the Kia Optima would have been a genuine competitor to
the American sedans in the family car category. Unfortunately for Kia, companies
like Ford and General Motors have made ...