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:

    2009 Kia Optima / Magentis
    At first glance the redesigned 2009 Kia Optima (sold in Canada as the Magentis) looks like a marked improvement over the outgoing model. The design itself, while not exactly breathtaking, is on pa ...

    Rearview camera
    The rearview camera will activate when the back-up light is ON with the ignition switch ON and the shift lever in the R (Reverse) position. This system is a supplemental system that shows beh ...

    Mirrors
    Outside rearview mirror Be sure to adjust mirror angles before driving. Your vehicle is equipped with both lefthand and right-hand outside rearview mirrors. The mirrors can be adjusted remotely ...