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.
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Engine coolant
The high-pressure cooling system has a
reservoir filled with year-round antifreeze
coolant. The reservoir is filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once ...
Manual transaxle
Manual transaxle operation
The manual transaxle has five forward
gears.
Press the clutch pedal down fully while
shifting, then release it slowly.
The gearshift lever must be returned to
the ne ...
Power steering fluid
Checking the power steering fluid
level
With the vehicle on level ground, check
the fluid level in the power steering reservoir
periodically. The fluid should be
between MAX and MIN marks on th ...