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:

    Fuel requirements
    unleaded fuel having a pump octane number ((R+M)/2) of 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or higher. Your new vehicle is designed to obtain maximum performance with UNLEADED FUEL, as well as minimize ...

    Tires and wheels
    *1 Normal load : Up to 3 persons *2 High speed : above 160 km/h (100 mph) CAUTION When replacing tires, use the same size originally supplied with the vehicle. Using tires of a different size ...

    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 ...