Kia Optima

Kia Optima Models

The Kia Optima comes in two trim levels, the LX and SE. With the option of a V6 in either, that figures out to four Optima models.

The Optima LX with a 2.4-liter 149-horsepower four-cylinder engine comes with air conditioning, AM/FM stereo cassette, power windows, mirrors and locks and front-seat side airbags, among other features.

Specifying the 2.5-liter V6 adds 21 horsepower and a refined four-speed automatic transmission along with 15-inch alloy wheels with P205/60HR15 Michelin tires, four-wheel disc brakes, and cruise control.

The Optima SE with the 4-cylinder comes with larger alloy wheels and tires, heated mirrors, premium 120-watt audio system with cassette, CD and a power antenna, an upgraded center console, real wood trim accents, interior and exterior chrome door handles and chrome insert bodyside molding, and a moonroof.

The SE V6 includes everything in the SE and V6 packages.

The 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and 5-year/60,000 mile basic warranty are included, as is a 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance plan.

Driving the Kia Optima

How smooth and quiet is the Optima's V6 engine? One of our colleagues got into an idling Optima and promptly tried to start it. It's really that polished, and the impression doesn't fade with the Optima underway. The engine quietly goes about its business, at least until it's given full throttle. Then it's still smooth but it can be heard sonorously churning out power.

With only a score more ponies than the four-cylinder engine, we'd still recommend the V6 to all but the most penurious. In comparison, the V6 suffers about 1 mile per gallon in both city and highway driving and develops only 10 pounds-feet more maximum torque, but, and we're saying this without having driven the four-cylinder, it's worth it in smoothness alone. The rather large four-cylinder engine almost certainly will not be as smooth as this smooth V6.

The automatic transmission is a good match for the engine, shifting imperceptibly in normal driving or at full throttle, when left to its own devices or shifted Tiptronically. Tiptronic technology seems superfluous on this car, however. While the added control is appreciated, it will rarely be used by the typical owner of this car, which doesn't lend itself to the sporty pretensions that Tiptronic encourages. Still, it's useful and entertaining on winding roads and in heavy traffic.

Kia tuned the suspension for comfort, not handling. That doesn't mean a floaty, imprecise ride. Indeed, hustling down some California backroads between Sonoma and Bodega Bay, the Optima displayed remarkable poise over bumps and lumps in mid-corner, its track not diverted by bump steer. There's considerable understeer, however, which should keep the expected driver of the Optima safe and secure. Pushing the Optima, however, is a lot of work and although the Michelins never complain, even sports-minded drivers will dial back a notch to let the Optima operate in its comfort zone, which is what the Optima does best.

Kia engineers have managed to filter out most road and tire noise, but there's a ruffle of wind noise from the top of the windshield. It's not particularly loud, so our hearing it may be more a result of everything else being so quiet. At highway speeds, conversations between front and back seat were easy at normal speaking volume.