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:
SOLID RIDE WITH POWER TO SPARE AND EXCELLENT FUEL ECONOMY
In terms of driving characteristics, the Optima is very much in keeping with
the Hyundai Sonata, which shares the same platform. The cabin is quiet and the
drive is smooth, with the Optima feeling ...
Automatic transaxle
Automatic transaxle operation
The automatic transaxle has 4 forward
speeds and one reverse speed. The individual
speeds are selected automatically,
depending on the position of the shift
lever. ...
Vehicle break-in process
No special break-in period is needed. By
following a few simple precautions for the
first 1,000 km (600 miles) you may add to
the performance, economy and life of
your vehicle.
• Do not race th ...