Safety

Full-length side curtain airbags, antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system and a driver knee airbag come standard across all trim levels. The Sorento earned a top five-star NHTSA rating in front and rear side impact crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating (the second highest of four) in the IIHS' frontal-offset crash test.

    See also:

    Safety-Minded
    As with the rest of the Kia line-up, the 2009 Kia Optima is equipped with many safety features as standard equipment. This includes six airbags (dual advanced front and front-seat mounted side as ...

    Interior Design and Special Features
    Despite its modest pricing, the 2009 Kia Sorento exhibits solid build quality with decent interior materials. The front seats are comfortable and controls are simple enough, but the overall look a ...

    THE VERDICT
    Kia won’t release pricing for the Optima for another few weeks, but we’re assured it will come in at under $20,000 to start and we expect it to undercut (slightly) the Sonata, which starts at ...