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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Instrument panel overview
1. Driver's Front Air Bag .......................3-33
2. Light Control / Turn Signals..............4-47
3. Instrument Cluster............................4-32
4. Wiper/Washer...................... ...
First impressions mean a lot
At first glance, the Optima gives off more than a hint of a European vibe. A
vast stylistic improvement over the namesake that it replaces, it sports larger
dimensions than the outgoing model. Sur ...
Handling: Capable but Not Quite There
As noted in our prior drives of the SX sedan, the Forte’s chassis isn’t tuned
for serenity. The hatchback’s MacPherson-strut front and torsion-beam rear
suspension, combined with 17-inch whe ...