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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Driving Impressions
Much of the appeal of compact crossovers is in their ability to deliver some
of the practicality of larger SUVs along with easier maneuverability and parking
on city streets and in tight parking l ...
INSIDE
Inside, a good mix of materials with a protruding center stack (reminiscent
of the Volkswagen New Beetle) offer a good use of space. The glove box is huge,
but the flat-folding rear seats and unde ...
Steering wheel
Power steering
Power steering uses energy from the
engine to assist you in steering the vehicle.
If the engine is off or if the power
steering system becomes inoperative,
the vehicle may still be ...