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 well as full-length side curtain), front active headrests, side-impact door beams, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The Electronic Stability Control Package adds Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a Traction Control System (TCS), brake assist and four-wheel anti-lock brakes.
See also:
Wipers and washers
A : Wiper speed control
· MIST – Single wipe
· OFF – Off
· INT – Intermittent wipe
AUTO - AUTO control wipe
(if equipped)
· LO – Low wiper speed
· HI – High wiper speed
B : In ...
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 ...
Automatic transaxle
Automatic transaxle operation
The automatic transaxle has 6 forward
speeds and one reverse speed. The individual
speeds are selected automatically,
depending on the position of the shift
lever. ...


