The Kia Optima is a four-door, five-passenger sedan available with a choice of two engines: a four cylinder with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission, and a V6 with the five-speed automatic.
The Optima LX with the four-cylinder and manual transmission is the most affordable ($16,355). It gets more expensive with the five-speed automatic ($17,650) and moves up another rung with the V6 and automatic ($19,345). With either engine, the five-speed automatic boasts a Sportmatic feature for semi-manual shifting should the driver decide to shift out of Drive.
Standard creature comforts on all Optima models include cloth upholstery; filtered air conditioning; power windows, central locking and heated, outside mirrors; six-speaker, AM/FM/CD stereo; six-way, manually adjustable driver seat; tilt steering wheel; and P205/60R16 Kumho tires on hubcapped, steel wheels. Swapping the manual transmission for the automatic adds, or substitutes, cruise control, keyless remote, tilt-and-telescope steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, and Michelin tires. Alloy wheels and dual exhaust tips are added when the V6 is ordered.
Options on the base LX comprise a rear spoiler ($200) and carpeted floor mats ($85). With the automatic, buyers can order an Appearance Package ($1000) with alloy wheels, blacked out headlight backing and grille, semi-luminescent instrument cluster, aluminum interior trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, auto-headlights and fog lamps. The V6's Appearance Package ($800) upgrades 17-inch Michelin tires and alloy wheels.
The Optima EX comes with either the four-cylinder ($19,395) or the V6 ($20,400), both with the five-speed Sportmatic. Feature upgrades on the EX include automatic climate control; eight-way power driver seat; Infinity stereo with external amplifier, six speakers plus subwoofer, MP3 and cassette functions and in-dash, six-CD changer; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; and auto-dimming inside rearview mirror.
EX options include an Appearance Package ($1500) that builds on the LX Appearance Package with leather-faced seats and a black interior trim; a Leather Package ($1300) with leather seats, heated front seats, four-way power front passenger seat, power adjustable pedals and manual rear window shade; power slide-and-tilt sunroof ($800); and pearl white exterior paint ($100).
Safety features on all models include the mandated front airbags and child safety seat anchors (LATCH), plus front seat-mounted side airbags, to protect the upper body in side crashes, and front-and-rear coverage side curtain airbags, to protect an occupant's head in a side impact or rollover. Antilock brakes are optional ($300) but not available on the LX with the four-cylinder engine. Also offered only on the LX V6 and the EX is the Electronic Stability Package ($300) with electronic stability control, to assist the driver in controlling the car in emergency maneuvers and bad weather; traction control, to limit tire slippage under hard acceleration or on slick roads; and brake assist, which boosts and extends brake application when the system senses an emergency stop. Although priced separately, ABS and ESP cannot be ordered individually, to which we can't object, as we'd want both.