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2008 Kia Optima LX Road Test

At the very bottom of the page, usually the second to last line in the itemized

The new Optima is a much better looking vehicle than its predecessor. It kind of reminds me of an understated Infiniti Q45. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

specifications of a road test review, you'll find a list of competitive vehicles. Some cars have few rivals, such as the Mini Cooper Clubman or Toyota's Prius. Others, like the Honda Accord, reside in the jam-packed midsize sedan segment, which never seems to get any smaller. There are the usual suspects that everyone seems to remember when trade-in time arrives, including that Accord, plus the Camry, Altima, and domestics like Malibu, Fusion and Sebring, plus the value-strong Sonata. But the midsize car that often seems to be forgotten is Kia's Optima, especially odd considering its national TV advertising campaign billing it as, “The Car You Can't Ignore”.

I will admit that I didn't like the styling of the first generation Optima. The first two years of production saw it as a boxy, slab-sided sedan with a generic face during a time when most cars in this segment were curvy. But what really took the cake for me was the 2003 through 2006 models with their separated headlamps and the big chromey grille. It appeared like Kia's stylists couldn't decide what they wanted the car to look like. By comparison, the second generation car is a vast improvement in the looks department.

Chrome adds class, you know. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

Sure, it may not be bold or cutting edge, but it looks classy, sensible and strangely European. I quite prefer its understated design to that of the new Accord or Camry, and in dark colors, which highlight its chrome-trimmed window line and projector-beam headlamps, it looks much more expensive than it costs (we'll get there in a moment).

Kia might still be an economy car brand, but there's nothing particularly economy-minded about the Optima... except perhaps for this base LX's plastic wheel covers, and blacked out fog lamps. There are two engines available, a four and a six. The 162-horsepower 2.4-liter “World Engine” that it uses for base cars was developed with Chrysler and Mitsubishi (and Hyundai if didn't already know of Kia's corporate parentage), and is impressive as far as entry level engines go. With continuous variable valve timing, it's efficient and surprisingly powerful, offering more horsepower than the Camry, the Fusion and the Mazda6. Paired to the optional

Interior doesn't look or feel cheap. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

five-speed automatic (a five-speed manual is standard equipment), the engine feels willing and relaxed if not particularly quick. Unlike VTEC in Honda's Accord, CVVT is omnipresent; there is no lively switchover point. The engine feels particularly strong in lower revs, and combined with a fairly sharp throttle makes short work of highway merging.

The next step up is a 2.7-liter V6 from the Mu family, also shared with the Hyundai lineup. It's the same engine you can find in the base Santa Fe, making 185 horsepower, which is on the low side for a midsize sedan in this day and age. Rivals' V6s regularly make 80 horsepower more, so don't buy it with expectations of burning Accords from stop-light to stop-light. Instead, the top line engine's strength is refinement and smoothness. In the real world, it isn't much quicker than the base I-4, and you will pay a price in terms of fuel efficiency, which is why, if it were my money, I'd back the four. The I-4 consumes 21 mpg in the city and a very reasonable 31 mpg on the highway, versus the V6 that consumes 20 and 28 mpg respectively. The V6 comes mated to a five-speed automatic as standard

Heated seats are standard. Yes! (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

equipment.

Though the Optima was once a clone of the Hyundai's Sonata, this isn't the case any more. Kia started from a fresh slate with the second-gen Optima, increasing the wheelbase and track, reducing the overhangs and improving cargo capacity and interior volume. The platform, which incidentally is shared with the Rondo mini-MPV, now features a brand new suspension layout that includes struts in front and a multi-link setup out back. The Optima has been tuned with comfort in mind; it feels rigid and dealt with the city's crumbling roadways with ease, though it doesn't serve up much in the way of entertainment. The car's calling is the daily commute and not the backroad blast; grip is limited from the Kumho Solus tires, and the steering's strong self-centering action hints that the Optima is better suited to cruising city streets

Five-speed auto with manual mode works well with the torquey I-4. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

and freeways. In this regard, it it does just fine. Overall refinement from wind and road noise is good, so you can partake in a back-seat conversation up front, or listen to the all-important traffic report without missing a word.

Thanks to much larger dimensions than the previous iteration, the Optima's cabin is much roomier and better suited to accommodating bigger bodies. Resident tall-guy, Steven James Day found head and legroom to be ample up front and in back, and the seats to be firm but comfortable, though not fully supportive. All Optima models come standard with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel and steering wheel controls for stereo and cruise control, except for the most basic LX with a manual transmission. Like the exterior, the cabin takes a huge leap in perceived quality with big improvements in fit and finish. Nothing feels cheap to the fingertips, and the blue and white instrument color scheme is easy on the eyes. As with most Kias, nearly all the switches are backlit, including the label on the auxiliary input jack, hidden in the center armrest!

Don't forget this sedan if you want a good midsize for not a lot of cash. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

All the basics for a midsize sedan come as standard equipment on the Optima, including power windows, mirrors and keyless entry (except base LX with manual), a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and A/C. Leather comes standard in EX models, though goodies like digital climate control and power-adjustable pedals are reserved, again, for the EX. Kia has done well in terms of safety equipment, providing front, side and curtain-type airbags standard, as well as standard anti-whiplash head restraints and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS (optional on LX with automatic). Traction and stability control are available as options on all models but the LX model equipped with the manual transmission.

If you're considering a new midsize sedan and don't have a lot of dough to shell out, the Optima is worth a good, long look. It has the performance, features, size, fuel economy and warranty that most buyers want and need, at a price that undercuts its rivals. And while it's never a good idea to buy a car on price alone, the value for money factor is one good reason why the Optima shouldn't be ignored.

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