2013 Kia Optima

The front-drive Optima is a sister model to the Sonata from South Korea's Hyundai, which owns Kia. Compared to the Sonata, the slick-looking Optima has minor styling differences and a different pricing and features mix. Both cars share virtually everything, including a 106.3-inch wheelbase, chassis, engines and transmissions.

Impressive Warranties
Resale value is a big question mark. But the Optima is covered by Hyundai's impressive warranties, which include a basic five-year/60,000-mile warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Optima owners also get a five-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance plan.

The warranties have helped Hyundai sales soar and are expected to give the Optima a big push.

The Optima has the solid feel of the Sonata, which Hyundai redesigned for 1999 with the help of sophisticated supercomputer analysis. The Optima lacks the refinement of leading Japanese rivals such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, but is far from being a bargain-basement special.

Well Equipped
The Optima comes in LX and higher-line SE trim levels. Even the base Optima 4-cylinder trim has such features as air conditioning, AM/FM/cassette, 60-40 split-folding rear seatbacks, intermittent wipers, a rear armrest with a storage compartment, and power windows, door locks and mirrors.

The SE adds a sunroof, power driver's seat, cruise control, an up-level sound system with a CD player and heated power mirrors. It also has such niceties as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a keyless entry/alarm system. You can even get the SE with a $995 leather interior.

All models have standard side airbags up front for extra protection.

Optimas cost $15,299 to $17,599 with the 4-cylinder and $18,499 to $19,949 with the V6.

The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder develops 149 horsepower. The 2.5-liter V6 provides 170-horsepower and 10 more lb-ft of torque that comes in at slightly lower rpm for better responsiveness.

While the V6 is smoother and stronger than the 4-cylinder, it isn't all that much bigger and doesn't provide a lot more torque.

Sophisticated Engines
Most V6s in this class are larger and more powerful than the Optima's. But the 4-cylinder is among the largest engines in its class. Both are sophisticated, with dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder.

The LX 4-cylinder comes with a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic. The LX and SE V6 models come only with the electronically controlled 4-speed automatic, which costs $850 extra for the 4-cylinder LX and SE.

Transmission Pause
The automatic sometimes pauses a bit too much before downshifting. However, when hooked to V6 models, it has Porsche-developed "Tiptronic" technology that allows clutchless manual shifting.

The V6 has a performance edge, especially during fast passing maneuvers on highways. It's also smoother because of its extra cylinders. But the 4-cylinder should satisfy many Optima owners, especially frugal-minded ones.

The 4-cylinder provides an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway with the manual transmission, and 20 and 27 with the automatic. The V6 figures are 19 and 25.

The power steering is quick and precise, but feels a little stiff, as if Kia wanted it to impart a sporty feel but didn't quite succeed.

Small Wheels
All Optimas have acceptable handling. Small 14-inch wheels and 70-series tires handicap the base LX 4-cylinder's handling, but other models have 15-inch wheels and wider 60-series tires for slightly sharper handling and braking.

All Optimas should have the larger wheel-tire combo. However, a sophisticated all-independent suspension, with double wishbones up front, provides a smooth ride and helps make the Optima feel like a larger car.

The brake pedal is firm, but that's preferable to a mushy pedal. It allows good brake modulation. Unfortunately, the $795 anti-lock brakes are available only for Optima V6 trims, which have a superior all-disc brake setup.

Roomy
Four 6-footers easily fit in the Optima. The quiet interior has large, supportive front seats. Controls work smoothly, and audio controls are placed above climate controls. The white-on-black gauges can be read at a glance.

But the key fob for the keyless entry/alarm functions has tiny controls that even those with small fingers may have trouble using without occasionally accidentally activating the car alarm.

Other faults: The hand brake lever is too close to the driver. And the cover for the console-mounted front cupholders flips up to partly block driver access to them. Rear windows don't roll all the way down.

The trunk is large, with a conveniently low opening. Its lid has hydraulic struts that don't eat into cargo room, and an interior grip that lets it be closed without getting a hand dirty on outside sheet metal.

Kia is relatively unknown in this country, but the Optima should definitely help make it more visible.