2009 Kia Optima

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Photos & Videos

Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Kia Optima offers comfortable seating for its price, and a class-competitive set of equipment. It doesn't offer the near-luxury trimmings of some of its competition, but it doesn't ask near-luxury prices, either.

• "The Optima generally feels like a generation older than the Sonata -- it's less sophisticated, despite Kia's leather and automatic climate control." -- Motor Trend
• "The Optima also gets a tweaked interior with more ways to plug into your consumer electronics (USB, MP3 player plug, etc.) and a revised color palette." -- Autoblog
• "The most notable change is probably the gauges, now framed inside three binnacles instead of a one-piece display." -- Cars.com
• "This is one of the quietest cars on the road -- including luxury vehicles that cost two or three times as much." -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• "The Optima's quiet new interior is more upscale and will accommodate four tall adults, or five in a pinch." -- MSN

Seating

The seats of the 2009 Kia Optima divide reviewers -- some find them comfortable, others complain after long stretches in them.

• "The Optima LX comes with cloth seats, while the EX steps up to leather. SX trims have electroluminescent gauges, custom leather seats and metallic trim. -- Cars.com
• "Posteriors in front sink into buckets with a cushy top layer akin to a pillow-top mattress. Side support is wanting, but few complaints were noted during long freeway slogs." -- Car and Driver
• "Front seat passengers will be especially grateful for the...43.7 inches of legroom." -- Edmunds
• "The backrests of the outboard seats are angled for comfort and there's enough legroom for adults. A little more headroom wouldn't hurt, but it's adequate. The center position's upright backrest, lack of headroom, and hard cushion and seatback won't win over passengers." -- Consumer Guide

Interior Features

For 2009, Kia has added to an already respectable feature list. Its standard stereo now includes an auxiliary jack for an MP3 player. A navigation system is offered for the first time, but we haven't found a reviewer who has tested it thoroughly.

• "Beginning January 1, 2009, all Kia cars sold in America will come standard with Sirius and a three-month subscription."  -- Automobile Magazine
• "The highlight of the Optima is its interior, which is built to Japanese levels of quality, functionality and decor. Take the dash: It's made of good quality plastics in various colors and finishes." -- About.com
• The standard stereo is "fairly exceptional, especially when you consider the Optima's price.  Bass is deep and adds to the overall rich, full quality of the sound, and the highs and mids are also clear. Separation is good but not excellent but the system is not prone to distortion even at high volume." -- Edmunds
• "Stuffed with people, the Kia proved spacious and well planned." -- Car and Driver

Cargo

The 2009 Kia Optima includes a 14.8-cubic foot trunk. However, that doesn't quite measure up to , while more than 15 cubic feet is now the class standard

• The trunk has a "low, wide opening and a lid that rises easily on gas struts." -- MSN