2009 Kia Optima

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

Performance - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 Kia Optima is a competent performer, but this car isn't aimed at driving enthusiasts. With one of the lower sticker prices in its class, the Optima makes a respectable "bang for the buck" argument for itself. In track testing, it outperforms a significant number of more expensive cars, but it doesn't approach the class leaders. 

• According to the EPA, the 2009 Optima with the four-cylinder engine should manage 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway.  With the automatic, the same engine should manage 22/32 mpg.  With the V6 and automatic transmission, the Optima is rated for 20/28 mpg.
• "The Kia team has made a commitment to blending the Optima's features into a nice combination of driving capabilities." -- Kelley Blue Book
• In track testing, "Among its competitors, the Optima's numbers are about midpack." -- Motor Trend
• "Kia has added a trim level, the SX, a designation the Korean company reserves for its sportiest offerings. An Optima SX gets a sport-tuned suspension." -- Car and Driver

Acceleration and Power

The 2009 Kia Optima has a more powerful set of engine choices than previous generations of the car. Its 2.4-liter, four-cylinder base engine puts out 175 horsepower, which is a respectable amount of thrust in the midsize class. Its optional V6 adds 15 more horses, but many reviewers say that isn't enough of a boost to justify the added expense. The more fuel-efficient four will do fine for most buyers.

• "Output for both Optima engines has increased slightly. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which is also found in the Hyundai Sonata, moves from 162 horsepower and 164 pound-feet of torque to 175 and 169, respectively. The 2.7-liter V-6, meanwhile, now makes 190 horses and 184 pound-feet of torque, which represent meager jumps of 5 hp and 2 lb-ft." -- Car and Driver
• "Between stoplights the 2009 Kia Optima V6 feels powerful, but that engine runs out of steam as the rpm climb. Passing power is adequate but unimpressive for a V6 in this class." -- Edmunds
• "Whichever engine you decide upon, the five-speed automatic is the tranny of choice, with its seamless quality and Sportmatic manual shifting." -- Motor Trend
• The manual transmission is "pretty crummy as far as stick-shifts go. The shifter feel is oddly artificial and the clutch offers no feedback. I blame that, and the engine's lack of low-end torque, for the fact that I stalled the Optima at least a half-dozen times." -- About.com

Handling and Braking

A sportier SX trim level, with a more tautly-tuned suspension, has been added for 2009.  Reviewers are generally impressed with the Optima's composure, for its price, though few would label it an athletic option.

• "Movements of the steering wheel are rewarded with crisp reactions into corners, body roll is minimal and the Optima enjoys a balanced feel, particularly when you consider it's a modestly-priced front-wheel-drive sedan. We found it completely engaging and enjoyable." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "The suspension treads the middle ground between overt softness and punishing firmness, resulting in a setup that's definitely taut, yet able to smooth out bumps and depressions in the road." -- Cars.com
• "Faster, livelier steering is needed to wake up our slumbering perkiness meter." -- Car and Driver
• "Brake feel is unimpressive and not very progressive, and the pedal travel is too long." -- Edmunds