The 2009 Kia Optima is a midsize family sedan, and although it may not be as stylish as some of the other cars in its class – like the Accord or Sonata – it’s a well-made car at an attractive price. Compare the base model against its four cylinder competitors like the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu, and it really begins to shine.
The exterior styling of the 2009 Kia Optima has been tweaked to add to its attractiveness. Still, the overall effect is somewhat unremarkable, if acceptable\y attractive. However, that average exterior belies the well appointed car that lies within.
The interior cabin isn’t visually outstanding, but the materials are of good quality and the control layouts are simple. The seats are supportive and nicely padded and there’s plenty of legroom overall. There’s 15 cubic feet of space available in the trunk and the rear seat folds at a 60/40 split.
The 2009 Kia Optima is a well-made car at a low price. For less than $24,000, for example, you can purchase a fully loaded EX, with a V6 engine, premium audio, a sunroof, and heated leather seats. All told, this is about $5,000 less than Optima competitors, including Accord, Altima and Camry. Of course, those other cars do offer a more powerful V6 engine, although Kia has improved its engines, upgrading the V6 to 194 horsepower this year.
There are three trim models available for the Optima – LX, EX and SX. The LX features 16 inch wheels, full power accessories, air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, a CD player with six speaker sound system, USB audio jacks, and satellite radio – all standard. Choose to upgrade your LX with an automatic transmission, and you also gain cruise control, keyless entry, and a steering wheel that tilts, telescopes and has audio controls.
Next up, the EX offers everything the LX does, plus fog lamps, automatic climate control, chrome door handles, leather upholstery, 16 inch alloy wheels, a trip computer, a rear view mirror that dims automatically, upgraded interior trim, and an 8 way power driver’s seat.
Step up to the SX, and you can get a sport-tuned suspension, 17 inch alloy wheels, sport pedals, leather and cloth seating, a blacked out grille and headlight trim, and aluminum cabin accents. With the EX and SX, you can also opt for a power passenger seat, a power sunroof, a rear window sunshade, heated front seats, and an upgraded audio system. A navigation system is also available with the EX and SX packages.
The base engine is a 2.4 liter, four cylinder, with 175 horsepower and 169 pound/feet of torque. The upgraded V6 available on the EX and SX packages is a 2.7 liter with 194 horsepower and 184 pound/feet of torque. Mileage estimates are 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for the base engine, with 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for the larger V6 engine.
The car has the safety features you’d expect, including stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, full length side curtain airbags, and front seat side airbags. Crash test scores are good, with a five out of five star rating in front and side impact crashes, making it a good choice for singles and families alike.
