What Is It?
2006 Kia Optima
What's Special About It?
Guess what the world's fastest-growing car company is (based on year-over-year rate of sales)? If you guessed Kia, then you need a life. Either that or you were at Kia's Frankfurt show press conference. The Korean automaker called the press together to unveil its newest Magentis front-drive sedan. In the U.S., we call it the second-generation Optima.
The new car is wider, longer and taller than the model it replaces. And while the Earth isn't going to tremble when this Optima goes by (the styling is solid, but not earthshaking or risky), the Kia does have a lot going for it, including lots of interior room, a bigger trunk, and a passel of safety features like front, side and side curtain airbags.
In Europe, Magentis buyers will have a choice of three engines: 2.0-liter four and 2.7-liter V6 gasoline units (rated at 146 and 195 horsepower), and a 142-hp, 2.0-liter diesel. In the U.S., Optima buyers get to choose between the two petrol-burning engines, with the four connected to a four-speed automatic transmission and the six channeled through a six-speed automatic.
Kia claims that the new car offers "high quality and high value" to the midsize sedan buyer, and the Magentis/Optima that we climbed around in on the Frankfurt show stand promised plenty of both if Kia can keep the price in line with the current Optima's pricing. We were amazed at how much legroom the rear seats offered up (headroom was OK for the class). And the level of quality in the upscale interior seemed perfectly appropriate for the world's fastest-growing car company. The 2006 Kia Optima goes on sale in North America early next year.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The Koreans have officially put Honda and Toyota on notice. If the Optima drives as well as it presents itself, we've got a horse race. — Richard Homan
2006 Kia Optima
What's Special About It?
Guess what the world's fastest-growing car company is (based on year-over-year rate of sales)? If you guessed Kia, then you need a life. Either that or you were at Kia's Frankfurt show press conference. The Korean automaker called the press together to unveil its newest Magentis front-drive sedan. In the U.S., we call it the second-generation Optima.
The new car is wider, longer and taller than the model it replaces. And while the Earth isn't going to tremble when this Optima goes by (the styling is solid, but not earthshaking or risky), the Kia does have a lot going for it, including lots of interior room, a bigger trunk, and a passel of safety features like front, side and side curtain airbags.
In Europe, Magentis buyers will have a choice of three engines: 2.0-liter four and 2.7-liter V6 gasoline units (rated at 146 and 195 horsepower), and a 142-hp, 2.0-liter diesel. In the U.S., Optima buyers get to choose between the two petrol-burning engines, with the four connected to a four-speed automatic transmission and the six channeled through a six-speed automatic.
Kia claims that the new car offers "high quality and high value" to the midsize sedan buyer, and the Magentis/Optima that we climbed around in on the Frankfurt show stand promised plenty of both if Kia can keep the price in line with the current Optima's pricing. We were amazed at how much legroom the rear seats offered up (headroom was OK for the class). And the level of quality in the upscale interior seemed perfectly appropriate for the world's fastest-growing car company. The 2006 Kia Optima goes on sale in North America early next year.
What's Edmunds' Take?
The Koreans have officially put Honda and Toyota on notice. If the Optima drives as well as it presents itself, we've got a horse race. — Richard Homan
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