Not really a sport-utility or minivan, the PT has been well received by our staff. It offers versatility and eye-catching styling not found among compact cars. Its only drawback is tepid acceleration. Also getting the nod as a Best Buy is the Nissan Altima. It is the best all-around performer offering room for four large adults, a comfortable but sporty ride, above average acceleration, and good fuel economy.

Recommended choices include the sporty Mitsubishi Galant, the vanilla Mazda 626, and the refined Volkswagen Passat. Hyundai's Sonata is a viable alternative if cash is tight. Though just an average performer on the road, Sonata's below average price and quality construction help it stand out.

Though Optima is just out, industry sources say Kia will swap the 2.5-liter V6 for a more powerful 2.7- or 3.0-liter option, perhaps in time for the 2002 model year. The bigger V6, like both current Optima engines, comes from Kia's parent Hyundai, which already offers a 2.7 in its compact Santa Fe SUV and a 3.0 in its midsize XG300 sedan. Apparently, Hyundai wanted to reserve these units for its own products before lending them to Kia, though it's also possible that Hyundai couldn't build enough of either engine in time for Optima's scheduled introduction.

Starting this summer, Kia's U.S. lineup expands further into the mainstream market with the 2002 Sedona, the first minivan ever offered here by a South Korean automaker. Sized close to the regular-length Chrysler Voyager and Dodge Caravan, Sedona is a conventional front-drive design with sliding rear side doors. Both the LX and uplevel ES versions come with a 200-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission, Kia's first. The ES has standard roof rack, fog lights, alloy wheels, and woodgrain interior trim. Kia sees Sedona and Optima as helping to boost its annual U.S. sales volume from about 160,600 vehicles last year to a hoped-for 230,000 in calendar 2001.