2003 Kia Optima - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	SE V6 Rating (See All Ratings)	Midsize Car Average Rating

Acceleration	5	5.2

Fuel Economy	6	5.3

Ride Quality	7	6.3

Steering/Handling/Braking	6	6.1

Quietness	6	5.5

Controls	7	6.5

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)	7	5.9

Room/Comfort (rear)	4	4.4

Cargo Room	5	4.7

Value within Class	6	6.2

Total Score:	59	56.1

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

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2003 Kia Optima Review

Exterior styling revisions highlight '03 changes for Kia's compact sedan. Optima is based on the Hyundai Sonata produced by Kia's South Korean corporate parent. Sharing Sonata's 4-cyl and V6 engines, Optima comes in LX and SE models. Manual transmission is standard with the 4 cyl, an automatic with manual-shift feature is optional. The V6 comes with automatic only. This year, both engines are retuned for slightly more torque. Front side airbags are standard. All Optimas have 4-wheel disc brakes, but ABS is optional only with the V6. Optima does not offer Sonata's available traction control. Exterior changes include a new grille, hood, taillights, and larger bodyside molding. A revised dashboard houses new audio and climate controls. Also for '03, LX models get an AM/FM/CD player as standard. Optima's performance and accommodations mirror those of like-equipped Sonatas.

Competition

Playing the roll of crossover utility vehicle in a segment of sedans and wagons gives Chrysler PT Cruiser a leg up on the competition. It offers versatility and eye-catching styling not found among compact cars and this year adds more power with the Turbo model.

Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are new this year and are worth considering as Recommended SUV-like alternatives. Hyundai's Sonata earns recognition for offering impressive comfort, equipment, and warranty coverage at a reasonable price. The all-wheel drive Subaru Outback/Legacy is another Recommended selection, thanks to a superb AWD system and roomy cargo holds.

News

Though not a major class player, Optima is helping to boost Kia's total U.S. sales to around 250,000 in calendar '02, amazing for a company doing business here for less than 10 years. Optima itself drew nearly 26,000 orders through the end of '01 and some 22,500 more in the first nine months of '02; the latter represents a healthy 24.9 percent year-to-year gain.

Optima should see no major change until model-year 2005, when a heavy makeover is due, perhaps a full redesign. The current car is basically a retrimmed version of parent Hyundai's Sonata, and the replacement will be too. Kia is part of Hyundai Motor Co. in South Korea. Though the two brands collaborate in product planning--they've just opened a joint R&D center in California--Kia Motor America is separate from Hyundai's U.S. operations and offers some models Hyundai doesn't.

2003 Kia Optima Road Test >

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