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Optima
2008 Kia Optima exterior.
2008 Kia Optima Sedan - enlargeComplete 2008 Kia Optima New Car Reviews listed below
The 2008 Kia Optima sedan (MSRP: $16,995 - $21,140, Invoice price: $16,075 - $19,625) is available in Base LX and EX trim levels and competes with the Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda Mazda6, Mercury Milan, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki Forenza, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Jetta. It is a mid-size car built by Kia Motors for the United States and Australian markets since 2001, and in Europe since 2002.1 It is assembled in Hwasung, South Korea. Buyers can choose from a 162-horsepower, I4 engine and a 185-horsepower, 2.7-liter V6 engine; a five-speed manual transmission and a five-speed shiftable automatic transmission. The Optima comes with a front-wheel drive system.
The 2008 Kia Optima sedan has a four-wheel independent suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, a MacPherson strut front suspension, and a multi-link rear suspension.
Basic exterior features for the Kia Optima sedan are 16 x 6.5 inch steel wheels, all season tires, a temporary spare tire, and a steel spare wheel. It also has full wheel covers, an inside-mounted spare tire, variable-intermittent wipers, and a rear defogger. Optima instrumentation features include a tachometer, a clock, and low fuel level warning.
Seats and trim features on the 2008 Kia Optima sedan include a five-person total seating capacity, bucket front seats, cloth upholstery, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. The Optima is also equipped with a driver seat with manual adjustable lumbar support, a bench rear seat, a split-folding rear seat-back, and a folding with storage center armrest.
Power and convenience features on this sedan include power door locks, power windows, one one-touch power windows, and power and heated mirrors. The Kia Optima has speed-proportional power steering, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, front and rear cupholders, a remote trunk release, and front door pockets. More features are front seat-back storage, a 12V front power outlet, a front console with storage, and an overhead console with storage.
2008 Kia Optima sedan comfort features are air conditioning, an interior air filtration, front reading lights, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, and a cargo area light. Entertainment features include an AM/FM in-dash single CD player stereo, six total speakers, an element antenna, and an auxiliary MP3 audio input.
The 2008 Kia Optima sedan has the following safety and security features: ventilated front disc/solid rear disc brakes, dual front side-mounted airbags, and front and rear head airbags. It has passenger airbag occupant-sensing deactivation, and front seatbelt pretensioners. The Optima is equipped with rear door child safety locks, child seat anchors, an emergency interior trunk release, and a rear center three-point belt. Multi- and height-adjustable headrests (two front and two rear), tire pressure monitoring, and driver and passenger head restraint whiplash protection systems are also standard on this model.
The LX V6 sedan trim level comes with keyless entry, cruise control, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, and alloy wheels. A trip computer, an automatic temperature control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink are also available.
The Kia Optima EX sedan trim level comes with a trip computer, dusk-sensing headlamps, auto delay off headlamps, front fog/driving lights, and an eight-way power driver seat. It also has an automatic climate control, a universal remote transmitter, leather upholstery, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with HomeLink. The EX trim levels also features an upgraded interior trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather trim on shift knob, and front and rear floor mats.
Optional features available on the LX Appearance Package include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a trip computer, and an upgraded exterior and interior trim.
The 2008 Kia Optima EX Appearance Package, meanwhile, comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, black leather seats, and most of the features available on the LX Appearance Package.
The EX Convenience Package features a four-way power passenger seat, heated front seats, a manual rear window sunshade, and power-adjustable pedals.
The 2008 Kia Optima EX Premium Package features a sunroof, an upgraded Infinity sound system with subwoofer, a cassette player, and a six-CD/MP3 changer.
A safety and crash test report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that the Kia Optima sedan received five stars out of five in frontal and side crash tests; and four stars out of five in rollover tests.
A reliability history report from ConsumerReports.org showed how the Kia Optima sedan held up mechanically. The Kia Optima received the following ratings for the year 2006 (also major redesign year): Excellent ratings for engine, major transmission, drive system, brakes, and exhaust trouble spots; Very Good ratings for power equipment, squeaks and rattles, climate system, fuel system, and minor transmission trouble spots; Good ratings for electrical system, suspension, and paint and trim trouble spots; and Fair ratings for its audio system and body hardware trouble spots.
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Kia's mid-size sedan earns a new platform with a longer wheelbase and wider track. As a result, there's more room in the five-seat cabin and more trunk space.
•2006 Kia Optima Mid-Size Sedan
Kia's mid-size sedan looks stylish, puts comfy seats in a spacious cabin and brings two engine choices including a V6 teamed to a select-shift automatic transaxle designed by Germany's Porsche.
•2005 Kia Optima Mid-Size Sedan
Read more…
•2004 Kia Optima Mid-Size Sedan
A new horizontal-skewed grille marks the prow of Kia's mid-size sedan. This car appears stylish, stocks comfy seats in a cabin that's as spacious as best-selling mid-size sedans, then brings two engine choices including a V6 teamed to a select-shift automatic.
•2003 Kia Optima Mid-Size Sedan
The mid-size sedan capping Kia's line looks stylish, stocks comfy seats in a cabin that's as spacious as best-selling mid-size sedans, and brings two engine choices including a V6 teamed to a select-shift automatic transaxle designed by Germany's Porsche.
