2010 Kia Optima Review

Overview

The 2010 Kia Optima is a four-door, five-passenger, fun-to-drive mid-sized sedan available in LX, EX, EX V6, SX, and SX V6 trims. With excellent crash scores, spacious backseat, generous warranty, plenty of standard features, the 2010 Kia Optima is a good choice among the mid-sized sedans. The Kia Optima sports trendy exterior and interior and more powerful engines. For 2010, the Optima brings sophisticated design and features from the refreshed 2009 model, including the dynamic tabbed grille found on all new Kia models, as well as enlarged and narrowed headlamps that have a more forceful look. All V6 models now receive a blacked-out lower rear bumper to enhance the sedan?s more refined persona, as well as a push button start feature, standard on all SX trims. The 2010 Kia Optima comes with an industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program.

Power and performance

The base LX trim is equipped with a 175-hp 2.4-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine delivering 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on highways. The EX and SX trims come with either the 4-cylinder or with the 194 hp 2.7-liter V6 engine rated at 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the LX, while a Sportmatic five-speed automatic is available on the LX and standard on the EX and SX trims.

Body and styling

Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the EX and EX V6 and optional on the LX. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are optional on the EX and EX V6. Seventeen-inch hyper-silver-finished alloy wheels are standard on the SX and SX V6. Chrome front grille; black-mesh front grille; body-color door handles; chrome door handles; body-color side moldings; clear lens projection headlights; blacked-out projection headlights; front fog lights; dual exhaust; and side mirror turn-signal indicators are standard. Four-way power adjustable front passenger's seat and heated front seats are optional. AM/FM/CD/MP3/SIRIUS audio system is standard across all trims. Six-speakers with front-door mounted tweeters; USB/auxiliary input jacks; steering wheel mounted audio control and cruise control buttons; and power windows with driver's one-touch auto-down are standard. Infinity speakers with subwoofer and external amplifier, navigation system, and Bluetooth wireless technology are optional. Infinity AM/FM/MP3/SIRIUS audio system with in-dash 6-CD changer is optional on all trims except the LX. Air conditioning is standard on LX, SX, and SX V6 while the automatic climate control are standard on EX , EX V6, and optional on SX and SX V6.

Safety Features

The 2010 Kia Optima has received five-star crash safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Electronic stability control (ESC); advanced airbag system; airbag and seatbelt latch sensors; energy-absorbing steering column; front and rear three-point seat belts; front active headrests; and front seat-belt pre-tensioners with force limiters are standard.