Redesigned as a 2006 1/2 model, the current-generation Kia Optima returns to the midsize sedan segment in 2008 with a 5-star crash rating in frontal and side impact tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Optima’s aluminum 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers 15% more power (162 horsepower) than the previous-generation engine. A 5-speed gated automatic transmission with sportmatic is standard on most Optima models, while a smooth shifting 5-speed manual transmission is standard on the LX 4-cylinder model.
