The Optima tops Kia's car range, slotting in above the soon to be launched Kia Cerato and below the Kia Sorento four wheel drive, as a V6-powered large sedan. But the Optima has a price of $26,950 (RRP) for a comprehensively equipped car with not just all the expected features, but also luxury items such as cruise control, full leather upholstery, alloy wheels, a sophisticated automatic gearbox and safety items such as ABS anti-lock brakes and electronic traction control all as standard.

"The new Kia Optima has to be the intelligence choice in the large sedan market," says Edward Butler, National Sales Manager for Kia Automotive Australia. "It offers the space and refinement to match its rivals and equipment levels that are better than most at a price that is decisively better."

"Our successful policy - proven by our entry into Australia's top ten brands - is to provide Australian car buyers with vehicles that are very carefully specified, equipped and priced to match this markets exacting needs," says Mr Butler. "This is why there is just one, V6 powered, fully specified version of the Optima for the Australian market. It is, in other words, the optimum car in its market sector!"

The Kia Optima is powered by a new 2.7 litre V6 engine that produces a powerful 132 kW and, probably more importantly, 245 Nm of torque, which provides effortless acceleration at all speeds - the Optima covers the 100 km/h dash in 9.5 seconds -  up to a top speed, where the law permits, of 209 km/h. It is also an efficient and economical engine, attested by the official fuel consumption figures of 10.5 and 7.0 l/100 km on the city and highway test cycles. The quad cam 24 valve V6 engine is quiet when cruising, but under acceleration provides a sonorous six cylinder accompaniment to enthusiastic driving.

This performance is delivered via a sophisticated automatic gearbox, with ratios selected to provide the ideal combination of zesty performance and cool, quiet and refined cruising. The gearbox may be either used in full automatic mode or in Tiptronic-style manual mode, where gears are held until the drive pushes the gearstick forward to change up and backwards to go down through the gears.

Underneath the Optima's elegant exterior is a monocoque steel body that surrounds its occupants with a safety cell bounded by impact absorbing crumple zones.  With an overall length of more than 4.7 metres the Optima provides more than a spacious interior, with the generous 2.7 metre wheelbase also providing the car good straight-line tracking and supple ride quality. With a total interior space of more than 2800 litres, the Optima offers a spacious interior yet is easy to manoeuvre through today's crowded streets.

The Kia Optima's sophisticated all-independent suspension has been tuned to deliver responsive handling and superior ride comfort. The front suspension uses a double wishbone design with coil springs and shock absorbers, while the rear suspension is a multi-link design with coil springs and shock absorbers and features passive four wheel steering for added stability. Anti-roll bars are fitted both front and rear. Disc brakes are standard front and rear as is the safety of four-sensor, four-channel ABS anti lock brakes and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) providing optimum stopping performance. TCS electronic traction control provides effortless getaways in difficult conditions. Aiding handling is the power assisted rack-and-pinion steering system.

With MFR (Multi Functional Reflector) high beam and projection or homofocal lenses low beam, the Optima's headlights produce an accurate, brighter beam for enhanced night time driving safety without causing the glare that can annoy oncoming drivers.

Inside the Optima, comfort and style are the main focal points.

The combination of the standard leather interior and the wood-effect trimmed dashboard immediately set the tone. But there is substance in the depth; for example, the leather extends to the pleated trim on the doors, the steering wheel, the centre armrests front and rear, and even the gearknob. Entry is via remote control centrally locked doors, the lights have a delay function and also illuminate the boot; the driver's seat and the steering wheel are both height adjustable, with the added luxury of variable lumbar support on the seat.

All four windows are power operated, as are the rear view mirrors, while cruise control, an important safety and comfort feature is standard. The centre console houses the controls for the standard AirCon, the digital CD and AM/FM radio that powers six speakers, as well as the illuminated ash tray and cigarette lighter. It also houses a separate power point for today's essential automotive gadgets. Behind the gearstick is a covered console with a damped, chrome trimmed cover which houses two cup holders, one large, one small. At the rear of the centre console is an arm rest with two compartments, one large enough to house a dozen or more CDs, and a second ideal for E-tags, garage remote controls and items that must be kept out of sight, such as mobile phones.

In the rear compartment there is seating for three, with each seat having a full lap-sash seat belt and headrest, behind which are three child safety seat attachments, each hidden behind its own cover when not in use. There is a wide, comfortable centre arm rest that folds down to reveal another storage locker and two more cup holders. There are also pockets big enough for the largest map or guide in the backs of the front seats.

The boot, a spacious 386 litres, reveals another facet of the Optima's sophistication, with double jointed boot hinges that do not impinge on the boot space when the boot lid is closed, while effortless operation is assured by its remote release and gas strut-assisted lifting. The boot space may be easily and quickly expanded by the 60/40 split folding rear seats.