Kia's midsize sedan, the Optima is updated for 2009, featuring new taillights and a completely new front-end design.
The new front fascia features more aggressive headlights that flank a larger, more squared off grille. The new lower valence is capped on either end by fog lights on the EX and SX models.
The base engine on the '09 Optima is a revised 2.4-liter inline-4 that puts out 175 horsepower. That's an improvement of 13 horsepower while returning better fuel economy than the previous engine. Also available is a 194 horsepower 2.7-liter V6. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 4-speed automatic transmission, with a 5-speed manual available on 4-cylinder engines.
Fuel economy ranges from 20 miles per gallon city, to 32 miles per gallon highway.
Base MSRP for the 2009 Kia Optima is $17,495. A fully loaded SX V6 model will top out at just under $28,000. The Optima is backed by Kia's generous 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
With updated styling, revised powerplants, and an impressive warranty, the '09 Kia Optima is a mid-size sedan that packs a lot of punch for the dollar.