The Optima provides a lot of features for a competitive price. We liked its comfortable ride as well as its quiet and refined cabin. The Kia also has very good fit and finish. The engine is smooth, though it isn't very fuel efficient, despite being fairly small. On the minus side, agility is lacking. Also, the interior's limited headroom compromises access and driving position for some people. A Poor in the IIHS side-crash test is another negative.