Kia Magentis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kia Optima
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia Motors
Production	2000–present
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size car
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Kia Credos

The Kia Optima is a popular four-door car made by Kia Motors. It's known as a mid-size car, which means it's a good size for families. Kia has been making the Optima since the year 2000. This car is sold all over the world, sometimes under different names. It took over from an older Kia car called the Kia Clarus. The Optima is built on the same base as the Hyundai Sonata.

When the first Optima cars came out, they were mostly called "Optima." But in places like Europe and Canada, when sales started in 2002, it was known as the Kia Magentis.

What is the Kia Optima?

The Kia Optima is a type of car called a sedan. It has four doors and a separate trunk. It's designed to be a comfortable and reliable car for everyday driving.

Early Models (2000-2006)

The very first Kia Optima models were made from 2000 to 2006. These cars came with different engine options. You could get one with a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine. There was also a more powerful option: a 2.5 litre 6-cylinder petrol engine.

Different Names Around the World

For the second generation of this car, Kia used different names depending on where it was sold. In South Korea, it was called the Kia Lotze or Kia K5. Most other places in the world knew it as the Magentis. However, in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia, it kept the Optima name.

Today, the Optima name is used in almost all markets. The only exception is China, where it's also called the Kia K5, just like in South Korea.

Kia Optima in Racing

The third generation of the Kia Optima has even been used in car races! It was an official entry in the Pirelli World Challenge. This is a series of races for production-based cars.

In June 2012, a driver named Michael Galati achieved a big win for Kia. He drove an Optima sponsored by Infinity Audio. This car won round 8 of the 2012 season. The race took place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. His teammate, Mark Wilkins, also did well, finishing in second place. This was Kia's first victory in the Pirelli World Challenge.

Safety and Awards

The Kia Optima has received high marks for safety. It earned a five-star crash test rating from the NHTSA. This is a top safety rating in the United States. It also received four stars from EuroNCAP, which is a European safety organization.

The Optima has won several awards too. It has been a two-time winner of the International Car of the Year award. This award recognizes cars that are outstanding in their class. In 2016, it also won the "Best of the Best" Award from Red Dot. This award is given for excellent design.

Images for kids

• 

  Rear view of an early Kia Magentis (Europe)

• 

  A Kia Magentis LS model (UK)

• 

  A Kia Optima LX (North America)

• 

  A Kia Magentis EX (Chile)

• 

  A Kia Optima SX (US)

• 

  A Kia Optima LX sedan (US)

• 

  The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid (US)

• 

  The 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid (Sweden)

• 

  Inside a Kia Optima (JF model)

• 

  A Kia Optima plug-in hybrid

• 

  Rear view of the Kia Optima Convertible Concept car

• 

  A Kia Optima (US, first facelift)

• 

  A Kia Optima (Korea, first facelift)

• 

  A Kia Magentis (Europe, second facelift)

• 

  Rear view of a Kia Magentis (Europe, second facelift)

• 

  Rear view of a K5 GT-Line (US)

• 

  A K5 Hybrid (South Korea)

• 

  The interior of a Kia K5 (China)

• 

  A 2021 K5 EX (Canada)

• 

  Rear view of a 2021 K5 EX (Canada)

• 

  A 2022 K5 GT Line (US)