Southern California’s Newport Coast is ideal for surfing, wine tasting, even driving. For someone like me, who is used to  the road rage that plagues the highways of New York and the gridlock that brings Manhattan traffic to a standstill, driving the Kia Optima through the mountains and along the shoreline is nothing short of spectacular.

The Optima’s superb comfort and handling only complete the extraordinary experience. 
The drive begins in Irvine, California, home of Kia‘s Design center of America and birthplace of the vehicle of honor. Just by looking at the Optima, it is evident that this is not your typical mid-sized sedan. Its long silhouette and clean, modern design is accented with a sweeping upper windshield with chrome on the sides.

Sculpted flanks and a bold tabbed grille give the vehicle a muscular stance to complement its sporty guise. One of the most prominent characteristics distinguishing it from its predecessor is its more spacious  trunk. Available in three trims, the LX, EX, and SX, standard features include dual exhaust with chrome tips and solar glass. It doesn’t take my driving partner and me long to decide on the silver EX, which boasts 17 inch alloy wheels as opposed to the LX’s 16 inch steel wheels, and hop in.                

The first thing I do when my derriere hits the passenger seat is stretch my legs as far as they can go; the generous legroom is a luxury. Next, I toss the bottle of water I’m carrying into the cooling glove box. The panoramic sunroof makes the interior seem even roomier, and as we drive up the infamous snaking roads of  Ortega highway toward Hell’s Kitchen cafe, our first stop, sunlight streams in and the intoxicatingly fresh mountain air flows through it.

The winding roads provide the perfect opportunity for the Optima to flaunt its standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Hill Assist Control (HAC). Also ensuring our safety are six airbags, front active headrests, side impact door beams, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Although it is suggested that we switch drivers after our brief stop at Hell’s Kitchen, my companion is so enamored with the car that I let her continue driving past the vineyards of Temecula to our next destination, Leonesse Cellars Winery. Now I see what the Kia team meant when they said the vehicle was designed to appeal emotionally to the driver. Although I am anxious to get my hands on the wheel, I know that there will be plenty of time on the way back along the coastline; two hours, to be exact. 
           
After lunch at the wine cellar, it’s my turn. The six-way adjustable driver’s seat allows me to find the most ideal position possible in front of the leather-trimmed steering wheel. I’d utilize the two-driver memory setting, but I know that unfortunately once I leave the driver’s seat today I will not be getting back in; at least, not into this specific vehicle’s. I look for the keys to start the engine, then quickly remember that the ignition is a push button start with a smart key. The contouring of the instrument panel towards the driver’s side simulates the experience of being in a cockpit; my first thought is that this is a great way to thwart the dreaded  passenger-seat DJ. Some of my fondest memories of my early teenage years include me battling furiously with my mother from the passenger seat over the radio while she drove one handed; thanks to this feature, Gen X parents who are Kia Optima owners will have a much needed advantage. The Infinity premium audio system will make the victory all the more sweet.               

Consisting of 12 speakers positioned in eight places, the Infinity premium audio system delivers a full, sharp sound. It’s 550 Watt amplifier and advanced Digital Signal Processing makes for a powerful, seemingly live listening experience.  The bass on every song we hear sounds tight and  impeccable, thanks to a 200-mm dual voice coiler subwoofer in the rear deck. SIRIUS Satellite Radio is available to play through this system, and built-in auxiliary and USB jacks allow for compatibility with iPod and MP3 players. All of this is possible thanks to Kia’s 11-year relationship with global audio and infotainment group Harman.                

Great sound is not the only thing the instrument panel has to offer. UVO, the hands free entertainment and communications system, will be out later this fall. For now, we have a high-tech navigation system, which my driving buddy and I utilize several times after missing some quick turns along the way. After a short detour, we reach the pinnacle of the day’s driving experience: the breathtaking stretch of open road that is the Pacific Coast Highway. Gazing out my driver’s side window, I see the endless stretch of crystal blue ocean with beachcombers sunbathing and playing volleyball along it’s shoreline. 

Outside the passenger side, houses dot the hillside and quaint little shops and boutiques line the road. We pass through a little town, highway, another little town, more highway. It goes that way until we reach our final destination, Newport Coast’s Pelican Hill Resort; all the while, the 200 horsepower produced by the 2.4 liter GDI four cylinder propels us. In addition to this engine, which comes standard with the EX model, there is the 2.0 liter turbo GDI, a four cylinder powertrain that delivers V-6 type power and 274 horsepower. Both this and the 2.4 liter get up to 35mpg highway. The 2.4 liter hybrid engine is set to debut at the LA Auto Show in November and hit showrooms early 2011.                

When one envisions himself cruising the Southern California coastline, a sedan is typically not the first type of vehicle he pictures himself in. The Kia Optima surprises in that it fits perfectly in such a reverie; hence the Optima‘s slogan, “The Power to Surprise“. This vehicle truly does represent a paradigm shift in the mid-sized car sector, targeting the top 20 most stylish and affluent markets in the U.S.It’s high level of style and luxurious feel are sure to make it stand out and catch the attention of  drivers everywhere.