Forbes – Kia Optima Best Vehicle for Carpooling

Forbes names the midsize Kia sedan as the number one best vehicle for carpooling based on safety ratings along with interior volume and fuel efficiency.

The real world

While most of us here at LotPro.com dream of driving Ferraris, Lamborghinis and the occasional Bentley Continental GTC Speed, the fact is that all of us here, like most of you out there (Jay Leno being one of the exceptions), live in a world where our incomes are encumbered by mortgages, utility bills and keeping food on the table. As such, the aforementioned vehicles have as much to do with our reality as a date with Kate Moss.

Fortunately, the editors at Forbes.com have come up with a list that might seem mundane in comparison but at least it bears a resemblance to reality – the best vehicles for carpooling. Using data from Kelley Blue Book, Forbes considered only 2009 vehicles that have received five out of five stars on all crash tests and at least four out of five stars on rollover results. The group was then pared down by awarding each vehicle points based on seating capacity, fuel efficiency, amount of front and rear headroom and legroom, and the presence of standard or optional navigation and entertainment systems.

2009 Kia Optima

The winner for 2009,  the newly-updated Kia Optima, was mentioned in a press release from Kia. Here is a portion of that release:

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 9 / — Recently named a “Best Bet” by The Car Book 2009, Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced that the Optima sedan also has topped the recently released “Best Vehicles for Carpooling” list by Forbes, available on Forbes.com. Refreshed for the 2009 model year, Optima was lauded for combining excellent class-leading safety features, a spacious interior and impressive fuel efficiency – all for excellent value, starting at less than $18,000.

“It’s great to see our vehicles winning more and more industry accolades, and it’s an honor for Kia Motors to sit atop the Forbes ‘Best Vehicles for Carpooling’ list,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of KMA. “The 2009 Optima demonstrates the brand’s commitment to offering consumers dynamic vehicles designed with an emphasis on quality, safety, comfort and affordability.”

The price is right

The 2009 Optima is the recipient of a five-star crash safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As with the rest of the Kia line-up, Optima is equipped with many standard safety features, including six airbags (dual advanced front and front-seat mounted side as well as full-length side curtain), front active headrests, side-impact door beams, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Electronic stability control (ESC), a traction control system (TCS), brake assist system (BAS) and four-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) also are standard.

The Bottom Line

While neither a Bentley nor a supermodel, the Kia Optima is a solid performer in the mid-size segment, giving car buyers a long list of standard features as well as a top safety rating.

Tags: Bentley, ferrari, forbes, kelley blue book, KIA, kia optima, lamborghini