I like to purchase cars that seem to be valued at less than their reliability relative to their price in the market. This Kia has certainly fit into that category. It has been a great commuter car, very reliable, no major issues and I was able to purchase it for about a third of what a comparable Honda or Toyota would have fetched. I highly recommend this car if you are looking for a similar "deal" in a used car purchase. I have not had to make any major repairs up to this point. For a midsize sedan, this car is pretty close to ideal in my opinion. It was around the mid 2000's when Kia began a 100,000 mile warranty program. This greatly boosted my personal view of their reliability. By 2006, I don't think the perception of the public had changed to reflect the true value and reliability of Kia vehicles yet. For this reason and many others, this car is an excellent value for the money.

The 2006 Kia Optima gets great gas mileage, has a lot of nice features including a sun roof and large trunk, and handles well. However, it seems like I'm replacing the brake pads on the vehicle every year making for costly maintenance. Overall I'm satisfied with this vehicle. It suits my needs commuting to and from work.