Kia Optima

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test.  The Optima scored maximum points for the protection of the front passenger in that test, with good protection of all critical body areas.  Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both dummies and Kia showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions.  In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of the driver was good for all body areas, and for the rear passenger it was good for all areas except the chest, protection of which was adequate.  In the side barrier impact, protection of all critical parts of the body was again good, and the Optima scored maximum points.  Even in the more severe side pole test, all body areas were well protected.  The front seats and head restraints demonstrated marginal protection against whiplash injury in Euro NCAP's tests.  A geometric assessment of the rear seats indicated marginal whiplash protection also for the occupants of those seats.  An autonomous emergency braking system is available on the Optima which would provide additional whiplash protection at the low, city speeds at which such injuries commonly occur.  The system was not included in this assessment as it is not standard equipment.