This Kia Optima was a rolling trash bin after years of neglect and abandonment. The owner traded it in and the dealer sent it straight to a detailer ...

Preview of the Kia Optima Hybrid with Nik J. Miles at the L.A. Auto Show. The Kia Optima Hybrid has advanced technology that retains 25% more power in the battery. It gets 40 miles a gallon.

A 23-year-old Rosemount woman died when the vehicle she was driving eastbound on Highway 14 west of Highway 218 in Steele County collided with a semi-trailer at about 4:25 a.m.

For 2016, Kia added a new engine to the Optima mix. It’s a 178-horsepower, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired up with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The Optima isn’t crazy fancy but the company did a nice job with materials and fit/finish. Kia has moved 9,600 Optimas so far this year compared to 26,000 Accords and 32,400 Camrys.