KIA has not been blessed with too much glory since it arrived in Australia in in the mid-1990s. The cars were cheap, but they were also shoddy and unimpressive to drive. Over time there's been a change for the better - not a dramatic one, but certainly noticeable - and the medium Optima is the best proof yet that Kia is getting its act together. In theory, Optima replaces the unloved Credos, but it's actually much better than that, benefitting from a technology share with owner Hyundai's Sonata sedan, including its 2.5-litre V6 engine. Given the malaise the medium sedan category is going through and Kia's low profile, the Optima is likely to remain well known too just a few of us.