Kia spokespeople explain that the 2006.5 Optima is about value, and it’s the four-cylinder powertrain that offers the most bang-for-the-buck, especially with gas prices where they are and newfound consumer concerns about fuel economy. Focusing on the more fuel efficient engine should pay off for Kia, thanks in no small part to the refined, class-competitive aluminum 2.4-liter four-banger with continuous variable valve timing (CVVT). This brand new engine design provides 15 percent more power than the motor it replaces, generating 161 horses at 5,800 rpm and 163 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm. Kia says these power ratings are stronger than several competitors, but just barely so. It runs on regular unleaded, and the EPA says it will get 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, whether you’re rowing your own gears with the manual or letting the optional Sportmatic automatic transmission shift for you.