What the design community would call the Optima's face could be that of any number of Asian-branded cars. A cleanly separated, geometrically proportioned grille fills the space between nicely sized headlights tucked into the upper corners of the fenders. A deeply shadowed air intake with space at each end for the optional fog lamps runs the width of the car beneath the bumper molded into the one-piece fascia. Creases defining a gentle hood bulge draw the eye from the grille to the A-pillars at the sides of the windshield. Stance is solid, with tires pushed to the corners to yield almost an inch wider track (distance between the tires side to side) than the previous Optima and equal to or better than the primary competitors, save the 2007 Camry, which it trails by a mere half-inch.

In side view, save for a hint of Audi in the hindmost quarter, the newest Optima could pass for, well, pick a middle-of-the-road, midsize car. And not only in looks, but by the tape measure, as well, with a wheelbase (the distance between the wheels front to rear) that essentially splits the differences between the 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion, although shorter by more than two inches than the '07 Camry. In overall length (bumper to bumper), however, the Optima leans toward the tauter end of the scale, giving up from three to five inches to the others, although a comparatively deep rear side door tends to mask this brevity.

Oddly enough, in terms of taillight shapes and overall perspective, the Optima's rear aspect strongly reminds us of a larger iteration of a Toyota Corolla of a decade or so ago. It's a balanced look, with clean and reasonably tight gaps and a fully integrated, molded-in bumper. Rear track is wider, too, more than an inch from the previous year and now within tenths of an inch of most of the competition, adding to the newest Optima's more planted look. Dual exhaust tips give of touch of visual pizzazz to the V6 Optimas.