THE Optima is a five-seater in the classic medium sedan mould, with two bucket seats up front and a bench seat in the rear. There are lap-sash safety belts all-round as well as headrests - the front items getting fore and aft adjustment. But only the driver gets an airbag. There are narrow front door pockets, front seat-back pockets and a centre double-lidded bin which is at the right height to act as an armrest, while the glovebox is medium-sized. In the front two cupholders are hidden away neatly under a spring-loaded lid in the centre console, while in the back they are contained in the fold-down centre armrest, which also contains a flock-lined bin. There are no rear door pockets.