A week in Kia's Accord and Camry fighter
Pros:
Nicely styled exterior
Tastefully styled interior
Smooth switchgear
Supportive front seats
Cons:
Steering needs more feedback
The Kia Optima
Looking at the 2011 Kia Optima EX that we had for a week, it’s hard to believe that this four-door sedan has been with us for little more than a decade - but what a trip it’s been.
The first generation model was literally a re-badged fourth-generation Hyundai Sonata. At the time, it mattered little which one you were driving, since both were forgettable modes of transport.
It didn’t get much better in the second-generation Optima, although a facelift for the 2009 model year, done under the guidance of Kia’s new chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, did manage to give it some style. Due to time constraints and the model cycle, however, the changes were limited to an updated dashboard and new front and rear fascias.
Into the new millennium
By the time the 2010 New York Auto Show rolled around, the planets as well as the Optima’s model cycle had aligned and, on April 1st, Kia globally unveiled the all-new 2011 Optima midsize sedan.
Conceived at the company’s design studios in both Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California, this new car takes a page out of the Big 3 from the sixties era in being longer, lower and wider than its predecessor.
Based on an all-new midsize platform, the new Optima is, more precisely, 1.7 inches longer, 1 inch wider, nearly 3 inches longer in wheelbase and 1 inch lower. Curb weight is also up, but only by 25 lbs.
Exterior
Outside, Schreyer and his designers have given the Optima a look of purposeful sophistication. A taught ridge begins just above the headlamp enclosures in front and follows the beltline until it terminates just above the taillamp where it intersects with the upper ridge of the trunk.
The swept roofline is accentuated by a chrome strip that begins at the leading edge of the greenhouse at the beltline where it sweeps up just above the door glass and follows the roofline until it terminates at the base of the c-pillar at the base of the rear window glass.
Rear taillamps wrap around the quarter panels with an upward taper that terminates at nearly the same linear point as the chrome greenhouse trim. It’s a minimalist and purposeful design worthy of any German manufacturer made even more striking by the fact that it comes from Kia.
Interior
Although not nearly as striking as the exterior, the Optima’s interior is notable due to the use of soft-touch surfaces and a liberal dose of leather and grey-stained wood. While the design is hardly ground breaking, its execution is nearly flawless.
Our Dark Cherry EX was equipped with the optional Premium Package consisting of a spectacular panoramic sunroof with twin sun shades, power passenger seat, memory driver’s seat with both front seats equipped for heating and cooling. The rear outboard seats also get heated, as does the steering wheel.
All controls are within easy reach of the driver, with fit and finish as well as switchgear operation being world class.
Equipment
In addition to its Premium package, our Optima EX also came equipped with the optional Technology Package, which includes a navigation system, back-up camera and Infinity audio system with 8 speakers.
Other standard amenities on the EX include dual-zone automatic climate control, USB and auxiliary input jacks, Bluetooth, power windows, locks, heated outside mirrors, push button start, auto dimming rearview mirror with homelink and a cooling glove box.
Safety equipment includes a full compliment of 6 airbags, ABS, traction control, vehicle stability control and downhill brake/hill-start assist control.
On the road
On the road, the Optima’s suspension soaks up both large and small road imperfections. Its leather-wrapped steering wheel feels both substantial and comfortable. Feedback, for the most part, is excellent. Here, however, is where I have one nit to pick.
Electric steering, unlike a conventional setup, in order to be really good, has to be fine tuned. In the case of the Optima, there seemed to be a dead spot right in the center. Moving the wheel to the left or right was fine, but when kept in the neutral position I sensed very little feedback from the road.
Pricing
2011 Optima pricing starts at $18,995 for an LX model equipped with a manual transmission. Our EX had a base price of $22,495. The Premium Package added $2,250, while the Technology Package tacked on an even $2,000. An additional $695 in shipping charges brings the grand total of this particular Optima EX to a manufacturers suggested retail price of $27,440. This might seem a lot to pay for a Kia, but think about this – that’s $3,000 less than a comparably-equipped Honda Accord.
The Bottom Line
With the coming of the 2011 Optima, Kia is no longer the read-headed stepchild of the midsize sedan class. It’s all grown-up now with an exterior design worthy of any manufacturer in the segment – and that includes the Germans.
So here's the bottom line: The new Optima is finally ready to chase both Toyota and Honda for market share. Where the old Optima may have been a distant speck in the rearview mirrors of both the Camry and the Accord, my guess is that the visage of Kia’s newest Optima will soon be filling them.
