First Drive: 2011 Kia Optima
Rivalries are a fact of life. When they are in the family, they can be troublesome. On the other hand, they can help to raise the level of game for both family members.
That’s the case Kia finds itself in with the 2011 Kia Optima.
First seen at the New York International Auto Show back in April, the Optima looked a stunning, almost Teutonic counterpart to the stylized and swoopy Hyundai Sonata. This wouldn’t much matter if the two cars came from separate automakers, but the Optima and Sonata are direct rivals offered by the same parent company.
At that point, the gauntlet was thrown, and all bets were off. It looks like Kia is not content to just play second fiddle anymore.
See also:
Performance
In terms of horsepower, the average sedan packs quite a wallop and will knock
the Rio down a few rungs. However, bear in mind that high horsepower engines
often command higher insurance premiums. ...
Door locks
Operating door locks from outside
the vehicle
• Turn the key toward the rear of the
vehicle to unlock and toward the front
of the vehicle to lock.
• If you lock the door with a key, all veh ...
Comprehensive 'active' and 'passive' safety
For new Kia Rio, an all-new bodyshell was created using a higher percentage
of high-strength steel than the third-generation model, enhancing strength and
rigidity. Special attention was given to ...