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:

Suggestions for economical operation
Your vehicle's fuel economy depends mainly on your style of driving, where you drive and when you drive. Each of these factors affects how many kilometers (miles) you can get from a liter (gallon ...

Additional Horsepower
The 2.4-liter 161-horsepower 4-cylinder engine has gained 23 horsepower from the early-2006 model and provides good acceleration below 60 mph—but average performance above that speed. The 2.7-li ...

Maintenance schedule
Chart symbols: I- Inspect these items and their related parts. If necessary, correct, clean, refill, adjust or replace. R- Replace or change L- Lubricate. (1) Refer to the lubricant and co ...