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:

Air cleaner
Element replacement Have the air cleaner element checked and replaced in accordance with the maintenance schedule. NOTICE Do not drive with the air cleaner removed; this will result in excessi ...

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. ...

In case of an emergency while driving
If the engine stalls at a crossroad or crossing • If the engine stalls at a crossroad or crossing, set the shift lever in the N (Neutral) position and then push the vehicle to a safe place. †...