Kia's New Optima: A Competitor to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord

Kia has completely redesigned the Optima for 2011, and in doing so, proves that KIA can go head-to-head with popular sedans like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. See not only is the Optima dramatically different for 2011 but it's loaded with standard features that are usually found on near luxury cars.

The Kia Optima has a nice low long stance that makes it look sporty or even luxurious from the outside. The story continues inside, where you'll see the use of metallic trim around the shifter, gauges, and many of the controllers is a touch not seen on the camera or the Accord. With features like power windows, mirrors, locks, Bluetooth, USB audio connectivity, you're looking at all these features even in the Base LX model. If you get the mid-range EX, you're looking at dual power climate controls, leather seats, and a push button start, usually found in higher-end models. The list of options is pretty impressive too, with a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, as well as heated back seats and a heated steering wheel. All these features are part of the Optima's premium package, which is available on both the EX and SX trims.

However, let's say you're chauffeuring around a lot of tall businessmen or basketball players, you might find the back seat to be a little bit tight, although with lots of leg room that shouldn't be an issue. To really get to know the Optima, we need to take it for a spin. Yes, we do. The base engine on the Optima is a 200 horsepower power 2.4 L inline 4 that drives the front wheels with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual. The manual here gets 24 MPG in the city and 35 on the highway. The other engine is a turbocharged 274 horsepower 2 L inline 4 that drives the front wheels with a six-speed automatic. A V6 is no longer an option on the Optima, you know. The turbocharged engine is standard on the SX model and optional on the EX model. Now, the extra power is noticeable yet the turbo still gets a decent 22 MPG City 34 Highway. Both engines have plenty of power for passing, and listen, it's very quiet even when driving on the highway. Now, the suspension has a nice tight feel so it's fun to drive, feels really different than the Camry softer suspension.

But how does it compare to the Camry and price? While it's usually equal to or below comparably equipped Camrys and Accords, the LX with the man manual transmission starts at $18,995. I like the EX trim's long list of standard features, which is $23,000 if you get a fully loaded SX. You're looking at topping out at about $30,000 pretty competitive. But when you add that 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, very much worth it.

Overall, it seems like the new Optima has exactly what it takes to take on the better known competition. It's a great-looking car that comes across as more elegant than most others. Plus, it has a solid list of standard and optional features at a great competitive price. For AutoTrader, I'm Tess Jansy and I'm Amanda Salis, and thanks for watching AutoTrader's new car review for the 2011 Kia Optima right here on AutoTrader the ultimate Automotive Marketplace.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enKia has completely redesigned the Optima for 2011 and in doing so proves that KIA can go head-to-head with popular sedans like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord see not only is the Optima dramatically different for 2011 but it's loaded with standard features that are usually found on near luxury cars hi I'm T jansy and I'm Amanda Sal and you're watching Auto Trader new car review for the 2011 Kia Optima a car that's turning head and buyers on to the Korean automaker that's right Amanda but unlike the Toyota Camry the Honda Accord and the Chevy Malibu the five passenger Optima was once at the back of the pack the Kia Optima has a nice low long stance that makes it look sporty or even luxurious from the outside and the story continues inside see the use of metallic trim around the shifter the gauges and many of the controllers is a touch not seen on the camera or the Accord and with features like power windows mirrors locks Bluetooth USB audio connectivity you're looking at all these features even in the Bas LX model if you get the mid-range ex you're looking at dual power climate controls leather seats and a push button start usually found in higher-end models the list of options is pretty impressive too you have a panoramic sunroof heated and cooled front seats as well as heated back seats and a heated steering wheel it's all a part of the Optimus premium package which is aail a on both the ex and SX trims but let's say you're chauffeuring around a lot of tall businessmen or basketball players you might find the back seat to be a little bit tight although with lots of leg room that shouldn't be an issue but you know Amanda to really get to know the Optima we need to take a force spin yes we do the base engine on the Optima is a 200 h power 2.4 L inline 4 that drives the front wheels with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual the manual here gets 24 MP gallon in the city and 35 on the highway the other engine is a turbocharged 274 horsepower 2 L inline 4 that drives the front wheels with a six-speed automatic a V6 is no longer an option on the Optima you know the turbocharged engine is standard on the SX model and optional on the ex model now the extra power is noticeable yet the turbo still gets a decent 22 MPG City 34 Highway both engines have plenty of power for passing and listen it's very quiet even when driving on the highway now the suspension has a nice tight feel so it's fun to drive feels really different than the Camry softer suspension but how does it compare to Camry and price while it's usually equal to or below comparably equipped Camry's and Accords the LX with the man manual transmission starts at $18,995 I like the ex trim's long list of standard features which is 23,000 if you get a fully loaded SX you're looking at topping out at about $30,000 pretty competitive but when you add that 10year 100,000 M powertrain warranty very much worth it well I'll tell you it seems like the new Optima has exactly what it takes to take on the better known competition it's a great looking car that comes across as more elegant than most ofans plus it has a solid list of standard and optional features at a great competitive price so for auto trader I'm Tess jansy and I'm Amanda Salis and thanks for watching autot Trader's new car review for the 2011 Kia Optima right here on autot Trader the ultimate Automotive MarketplaceKia has completely redesigned the Optima for 2011 and in doing so proves that KIA can go head-to-head with popular sedans like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord see not only is the Optima dramatically different for 2011 but it's loaded with standard features that are usually found on near luxury cars hi I'm T jansy and I'm Amanda Sal and you're watching Auto Trader new car review for the 2011 Kia Optima a car that's turning head and buyers on to the Korean automaker that's right Amanda but unlike the Toyota Camry the Honda Accord and the Chevy Malibu the five passenger Optima was once at the back of the pack the Kia Optima has a nice low long stance that makes it look sporty or even luxurious from the outside and the story continues inside see the use of metallic trim around the shifter the gauges and many of the controllers is a touch not seen on the camera or the Accord and with features like power windows mirrors locks Bluetooth USB audio connectivity you're looking at all these features even in the Bas LX model if you get the mid-range ex you're looking at dual power climate controls leather seats and a push button start usually found in higher-end models the list of options is pretty impressive too you have a panoramic sunroof heated and cooled front seats as well as heated back seats and a heated steering wheel it's all a part of the Optimus premium package which is aail a on both the ex and SX trims but let's say you're chauffeuring around a lot of tall businessmen or basketball players you might find the back seat to be a little bit tight although with lots of leg room that shouldn't be an issue but you know Amanda to really get to know the Optima we need to take a force spin yes we do the base engine on the Optima is a 200 h power 2.4 L inline 4 that drives the front wheels with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual the manual here gets 24 MP gallon in the city and 35 on the highway the other engine is a turbocharged 274 horsepower 2 L inline 4 that drives the front wheels with a six-speed automatic a V6 is no longer an option on the Optima you know the turbocharged engine is standard on the SX model and optional on the ex model now the extra power is noticeable yet the turbo still gets a decent 22 MPG City 34 Highway both engines have plenty of power for passing and listen it's very quiet even when driving on the highway now the suspension has a nice tight feel so it's fun to drive feels really different than the Camry softer suspension but how does it compare to Camry and price while it's usually equal to or below comparably equipped Camry's and Accords the LX with the man manual transmission starts at $18,995 I like the ex trim's long list of standard features which is 23,000 if you get a fully loaded SX you're looking at topping out at about $30,000 pretty competitive but when you add that 10year 100,000 M powertrain warranty very much worth it well I'll tell you it seems like the new Optima has exactly what it takes to take on the better known competition it's a great looking car that comes across as more elegant than most ofans plus it has a solid list of standard and optional features at a great competitive price so for auto trader I'm Tess jansy and I'm Amanda Salis and thanks for watching autot Trader's new car review for the 2011 Kia Optima right here on autot Trader the ultimate Automotive Marketplace\n"