Road Test: 2011 Kia Optima EX

Expectation can be a dangerous thing when it comes to reviewing cars. New models come along that pique your interest at auto shows and you look forward to the day when one will be dropped off at your house for a week of testing. But so often appearances are deceiving and you are left with a disappointing mélange of mediocrity once you drive said car in the real world.

Let's just say that I have been in love with the looks of the 2011 Kia Optima ever since the first time I laid eyes on it months and months ago. Kia models like the Soul, Sorento and Sportage had been wowing me visually before I saw the Optima but I felt that their whole design language really coalesced with this new family sedan. But would I like it when it was mine for a week?

There was another interesting twist in this story and it came in the form of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata which I drove the week before the Kia arrived. These two family sedans are built on the same platform and given my disappointment with how the Sonata drove I feared that the Kia would probably fare no better. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The Optima steers and handles like a car from a completely different manufacturer which is perhaps thanks to Kia taking extra time to launch their model. The Sonata and Optima were priced nearly identically but the Kia just felt more special and like something from the price class above it. The Sonata just always felt like a mainstream family sedan in the vein of the Toyota Camry.

Suffice it to say the 2011 Kia Optima EX is now in the running for my favorite mainstream family sedan. In fact, I loved this car so much that I would buy one in a heartbeat with my own money. I rarely think that about test vehicles, let alone say it out loud. But if you want more details, check out the rest of this review.

Exterior Styling

From its trademark chromed "Schreyer grille" (so named after Kia design chief Andrew Schreyer) to the bulbous slope of the thick pillars behind the rear doors, the 2011 Kia Optima looks like no family sedan before it. If anything it owes a bit of its reserved visual menace to some Audi products (Schreyer used to work for them) but never has such an affordable car looked so expensive.

It is interesting to note that both the media and potential consumers both have been pretty evenly split on their preference for the styling of the Optima or the more flowingly ovoid Sonata. I think that the Optima offers up enough of a European design flourish in its appearance that it could possibly steal some premium buyers who would never look twice at the Sonata.

Interior Design and Quality

I used to own a 2001 VW Passat that was heralded at the time for having unrivaled interior build quality that shamed every other model in its price class. Now that VW appears to be stripping away any remnants of that old "feel good factor" from its interiors, it appears that Kia has decided to pick up where that German company left off.

Every surface is covered in squishy, finely grained plastics and all of the buttons and knobs move with an oily precision that is nowhere to be found anywhere inside a Sonata. The dashboard design is driver focused but all the navigation, stereo and climate functions are easily accessible by the passenger should you decide to let them fiddle with your toys.

The interior of the 2011 Kia Optima EX is superior to that of my old 2001 Passat in terms of quality and style but they share the unique ability to actually carry five North American adults in relative comfort. Interior storage space is about average for the class with a decent sized glovebox, center console and a convenient overhead sunglass holder.

Lastly, if you can afford it be sure to specify your 2011 Optima EX with the panoramic sunroof that extends over the entire roof of the car. Not only does it really make the interior feel even more spacious but when it opens the canvas covers and then the forward glass portion in a perfectly timed dance it is pure theater. Your friends will no doubt "ooh" and "aah" every time they see it.

Pricing, Features and Fuel Economy

A basic 2011 Optima LX with a six-speed manual transmission starts at just $18,995 but I imagine most buyers will opt for an EX version like my tester which started out at $22,995. EX trim nets you leather seats, dual zone automatic climate control, a power driver's seat, a six-speed automatic, Bluetooth, USB/iPod connectivity, AM/FM/CD 6-speaker audio, push button start, steering wheel mounted audio controls, Homelink, 17-inch alloy wheels and a 2.4 liter 200 horsepower/186 lb. feet of torque direct injected 4-cylinder engine.

Currently Kia also offers a 2.0 liter turbocharged 274 horsepower/269 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder with the EX and that engine is standard on the flagship SX variant. A hybrid version is also on the horizon. EPA estimates for my test model's 2.4 liter engine are 22 city/35 highway and I averaged an impressive 25.8 miles per gallon.

My test unit also came with some very appealing option packages which sent the price to a still palatable $27,555 including destination fees. First off there was the Premium Package for $2,250 which added that panoramic sunroof, a power passenger seat, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel along with additional wood and metal trim. The EX Technology Package ($2,000) further added a navigation system, back-up camera and 8-speaker Infinity audio.

Driving Impressions

The 2011 Kia Optima is never going to be mistaken for a sports sedan but there is a distinct pleasure to be had when driving it. It lacks some of the scalpel sharp precision of your best Honda products but the hefty steering affords the driver a real feeling of control and the suspension always makes the driver feel securely hunkered down even over irregular and rough pavement.

This difference in suspension tuning is really where the Sonata and Optima diverge most dramatically. Where the Sonata was wallowing like a corpulent porpoise over bumps, the Optima simply powered over them with like a Sherman tank. Sure, it may not be the most advanced set-up but you will always feel like you are in complete control of the Optima.

While the 2.4 liter 200 horsepower engine isn't exactly enough to overwhelm the driver with forward thrust, it is perfectly capable of handling any and all passing maneuvers all the while making an entertainingly grainy growl under heavy acceleration. If you want more power there is also always the turbo version.

Kia's 6-speed automatic (their first in-house design) is also very impressive given its smoothness and inherent invisibility during ordinary driving chores. The one problem is with the manual function because it really doesn't trust the driver to make his or her own decisions. If you get anywhere near redline the transmission's computerized brain will take over and upshift for you which is never any fun.

How Dog and Family Friendly Is It?

This is one roomy family sedan with plenty of trunk space (15.4 cubic feet) for strollers, diaper bags and even the occasional 100 pound bag of kibble. Interior material quality is unimpeachable and the leather in my tester felt like it belonged in a vehicle from a premium automaker.

Suffice it to say, I don't think your kids or your dog will be uncomfortable or be able to easily destroy the interior of your new 2011 Optima. Even the beige interior of my tester resisted dirt and scuff marks. But if owning a car with such a light interior color worries you, take heart knowing that Kia also builds the Optima with a gray and black (SX turbo model only) interior color scheme as well.

Conclusion

The 2011 Kia Optima brings two character traits to the concept of the mainstream family sedan that were heretofore never explored with this much success. It exudes class mixed with a healthy dose of sex appeal. It is kind of like the Posh Spice of family sedans if you will apologize my referring to the wife of David Beckham in such a way.

It may lack a bit of the tuned precision of the best Honda Accord models in regards to how it drives but Kia has improved as of late in leaps and bounds in this regard. This does not, of course, take into account how good the Optima makes you feel when you look at it and when you sit in the driver's seat.

The 2011 Kia Optima is a car that is very easy to rationalize as a purchase thanks to its affordability, generous warranty, high feature count and inescapable stylishness. It just might be the best new car introduced for the 2011 model year.

Vehicle Tested: 2011 Kia Optima EX

Base Price: $22,495

Price as Tested: $27,555 (including destination)

Options on Test Model: Premium Package--$2,250 (includes panoramic sunroof, power passenger seat, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, wood/metal trim), EX Technology Package--$2,000 (includes navigation with back-up camera, 8-speaker Infinity audio system), Floormats--$115

Engine: 2.4 liter direct injected 4-cylinder

Power: 200 horsepower/186 lb. feet of torque

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0-60: 6.9 seconds (estimated)

EPA Fuel Economy: 22 city/35 highway

Economy as Tested: 25.8 miles per gallon

Runs on: Regular Unleaded

Fuel Tank Size: 18.5 gallons

Trunk Size: 15.4 cubic feet

Curb Weight: 3,223 lbs.

Crash Test Ratings: Not yet tested at time of writing

Warranty: 5 years/60,000 mile bumper to bumper

10 years/100,000 mile powertrain

Vehicle Assembled in: Korea

Vehicle Provided by: Kia Motors America

Photos Provided by: Todd M. Allen of TacAir Photography