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:

Remote keyless entry
Remote keyless entry system operations Lock (1) All doors (and tailgate) are locked if the lock button is pressed. If all doors (and tailgate) are closed, the hazard warning lights will blink ...

Interior lights
Map light (if equipped) Type A The lights are turned ON or OFF by pressing the corresponding switch. Type B (1) Map light : The lights are turned ON or OFF by pressing the corresponding swi ...

Trailer towing
We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing. ...