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.
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will be available with four engines - two petrol and two diesel, ranging between
115 ps to 163 ps - manual and automat ...
Tires and wheels
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First impressions mean a lot
At first glance, the Optima gives off more than a hint of a European vibe. A
vast stylistic improvement over the namesake that it replaces, it sports larger
dimensions than the outgoing model. Sur ...