public car: Kia Optima

Car Review :2011 Kia Optima
Boning up for an automaker-solicited driving event can uncover some telling truths. Take the Kia Optima, for example. It's entering its third generation with the 2011 model year and belongs to the industry's valuable midsize car segment, home to several of the United States' top-selling nameplates. In 2009, the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, and seven other class competitors tallied 1.54 million sold, a strong presence in a year where just 10.4 million aggregate new vehicles were leased or financed. Only 37,527 of the 1.54 million wore Optima badges. There are reasons for that, and Kia has probably heard 'em all.

Car Review: 2011 Kia Optima
If comprising less than 3 percent of segment sales justifies ambition, then Kia is ready to do the sales dance with its all-new 2011 Kia Optima. Lead designer Peter Schreyer crafted a brawnier body in hopes of altering consumer perception of the four-door, and to further the Korean automaker's aggressive campaign for exposure. Kia has been rolling out new models en masse over the last two years, and Tom Loveless, vice president of sales, declares the new Optima will be "instantly relevant" in the important in the segment. But when competing against the heavyweight Accord and Camry, coaxing customers is going to be challenging.

To show that the new Optima has what it takes to effectively play the midsize game, Kia took control of Road Atlanta for a day. A handful of preproduction, fully loaded Optima EX sedans were shipped in to be sampled via a series of lead-follow laps with the drivers of the Forte Koup Grand-Am race cars leading the packs. The pace was reasonable, and the cars were entitled to much-deserved attention.

The cockpit, in the words of Kia staff, is "actually a cockpit." The center stack is discreetly angled towards the driver, delivering a cozy feel without hindering passenger access. The interior surfaces are dull to the eye, but the HVAC and sound system controls are neatly arranged and intuitive to use with easily reachable buttons. In what has been a Kia home-run feature of late, the steering wheel impresses with its girth, controls layout, and appearance.

Car Review:2011 Kia Optima

In terms of power, the 2.4-liter Theta II GDI straight-four is getting quite comfortable in Hyundai and Kia lineups. The direct-injected four-cylinder is the 2011 Optima's base engine and develops 200 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque (192 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque for SULEV versions). Power delivery is smooth and transmittance to the front drive wheels is handled by a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The paddles don't scream "sports car," although the setup responds with satisfactory haste up and down the gears. A slight objection lies with the location of the gear indicator, which is placed beneath the speedometer and can be difficult to read due to its small size.

The Optima's electric-assisted steering is light and easy, but could use more feedback. The firm brakes offer plenty of clamping power and encouraged later braking as the laps wore on. On our prescribed sighting-lap line, the Optima's chassis proved compliant while the standard high performance dampers (fundamental design shared with the Sorento's dual flow dampers) and suspension tuning found a good compromise between a relaxed ride and more aggressive roadholding. Off the driving line, the stock Nexen touring tires didn't enjoy steering corrections at speed, and predictably squealed in protest. That choice of rubber is much better suited for school and grocery store runs than hustling around Road Atlanta.

Turn five was where the Optima ascertained its potential. The corner is a tight, positive gradient, medium-speed left-hander that can surprise a driver (depending on entry speed) with a sudden run onto curbing as the vehicle tracks out. Here, the chassis felt plenty capable of more than we were pushing, and allowed us to imagine the possibilities with the impending turbocharged, direct-injected, and perfectly square 2.0-liter inline-four with 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The forced-induction powerplant will be available for the EX and range-topping SX trim by the end of this year, matched to a six-speed automatic with the same final drive but shorter ratios through the first three gears. Kia forecasts its boosted engine will make up 20 percent of Optima sales over the long haul.

So the mid-level tester has been driven on a fine Georgia road course, but what's next? In a strategy similar to the Sonata, a 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain is on the way for the Optima by early 2011. Official pricing isn't available yet, but with its better looks and Kia's momentum, we won't be surprised to see the Optima's sales numbers trend upwards once the sharply styled sedan arrives at dealers.

Car Review:2011 Kia Optima
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