Category Archives: Kia Optima

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Boston Globe: 2012 Kia Optima “First Class”

Posted on December 23, 2011 by admin

The Boston Globe recently came out with a list of the Top Drives for 2012. The roster included a wide variety of ten cars, trucks, wagons and SUVs (and one “Dreamer’s Bonus”) spanning from the Range Rover Evoque to the BMW X3 and the Acura TSX Sport Wagon. Among the honorees included the 2012 Kia Optima. Here’s what The Boston Globe’s reviewers said about the newly re-designed mid-size sedan:

Kia Optima
Price: $21,750
200-hp I-4/206-hp hybrid/274-hp turbo I-4, 6-speed auto, FWD, EPA 24/35 (standard trim)

During the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in February, Los Angeles Clippers star rookie Blake Griffin jumped over the Kia Optima to complete a dunk. For the rest of the year, it was the Optima doing the jumping over its competition. Sales increased three-fold through the first 11 months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

The Optima has achieved a metamorphosis from “unremarkable” to a first-class, five-passenger, mid-sized sedan. In this total redesign Kia has given the Optima, like all its vehicles, a sportier image than its Korean cousin and corporate sibling Hyundai. Even though the Optima shares a platform and engines with the critically acclaimed Hyundai Sonata, the exterior design, suspension tuning, and interior treatment are significantly different.  The interior is surprisingly spacious. In addition, our test car got a gold star for having a heated steering wheel as an unexpected accoutrement.

We thought the midlevel Optima was just fine though we liked the turbo version as well. It’s also available as a hybrid.

The list of the best cars of 2012 (accompanied with their price) according to the Boston Globe is (in no particular order):

  1. Audi A7 ($60,125)
  2. Range Rover Evoque ($43,995)
  3. Acura TSX Sport Wagon ($32,045)
  4. Jeep Wrangler ($22,845)
  5. Ford Focus ($17,295)
  6. Kia Optima ($21,750)
  7. Ford F-150 EcoBoost ($26,185)
  8. Subaru Impreza ($18,580)
  9. Fiat 500 ($15,500)
  10. BMW X3 ($38,775)
  11. Jaguar XKR-S ($132,000)

For your viewing pleasure…
here’s the video of Blake Griffin dunking over the all-new Kia Optima:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41EFwuBqEUA

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2011 Kia Optima | Louisville Cars

Posted on December 20, 2011 by admin

Older models of the Kia Optima performed well and offered Louisville car buyers an affordable and safe mid-size sedan option with a great warranty; however, some said they lacked in terms of aesthetic appeal or luxury. The 2011 Kia Optima was completely redesigned to silence those critics.

If you are looking for a new car in Louisville, the 2011 Kia Optima now offers buyers a hard to beat mixture of great looks, safety, performance, and a great warranty at an affordable price for buyers.

Standard 2011 Kia Optima Features

  • Bluetooth phone connectivity
  • Driving wheel audio control panel
  • Cooled glove box
  • iPod/USB audio connectivity
  • 16-inch steel wheels (17- and 18-inch steel wheels are available)
  • Six airbags
  • Electronic stability control
  • Four-wheel antilock disc brakes
  • Stability and traction control
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Side airbags
  • Hill start assist

Optional 2011 Kia Optima Features

  • Infinity audio system
  • Rear camera
  • Heated and cooled seats
  • Touch-screen navigation
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Turbo-charged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine

2011 Kia Optima Safety Rating

The 2011 Kia Optima received a five-star rating (best available) for overall safety performance, including a five stars rating for frontal and side-impact crash tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2011 Kia Optima with a “Good” rating (best available) for frontal-offset and side-impact crash test performances.

In Edmunds brake testing, the Optima EX stopped in 121 feet after going at 60 miles per hour — a good performance.

2011 Kia Optima Professional Reviews

Here are what some of the world’s most well-respected car review sites are saying about the 2011 Kia Optima:

“…Thanks to an extreme makeover, the 2011 Kia Optima has emerged from its anonymous cocoon to be a striking butterfly of a family sedan. With sleek styling, substantial power and plenty of value, the latest Optima is an instant standout among its many rivals.”
Edmunds.com (Read the full review here)

“Today, the redesigned 2011 Kia Optima boasts sharp styling, competent driving dynamics and a cabin that leapfrogs other family sedans — and could stay in the lead for years to come.”

“Extravagant amenities, smart styling and, in all likelihood, good value stand to lift the car… The Optima’s slice [of the family mid-size sedan market] is poised to get bigger, and deservedly so.”
Cars.com (read the full review here)

“The 2011 Kia Optima is as all-new as it gets, offering sharper interior and exterior styling, new engine options (including a turbocharged variant) and new tech-savvy features”

“The 2011 Kia Optima backs up its standout styling with driving dynamics and an equipment list that outclass most of its competitors’. And price is still a strong suit.”

“Feature for feature, the Optima offers more for the money than competitors like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion.”
KBB.com (read the full review here)

The 2011 Kia Optima can be found at a number of car dealerships in and around Louisville, KY. You can schedule a test drive by visiting their sites (below):

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