Consider it a knockout performance: In a recent head-to-head battle between two mainstream middleweights, conducted by the team of experts at Consumer Reports, the all-new Kia Optima took on—and then took down—the Honda Accord.
According to CR, the Kia won the day based on its performance in five key areas:
- Handling—Riding on an all-new, stiffer platform, the Optima boasts independent front and rear suspensions, with
- MacPherson struts at the fore and a multi-link setup aft, along with coil springs and a front anti-roll bar.
- Transmission—All Optimas (except the four-cylinder LX entry model) leverage Kia’s proprietary six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic clutchless shifting.
- Controls—Ergonomically designed seating and switchgear combine to give drivers simple, easy-to-access control over the Optima’s vehicle systems.
- Fuel economy—The Optima posts an EPA line of up to 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway/28 combined, and even the high-performance Optima turbo, with 274 hp under the hood, can reach 22 mpg city/34 mpg highway.
- Safety—Packed with standard safety features, the Optima is both a Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the first Korean-built car to earn a five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The CR kudos are just the latest for the stylish new Optima, which also has been named one of the “Top 10 Cars to Look Forward to in 2011” by Carsdirect.com, “Best New Model” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, among the “Best of 2011” by Cars.com, a member of the “Edmunds InsideLine.com Editor’s Most Wanted” list, a Consumer Guide Automotive “Best Buy,” and part of the Ward’s “10 Best Interiors” rankings.
The award-winning 2011 Kia Optima is on sale now.
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