Day-by-Day Review: 2011 Kia Optima SX

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2011 Kia Optima

Day 1

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From one turbo car to another, but in a totally different class of vehicle. This week, I’m behind the wheel of Kia’s new Optima (replacement for the Magentis line) and close cousin to the Hyundai Sonata. My tester is an SX model, which comes in only one guise — fully loaded!

For just under $35,000, what does Kia consider fully loaded? You won’t want for much in this vehicle, that is for sure.

Standard features include heated and cooled front seats, navigation system with a 530-watt, eight-speaker Infinity sound system, Bluetooth hands free, power heated mirrors, power seats, auto dimming rear view mirror, rear-view camera, HID headlamps and LED tail lamps, six airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control, leather interior, 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, heated rear seats and a smart key with push-button start.

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Phew! That really is a lot of stuff standard, and without even mentioning the 274-horsepower, 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline direct injected (DGI) engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift, paddle shifters and ECO mode.

Here we have a large family sedan loaded to the nines with goodies, with tons of power on tap and an energuide rating of 9.2L/100km city and 5.8L/100km highway, coming in at an MSRP of $33,695! I’m not really sure what more consumers could ask for; I guess we’ll see if I still like it in one week’s time.

2011 Kia Optima SX
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $33,695

For more information on Kia and the Optima visit Kia Canada

Day 2

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It wasn’t very long ago I had the chance to drive the 2011 Kia Optima in EX Luxury spec. In fact, it was only June of this year, so my impressions of this car differ little from that one. Looking back on that review, though, I realized that was was priced at $32,095!

What does this mean? It means for $1,600 more you get more content, a more upscale look and a more advanced and powerful engine. Really? Wow!

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As I mentioned in June, the interior of the Optima differs quite a bit from that of the Hyundai Sonata. The dash is angled towards the driver and offers up a cockpit-type feel usually reserved for sports cars, and very reminiscent of Saab.

Control and comfort is the theme on the inside, with a very ergonomic setup and easy-to-reach-and-use controls for the audio and HVAC systems. On the comfort side, power adjustable driver and passenger seats make the front occupants happy, while rear occupants can warm their buns in relative comfort as well.

The navigation system is a nice add on package and even had maps for my new subdivision. And as an added bonus you can program it while you drive, unlike most manufacturers’ systems, which lock you out so you cannot operate the system while in motion. Opinions will vary, I know, but I would rather be able to control the system while in motion.

The leather-trimmed dash, panoramic sunroof and interior space and refinement make the Optima feel like a much more expensive car than it is.

Day 3

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When I reviewed the Optima EX Luxury in June, I noted that, like every Kia I had driven before, the throttle response was just too touchy. This resulted in spinning tires and frequent traction control intervention, and I noted that they seemed to engineer the car this way so that its responsiveness would impress during a buyer’s typical short test drive.

Well, with the SX’s extra power (274 hp), Kia has apparently listened to my complaint: gone is the touchy throttle response, and it has been replaced with what I would call normal. If you press the “ECO” button, you get an even less sensitive throttle, which promotes smoother starts and results in better fuel efficiency.

The rest of the Optima driving experience seems very much the same; without a back-to-back comparison it is difficult to tell if this model exhibits different on-road characteristics than the EX.

But this SX model certainly offers up a sporty ride, with controlled rebound on bumpy roads and a smooth ride on the highway. The steering is nicely weighted, although feedback from the front tires is low, making it difficult to identify understeer in hard cornering.

As mentioned, the engine is strong, offering more than enough power for buyers looking for a sensible family sedan with some style.

Day 4

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I am a little confused about the trip computer in the Kia Optima. I have tested a lot of cars, and typically the difference between the calculated fuel consumption and the computer’s read out is less than one per cent. This week, though, the on-board computer seemed to reset each morning until Wednesday.

As a result a week of driving, 420km showed on the odometer and a very impressive 7.6L/100km displayed on the gauge cluster.

But I filled the vehicle with 38L of fuel, resulting in more or less 9 L/100km — quite a difference from 7.6, even if I wasn’t handed a completely full vehicle at the start of the week.

So it is not 7.6 L/100km, but nine is not horrible either for a vehicle with 274hp and enough room to seat four adults comfortably. I’ll be taking this vehicle to Niagara-on-the-Lake, for AJAC’s annual testfest, and I’ll report back with highway numbers upon my return.

Update: I actually averaged 6.5L/100km on return trip from Niagara-on-the-lake, very impressive indeed!

*Rating out of 5: