2011 Kia Optima Test Drive

After taking a spin in the all new 2011 Kia Optima at Raymond Kia on Route 173 in Antioch, IL, I must say, "Kia, you've come a long way baby." Color me impressed with this new midsized sedan from Kia. The 2011 Optima is packed with features that you couldn't touch in a midsize sedan at the $20,000 price point range.

I drove a Optima LX that was priced at $21,700. This isn't the highest trim-level Optima, but it is very nicely equipped. The cloth seats fit my 5'3" frame perfectly. While I am a short adult, I had more than adequate room and a larger adult would have no problem feeling comfortable in the ergonomically designed cabin.

The Optima came with all of the features I look for in any vehicle. Steering wheel controls include stereo volume/band/station control and cruise control. The stereo came complete with Siruis Satalite Radio, CD player, and Bluetooth. In the dash is a USB port as well as a DC outlet. The dash dials are very well configured and very easy to read.

In the cavernous back seat, most adults would feel comfortable and not have issues riding in the back seat.

During my ride, I drove over 2 sets of railroad tracks. In my SUV, the railroad tracks can shake you to the bone. In the Optima, I barely felt the tracks. The suspension is so refined and so smooth, the Optima is like driving even, newly paved roads, even in Northern Illinois where potholes

I always think that 4 cylander engines have no pep. Often you sacrafice fuel efficency for any kind of speed. So not true in the Optima. I was consistenly zipping off the line at stop lights. I also had to seriously watch my speed as I found myself going 60 in a 45 mile-per-hour zone! The Optima gets 24 miles per gallon in the city and a whopping 34 on the highway.

I honestly can't say enough about the Optima. I think Kia has hit a home run with the vehicle. It consistently outsells it's sister car, the Hyundai Sonata in Asia and we wonder if that trend will continue in North America.

We have Optimas arriving daily at Raymond Kia. Stop into our dealership located on Route 173 in Antioch and speak with one of our Kia consultants and test drive an Optima today. Or view our Optima inventory by clicking on this link here.

Click on the links below for reviews of the 2011 Kia Optima from Car and Drive, The Washington Post, TheCarConnection.com, and Edmunds.

Car and Driver's Review

Washington Post Review

The CarConnection.com Review

Edmunds Review

GM to incoporate Powermat technology into new vehicles

GM announced a $5 million investment with PowerMat to bring wireless charging to your vehicle. Basically, GM would install an inductive charging mat to vehicles that would eliminate the need for cell phone chargers in your vehicle.

The hope is that the PowerMat will be available in the 2012 model year begining with the Chevrolet Volt and high-end GM offerings, such as Cadillac, and eventually be rolled out to all GM vehicles. As models are refreshed or redesigned, the PowerMat will be incorporated into the interior. The PowerMat will likely be an option included in a premium stereo package.

As soon as Raymond Chevrolet, your Lake County Chevrolet dealer, begins to get in vehicles equipped with the PowerMat technology, we will keep you posted!

Car and Driver Article
Gas 2.0 Article

The Chevy Volt Named Car of the year!

It's offical. The Chevrolet Volt has been named the "North American Car of the Year" by the panel of 49 automotive journalists throughout North America. The Volt was given 233 points versus the completely electric Nissan Leaf, which only recieved an overall 94 points. It represents the first time an electric vehicle, or EV, has won the presigous award.

"We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first Volts, here at Raymond Chevrolet," stated Mark Scarpelli, owner and president of Lake County's own Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch. Raymond Chevrolet should be seeing Volt's arriving sometime this spring.

The Volt beat out several competitors, including the highly touted Hyundai Sonata. Below is a complete list of 2011 North American Car of the Year Semi-Finalists:
Audi A8
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai Sonata
Infiniti M37/56
Jaguar XJ
Kia Optima
Mazda 2
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Volkswagen Jetta
Volvo S60

To read the press release regarding the Volt as 2011 Car of the Year, click here.

Or watch the following video to see the award announcement.

Great Testimonial from Marge Olsen - A Satisfied Raymond Custoemr