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