Used 2011 Kia Optima Consumer Reviews
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Kia Optima EX 2011
wdhutch, 01/21/2011
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
First noticed car at Boston Auto Show was able to test drive one there. Really enjoyed it and decided that this was the car to go with, had been looking at a couple of others but this car seems to have a lot of value for the money.
My first new car.
pacoug, 01/31/2011
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've driven a succession of Maximas, Infinitis and a couple other decent 4 doors, all bought used with moderate miles. This time I went for new for similar money, to see the difference. I must say, a G37 or Maxima is a lot more car than this--but look at the sticker of a new one. I find in most situations the lower power of the 4 is more than enough to get the job done, even if not as thrilling as a 3.7 liter Nissan 6. It sure is a thrill at both the gas pump and the insurance counter. I get 10 more mpg with this car than I did with my last. It has a great warranty while my previous car had no warranty. Cost of ownership: far lower!
FROM A NIGHTMARE TO AN OPTIMA
d2dv, 08/08/2011
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had a Land Rover Discovery that was a constant pain that wouldnt go away. Now I have an OPTIMA and I couldnt be happier. I test drove the Accord, Camry, Focus, Cruze, and others... OPTIMA is hands down the best out of any of these. Tons of features are included in even the base model. I got the extended 100K bumper to bumper warranty just for added piece of mind and I still paid under $25K out the door. Already have 2000 miles and I am averaging 29 mpg!! Less than the stated mpg but much better than the 11mpg I was getting on the Rover. Im probably getting the KIA Sportage when our minivan finally gives up.
Real Pleasure to Drive
jillyfish, 03/24/2012
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Former Lincoln owner, this car is fun and comfortable! Fantastic value.
Very Happy with my 2011 Kia Optima
devildawg1, 08/24/2011
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have had our Optima for 5 months and are pleased with it. The MPG is excellent. We took a trip from Illinois through Pennsylvania and then down to Myrtle Beach and back to IL. We averaged just over 35 MPG for highway driving. This is corrected as the computer reads a little higher than we actually receive. We typically were driving 65 - 75 MPH. I am 6'4" tall and I fit very comfortably driving. I can even stretch my legs straight out if I need to stretch them. The trunk is large. I play golf so one of my expectations is that I can get 4 sets of golf clubs in the trunk. With this vehicle it is not a problem.
Best ever sedan
Don P, 05/10/2018
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Continuously maintained
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Awesome College Car!
optima11, 10/17/2022
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I got the 2011 Optima in 2019 with ~80k miles, and for cheap since nobody wants the manual transmission! It has 110+k miles on it now. It burns oil, but besides that only had to keep up with regular maintenance. It’s fun enough to satisfy my car enthusiasm for now, and still plenty of room for moving lots of stuff and people. Also recommended the Injen CAI for this car, it sounds great!
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Engine blew out :(
Kathryn McDuff, 10/02/2016
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
Engine died mid-may 2016. I was driving down a 40 mph, relatively busy, street when I tried accelerating (after light turned green I was able to speed up to about 35, then let go of accelerator before attempting to accelerate again) and noticed my car wouldn't react/accelerate. Immediately panicked and pulled into a parking lot before I stopped up traffic. Battery was fine, but engine was not running. Turned car off and tried starting it back up.. no luck. None of my friends who came to help me out could get it started. Awful experience, needless to say. I go to college 1.5 hrs away from my family.. mom had to drive to come get me (after having to uber my way around town for a week) to go home to get a new car, because you need one to get around my city. Ended up leasing a new car with toyota, which was a big learning process for me. Now I'm having to pay this lease and car shop expenses. My parents got the optima for me in high school to last me throughout the my high school senior year, college, and so on.. until I obviously graduate and can afford whatever car I'd like to purchase on my own. I'm graduating this December 2016 and now I'm stuck with a 3 year lease with a car I was most willing to pay to drive for 3 years (this happened mid-May 2016). I ADORED my optima. I still boast about the car and how much I loved it. I was, still am, devastated about my optima that I had for 5 years. THE BEST THING ABOUT IT ALL... kia sends out letters to 2011 optima owners just a little over a month after I signed my lease saying they were extending warranties to WELL more than the mileage I even had on my car (62,000). My poor car was only auctioned off for $2000. Buying a new engine was beyond what we were willing to pay. Yet because kia sent this letter JUST after my optima died on me, I was left in the dust. Long story, sorry, Im still bitter lol. I don't think this will stop me from ever purchasing another kia in the future, because I really did love my optima and it fit my driving needs so perfectly. But I know, better than ever, especially after learning the ins and outs of leasing cars, how important it is to do insane amounts of research on the product. Just beware, don't purchase this model unless you are certain the engine has been or can be replaced before it's yours. No one wants to get stranded and screwed into spending money they shouldn't be having to spend..
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Parts prices are rediculous.
Kelly Conroy, 12/12/2017
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
My daughter 2011 Optima needs a new Ignition switch. I called the auto parts and they are $450.00 Really ? That's outrageous ! Never buy one of these cars. She has constant problems with it.
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No more Kia for me
D~, 10/04/2018
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
I went from a Mountaineer to the KIA Optima. HUGE shock! The dealership I used wasn't the best. What is owed is not what car is worth. The BEST is the gas mileage.. If you don't have kids or pets and want a semi luxury type car, then the Optima may be for you.
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Wow!
Optima A Beautiful Thorn, 07/17/2021
2011 Kia Optima Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
The Kia Optima "Hybrid is a Beautiful Thorn " so bad mechanics make up all kinds of stories not to be bothered.Under 40 miles an hour it drives like a dream quiet shuts of at light wow perfect car for a teen? Infact you dont even know the car is on. So whats the proublem First things first got the car the nextday I took it to Kia of Rockwall to have the car inspected checked for recalls oil change They found nothing so they said well they mentioned that the computer might need replaceing oneday? Great so we're good? so we thought.In less then a week the Car loos speed between 60-80 as if the cars stuck in first Gear sort of like Learning to drive a stick shift for the first time? A week ago we had the tranmission changed After driving it for 30 min it doing the same thing but worse than before. Now this is the second time only this time the engine light and the wrench light dosent come on at all wow. I also notice that their appered to be little to no power registering on the gage that represents the batery and or the traid of between the engine and the batery. I joined the Omptima forum com. only to find out I was band for soan so they say.
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Had many cars, never one this bad
Nic.B, 10/12/2021
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have had a base model kia optima with the 6 speed transmission now for about 8 months and ive never hated driving untill driving this. Ive never had another car that I could drive for 2 hours and get out twice as sore and uncomfortable as when I got in. The throttle is incredibly touchy and coupled with the delay in throttle it makes it very difficult to take off smoothly or even travel at slow speeds smoothly. The only reason this review gets two stars is because of the ride quality. It handles rough new brunswick roads well, the ride is comparable to my 1984 Lincoln town car. Very smooth, but handles terrible and body roll even on a daily basis is enough to make you sea sick... All in all I cant wait to run it over with our front end loader when its day comes.
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MPG not even close
td007, 02/22/2012
2011 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Normal driving you'll be lucky to get 19mpg. Thought with a range of 24-34 it would fall some place in between. Otherwise it is a fun car. With all the bells and whistles it is comparable to a car that costs $20k more.
K.I.A. Keep It Away
JL, 06/14/2018
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Cheap made with cheap parts. Good looks is all it’s got.
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My Last KIA EVER
Jim Feuda, 03/30/2021
updated 04/01/2022
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
My title tells it all. I will never purchase, rent, or lease any type of Korean auto again. EVER!!!
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sold car at big lost called kia
DAVID WILLIAMS, 07/16/2018
updated 05/11/2022
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
car is junk called kia no help had 60000 miles started having prolems.. kia car was junk.. car was stalling. dealer could not find cause ...
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Blown Away
dakota001, 08/08/2011
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I was looking at Lexus, Acura, Accord EX recently and drove by a KIA Dealership. I remember a friend had purchased a KIA years ago and put over 300,000 miles on it with virtually no problems. I was blown away at the Optima. It is elegant, refined, stylish and reasonably priced. After the test drive, I called my credit union and drove it home immediately. The next day when I went to sign the paperwork for my loan at the Credit Union, there two more new Optimas in the parking lot. The loan officers came out to look at them and were all oooohing and aahhhing. I LOVE my Optima
Excellent Value
takmac, 12/03/2011
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
My Optima EX 2011 was purchased in Indy about 4 mo ago. My original dream was a 4 yr old Lexus ES350, but after a lot of looking, comparing and driving all of the alternatives, I finally decided on the Optima for its value, long warranty, options and comfort. For what I would have paid for an upscale used car, I got a ton of great options. Mine is loaded; love the panoramic roof, heated and cooled seats, Nav, and engine. The Infinity stereo is awesome. Fit and finish is excellent. I like it much better than my siblings Fusion and Taurus. The rear-seat entry is way better than the Fords, and trunk space is more than sufficient. Ride is very good, engine quiet and road noise is acceptable.
Engine oil dissapears
Carl, 01/18/2020
2011 Kia Optima EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Looses oil but there are no leaks 3 different dealerships have 3 different opinions about how to troubleshoot it
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Loved my 2011 hated the dim headlights!!
Barby, 07/05/2021
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Loved the 2011 Kia Optima the headlights were so dim I could not see at night !! Mine is not the only one read the reviews about the headlights! Then it started to drink oil really really badly! Then the ball joints went one after the other, I only had 82,000 miles on it. I traded it in for a different comfortable car. The car looks nice but had mega problems!!
Need moe refinement
jerryjerry, 02/22/2011
2011 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 8 people found this review helpful
Performance -- most good, but power and transmission appears to be out of sync. Comfort -- the noise level is higher than camry and accord. Value -- though it has more features, it still could be priced more competitive. Fun to Drive -- as mentioned before. the engine and transmission appears to be out of sync. Engine power does not translate to overall performance. Some what loud noise from engine. Interior Design -- Overall good Exterior Design -- This is subjective. Overall it looks good, my only concern is the profile doesn't look that attractive. Build Quality -- Appears good, however, it's a Kia. time will tell. Reliablity -- Again, it's a Kia. It's know for minor issues.