| Model year | 2011 |
| Make | Kia |
| Model | Optima |
| Style | SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) |
| Base MSRP | $25,995 |
| Options on test vehicle | Premium Package ($2,150 -- includes panoramic sunroof, four-way power front passenger seat, two-way driver seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated outboard rear seats); Technology Package ($2,000 -- includes navigation system with back-up camera, Infinity audio system with eight speakers). |
| As-tested MSRP | $30,840 |
| Drive type | Front-wheel Drive |
| Engine type | Turbocharged, direct-injected inline-4, gasoline |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 1,998/122 |
| Block/head material | Aluminum/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, four valves per cylinder, variable intake + exhaust-valve timing |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 9.5 |
| Redline (rpm) | 6,500 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 274 @ 6,000 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 269 @ 1,750 |
| Fuel type | 87-octane recommended |
| Transmission type | Six-speed automatic with console shifter and steering-mounted paddles |
| Transmission and axle ratios (x:1) | I = 4.65; II = 2.83; III = 1.84; IV = 1.39; V = 1.00; VI = 0.77; R = 3.39; Final = 2.89 |
| Suspension, front | Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, rear | Independent multilink, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar |
| Steering type | Electric-assist, speed-proportional, rack-and-pinion power steering |
| Tire brand | Nexen |
| Tire model | Classe Premiere CP 662 |
| Tire type | All-season (35 psi cold front; 35 psi cold rear) |
| Tire size, front | P225/45R18 95V |
| Tire size, rear | P225/45R18 95V |
| Wheel size | 18-by-7.5 inches front and rear |
| Wheel material | Cast aluminum |
| Brakes, front | 12.6-inch ventilated with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 11.2-inch solid with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) | 2.8 |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 4.4 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 6.5 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 9.2 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 14.6 @ 98.4 |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 6.1 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 31 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 125 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 62.7 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 0.80 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 43.9 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 70.3 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 63.9 |
| Acceleration comments | Accelerates equally quick regardless of method, or whether stability control is on or off. Upshifts for itself at 6,000 rpm for the 1-2 and at 6,200 for the 2-3. Launches with zero fuss, then the turbo comes on hard and spins the front tires dramatically at 3,500-4,000 rpm. Manual shifting via steering wheel paddles or console lever; does not hold gears; does not blip throttle on downshifts. |
| Braking rating | Average |
| Braking comments | Firm pedal, but not a lot of feel as to what the tires were doing. This improved somewhat on later runs. Tires felt slippery. Significant amount of nosedive; light tail with minor amount of wagging. |
| Handling rating | Average |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: Where's the grip? Nexen tires made the Optima feel like it was attempting to turn on ice. Good ability to dial out understeer with drop-throttle, though, and car would rotate slightly. With ESC on, could bury the throttle and system would cut power to keep on intended arc, but it overcompensated for the slippery tires and this proved very slow. Slalom: Steering has good weighting, but feels a bit rubbery. Has quick turn-in and the chassis is willing to rotate, helping it change directions around the cones. But unlike its Hyundai Sonata 2.0T cousin, the Kia's ESC system cannot be completely defeated and as such, it cuts in slightly even in "Off" mode, slowing the time. Tires seemed to overheat and get greasy within a few runs. |
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| Temperature (°F) | 52.1 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 52.4 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | 3.75, Cross |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 22 city/34 highway/26 combined |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 19.7 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 18.5 |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 3,385 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 3,535 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 59.7/40.3 |
| Length (in.) | 190.7 |
| Width (in.) | 72.0 |
| Height (in.) | 57.3 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 110.0 |
| Track, front (in.) | 62.6 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 62.6 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 35.8 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 45.5 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 34.6 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 40.0 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 37.6 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 57.3 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 55.7 |
| Seating capacity | 2 |
| Cargo volume (cu-ft) | 15.4 |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 5 years/100,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Dual front |
| Head airbags | Front and rear |
| Antilock brakes | Four-wheel ABS |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Braking assist, braking assist |
| Traction control | Traction control |
| Stability control | Stability control |
| Tire-pressure monitoring system | Tire-pressure monitoring |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | Not tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | Not tested |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | Not tested |
| IIHS offset | Not tested |
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