Overview & Reviews

The Kia Optima is a completely redesigned model for 2011.

• Lengthy warranty.
• Impressive value
• Powerful and fuel-efficient engines
• Good ride/handling balance
• Handsome cabin
• Top safety scores
• Copious features

• Disappointing real-world fuel economy and driving experience for hybrid
• Numb steering.
• Can be tight on headroom

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 91.00

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  My SX experience - 2011 Kia Optima
  By 72roadrunner - January 14 - 8:29 am

  I love this car. Handles great and has excellent power whether using ECO mode or regular mode. I am getting 30mpg overall combined city and hwy with about 50/50 of each. This car has the interior room of a much bigger car. I have extra long legs and I still fit in this car great, and there is room for someone to sit behind me with my seat all the way back the way I need it. This isnt true for many cars. The truck is also bigger than other large cars I have driven/owned. I love that people cant figure out what kind of car this is at first glance. That will probably change as more show up on the road, but for now I feel I am driving an exclusive luxury automobile, that runs on regular!

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  Gas Mileage SUCKS! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By westca - January 3 - 5:38 am

  I purchased the EX Premium package and love the panoramic dual sunroof, heated steering wheel, colled and heated seats and the rest. The car does sound like a go-kart (as others have posted) and I am very upset with the 21 mpg (mostly hwy) gas mileage after 2000 miles. Dealer said I need to break it in more, yet I do not read that in the owners manual and wish that was disclosed to me before my purchase! Reading reviews it seems this low gas mileage is a common issue, and hopefully KIA or EPA will do something about it! False advertising and a lemon!

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  Optimum Optima - 2011 Kia Optima
  By rockinrn - November 24 - 9:11 am

  Just picked up my new 2011 Kia Optima EX. It is Snow White Pearl with grey leather interior. After driving the car for a few days I can say that it is great value for the money with better than average performance. The six speed automatic shifts smoothly and quickly. The 200 HP four cylinder engine has performance that is adequate for all but the most speed obsessed driver. The car has an amazing amount of front leg room. My 6 4" frame has room to spare and that is highly unusual in any car regardless of price. The fit and finish as well as the quality of the materials is top notch . Great car so far, but I still cant figure out the mood lighting in the armrests.

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  Best Midsize Car for 2011 Update #1 - 2011 Kia Optima
  By dankocke - September 13 - 7:49 pm

  So I too have noticed the left pull issue after a few days of driving. This is a known problem by Kia with no good fix for it YET. This problem is not found on all Optimas but only a select few. Please test drive your car on the highway at speeds more than 65mph. My left pull is pronounced but not ridiculous. I did call Kia Custoomer Service and they are very helpful. If you open a case file with them on this issue they will guide you and the dealers through a preliminary fix until Kia engineers figure out a better fix. Gas mileage has been 28 mpg on all 4 tank fill ups in mixed mostly highway driving. Overall still love the car. NAV traffic is great!

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  dont drive it as you would drive Prius - 2011 Kia Optima
  By doryhan - April 14 - 10:14 am

  My other (or previous) cars: Ford Taurus V6 Chrysler PT-CRUISER I4 Cadillac DHS V8 I have owned and been driving Optima Hybrid (OH) for a month, filling up the tank twice. MPG: first tank 34.5MPG second tank 35.5MPG (99% city: the car computer indicates the average speed 22.2MPH) At the beginning, I tried to drive the optima the way I would drive a Prius - slow acceleration, no sudden stops, obsessively use EV mode (or try to use). But that does not help you with MPG. (more talks continued in "Suggested improvements")

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  What fun! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By richie46 - December 30 - 11:47 am

  Weve had it 2 weeks, 800 miles. Great car, especially considers all the features vs. cost. In shopping, this was the first we tried. Then drove Accord and Fusion. Optima easily surpassed those. Were were going to look at Mazda6, Altima and Camry too, but we liked the Optima so much we decided to curtail shopping.

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  It is cool, not expensive and.....it is a hybrid!!!!!!!! - 2011 Kia Optima
  By luisguido - November 18 - 2:40 pm

  I am a Hybrid guy (previously owned a Prius, then a Camry, the a Fusion and finally an Insight (I average 28000 miles per year). I bought my Optima Hybrid three weeks ago and I already drove 2,765 miles. Guys with this car you can have all of the above: the Camry comfort, the Fusion solidity, the Insight low price, and if you drive your Optima Hybrid by placing an egg between you foot and the accelerator, you can get 32/38/43 miles per gallon - trust me, I get that all the time.

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  A Class Leader - 2011 Kia Optima
  By cpurick - October 19 - 12:52 pm

  Ive had several Audis and VWs. I was immediately taken by the Optimas styling, inside and out. It was only later that I learned it was designed by a former Audi chief designer. The Optima is a European styled version of the Hyundai Sonata, with which it shares many parts. The formula is similar to Acuras TSX, which is sold in Europe as the Honda Accord. Fit and finish are very good to excellent. Styled like an Audi, but built like an Accord. Much nicer inside than a Camry. The 200hp 4-cylinder is more than enough for a 3300lb car. Despite head-turning lines, this is not an Autobahn cruiser -- its a conventional midsize sedan, albeit a very pleasant one to spend time in.

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  2011 Optima EX w/ Premium Package - 2011 Kia Optima
  By arumage - July 16 - 12:03 am

  So far, Im really enjoying my new Optima. It looks great and the features are awesome. It has enough power for any driving that I do and so far is returning about 27 mpg in mixed driving even though its not fully broken in yet. It really loved being driven steadily between 45 and 55mph. The trip computer says its getting about 39mpg at those speeds, although I hear its a little optimistic.

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  7 months / 14,000 miles - 2011 Kia Optima
  By we_will_see - July 4 - 9:10 am

  Have had my Optima EX turbo/loaded for 7 mo. now and have driven over 14,000 miles. Still like this care very much, I live in NE Ohio and it drives great in the snow. Had to drive through a snow storm in Indiana on my way home from Chicago and it handled great on the highway. Love the heated seats and steering wheel, great on those cold mornings. Defrost works fast & well, as does the rear defrost/mirror heaters. Handling & performance are excellent, very sure footed. Transmission is great also. Love the nav/blue tooth/voice activation etc. Every thing is really easy to use. My only complaint would be the stiff seat but heard they fixed in 2012 models. Overall great car!