2011 Kia Optima Beats Accord in Comparison
May 13th, 2011 by Armaan Almeida
Most industry insiders quipped that it simply was the classic question of when, not if, the aging Accord would be dethroned from its space on the proverbial podium in which it occupied for so long. And at the business-end of the sword is Kia’s all-new Optima. Consumer Reports has ranked the 2011 Optima ahead of the 2011 Honda Accord in a recent comparison test between the two four-cylinder midsize sedans.
The restyled Optima earned praise from the influential publication, with special note given to its handling, transmission and controls.
The EPA raings for the 2.4-liter 2011 Optima at 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the six-speed manual, 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with the six-speed automatic. It should be noted that Consumer Reports managed a combined 25 mpg from the automatic-equipped car in its own testing.
Topping Consumer Reports’ overall sedan rankings was the 2011 Nissan’s Altima, followed by the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the Toyota Camry.
The standard, non-turbocharged Optima carries a base MSRP of $18,995-$25,995, depending on trim level and options. By contrast, the four-cylinder 2011 Accord starts at $21,180.
