|
The 4-cylinder Optima has an excellent blend of comfort,
refinement, quality, and value. It rides and handles well, gets very good
gas mileage, and has the lowest price of any car in this group. No flaws
stand out from this well-rounded, well-priced car.
The Optima has a somewhat firm but well-controlled and
comfortable ride. It handles well, with responsive steering and
well-controlled body roll, but it isn’t exactly fun to drive. The 2.4-liter
I4 offers sufficient power, and is smooth and mostly quiet; almost as good
as the pricier and less fuel-efficient V6 version. Wind and road noise are
also well-suppressed. Gas mileage is very good.
Inside, the Optima is roomy and comfortable. The front
seats are well-shaped and supportive, and while the rear isn’t especially
roomy, the seat is mounted high and angled properly to make the best use of
the available space.
 The
interior is very nice for this price point, well-constructed using
high-quality materials. The instruments are well laid-out and simple to use,
and the gauges are large and clear. Drivers sit comfortably and have
excellent visbility. Entry/exit is easy enough, but larger rear-seat
footwells would help a bit. The trunk isn’t particularly roomy, but it’s
well-shaped.
The Optima reviewed here came in well-equipped at $16,640,
well-equipped with active head restraints, a tire-pressure monitor, alloy
wheels, and traction and stability control.
The Optima is an excellent midsize sedan priced alongside
compact cars. It is comfortable and quiet, with a well-constructed interior.
Everything but the Kia badge defies the stereotypes about budget-priced
cars.
1st Place (TIE): Hyundai Sonata 2.4
The Sonata is very
similar to the Kia Optima in many ways, differing primarily in two ways: the
Sonata is roomier, and the Optima is more refined, agile, and
well-constructed. Had either car combined those strengths, it would have run
away with the win, but as it is, choose the Sonata if you need the extra
rear-seat and trunk space that it provides, and the Optima if you don’t.
The Sonata has a soft,
comfortable, and absorbent ride. The car handles well enough, and the
steering is responsive and provides some feedback, but the Sonata is far
from a sports sedan, and not quite as agile as the smaller Optima. The
2.4-liter I4, shared with the Optima, is worked a bit harder in the heavier
Sonata, but remains sufficiently powerful and refined. Wind noise and road
noise is well-suppressed. Fuel economy is also a bit behind the Optima, but
still good by this group’s high standards.
Inside, the Sonata’s
front seats are high, well-shaped, supportive, and very comfortable, and
there is plenty of head space even with the optional sunroof. The rear is
also very roomy, and the seat is high and well-shaped there as well.
 The
dash uses high-quality materials that fit together very well, but the
interior isn’t quite as nice as the Optima’s. The gauges are clear, and the
instruments are well-placed and easy to use. Drivers sit comfortably, and
visibility is excellent, thanks to high seating and particularly large
windows with narrow roof pillars. The high roof, wide door openings, and
large rear footwells contribute to very easy entry/exit. The trunk is roomy
and well-shaped.
The Sonata reviewed here
came in at $16,924, well-equipped. At that price, it includes active head
restraints, a tire-pressure monitor, traction and stability control, and
satellite radio.
Overall, both first-place
cars, the Sonata and the Kia Optima, are $1,000 less than the group’s next
cheapest car, and are much nicer and much better-equipped. Many cars in this
group have distinct strengths that call attention to themselves, but none
are inarguably better. Whatever you want in an inexpensive midsize sedan,
start your search with these two.
NEXT PAGE
|
