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US-specs Kia Optima 2011 arrives, sales begins this fall

Kia officially announced it plans to commence the sales of its 2011 Optima mid-size sedan within few weeks.

The redesigned Optima will go on sale with a choice of all-new 2.4L GDI and 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engines, and will also offer, for the first time, the carmaker’s  brand-new hybrid powertrain.

First previewed at the 2010 New York Auto Show earlier this year, the hot-selling Optima is now ready to hit the U.S. Kia dealerships, says Kia of USA.

According to the most recent news reports, Kia Optima should appear at Kia stores across the States in early fall. It will go on sale with a choice of 2.4L GDI and 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engines and Kia’s first-ever hybrid powertrain.

The 2011 Optima was designed at Kia’s European and US design studios under the guidance of former Audi designer, Peter Schreyer. The all-new mid-size sedan from Kia Motors features impressive styling highlighted by a dynamic and streamlined profile that conveys elegance and athletic confidence from every angle.

Continue your read for the official press release of US-spec 2011 Kia Optima four-door sedan..

2011 Kia Optima exterior: sleek and streamlined exterior

The 2011 Kia Optima projects a high–performance yet elegant image with its unique silhouette and sleek stance that builds upon Kia Motors’ philosophy of creating high quality and dynamic vehicles that evoke passion.

The striking face of Optima features Kia’s signature bold tabbed grille that is surrounded by projector headlamps. Longer, wider and lower than before, Optima’s coupe–like profile is enhanced by a sweeping chrome arc that flows from the A through C pillars, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further and enhances its proportions.

Optima’s roofline connects with its high and pronounced shoulder line that leads to its sculpted flanks and extended wheelbase. Boldly flared wheel arches and a raked cabin create a sedan with a graceful muscular stance.

2011 Optima interior

From the moment the door opens, Optima presents an immediate sense of a driver’s car. The instrument panel is contoured toward the driver to suggest a cockpit feel with precise gauges and controls for an overall sport performance experience without sacrificing comfort or roominess. Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel convey that Optima is built for people who are passionate about cars.

A high console with a short shifter adds to the cockpit perception while an available panoramic sunroof provides an open–air feeling. Offering occupants both space and comfort with a number of standard convenience features, the sedan’s chic cabin unifies with the exterior design by welcoming its passengers with lean and ergonomic seat design and effective storage throughout.

Modern standard features such as a six–way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, illuminated vanity mirrors with a ticket holder and a trip computer further expand the cabin’s luxurious qualities.

In addition to offering a comfortable cabin, impressive technology features also come standard throughout, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service1 .

Also standard on all trims are auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting with MP3 players and Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel–mounted voice activation controls to enable hands–free operation for compatible mobile phones.

Additional standard interior features include a tilt/telescopic steering column, power door locks, power windows, sun visor extension and a cooling glove box. Stylishly appointed cloth seats provide comfortable seating while a 60/40 split–folding rear seat offers multiple seating and cargo arrangements depending on driver and passenger needs. Optima LX with automatic transmission features cruise control and an active system for optimal fuel efficient driving.

2011 Optima EX comes well–equipped and offers premium standard features, including the UVO powered by Microsoft hands–free in–car entertainment and communication system (expected to be available in select Kia models in the U.S. later this year) with rear–view camera, push button–start ignition with smart key, dual–zone automatic air conditioning with rear vents, a leather–wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto–dimming rear view mirror with Homelink and compass, auto light control, driver and front passenger automatic window up/down and an eight–way power driver’s seat, illuminated glovebox, rear reading lamps, floor mats and chrome door handles. Moving to the EX Turbo also adds wood interior trim with metal accents for a more luxurious feel.

For consumers looking for even more sporty appeal, the Optima SX adds unique black leather woven seat trim, black interior trim with carbon insert film, Supervision cluster with LCD display, center fascia and meter housing, soft trim with French seams, steering wheel paddle shifters, metal pedals and lighted metal door scuff plates.

For those who seek the latest superior quality technology and convenience features for a modern and comfortable driving experience, the 2011 Optima offers a multitude of packages for each trim.

The Convenience Package (LX A/T only), offers an eight–way power–adjustable driver’s seat and auto–dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, while the LX Technology Package (with Convenience Package) adds the navigation system with back–up camera, an eight–speaker Infinity®6 premium audio system and dual–zone automatic temperature control with rear ventilation.

Moving to the already well–equipped EX trim consumers can opt for the Premium Package, which adds the panoramic sunroof with high–gloss B–pillar, four–way power–adjustable driver’s seat with driver’s seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, wood interior trim and center console and metal–finished shifter.

The EX Technology Package (with Premium Package) adds the navigation system with back–up camera and eight–speaker Infinity premium audio system.

2011 Optima engines & transmissions

The 2011 Optima is available in three all–new and fuel–efficient Theta II powerplants, a 2.4L GDI four–cylinder, a 2.0L GDI turbo or a 2.4L hybrid engine.

The 2.4L GDI engine produces 200 horsepower and upgrading to the available 2.0L turbo GDI engine (EX Turbo and SX models) delivers V6–type power with a four–cylinder engine that produces 274 horsepower, while mated to a six–speed automatic transmission.

This represents Kia’s first application of GDI technology, while a 2.4L hybrid Optima will be introduced in 2011. All automatics feature Sportmatic clutchless shifting. A single six–speed manual transmission is available only with the LX four–cylinder model.

Mpg Figures

In addition to impressive performance, both 4-cylinder engines also deliver consumer–friendly fuel economy.

  1. The 2.4L four–cylinder posts 24/35 mpg (city/highway) when mated to the manual transmission and 24/34 mpg when coupled with the automatic transmission.
  2. The 2.0L turbo GDI engine offers 22/34 mpg, only available with the automatic transmission.

Kia Optima Dimensions

The 2011 Optima is distinctive, right down to its all–new platform. Optima’s low, lean and powerful stance is assisted through its overall length of 190.7 inches, an increase of 1.7 inches over the previous model.

Optima is built on a platform with an overall width of 72.1 inches and wheelbase of 110 inches, an increase of 2.9 inches, and has a low ground clearance of 5.3 inches for enhanced aerodynamics.

Optima’s lightweight design uses high–tensile–strength steel to enhance structural strength while also achieving high torsional stiffness, benefiting handling, ride quality and refinement.

Additional measures to help ensure good noise vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction qualities are fitted throughout the car.

Built on a unibody frame, the front–wheel–drive Optima utilizes independent front and rear suspension systems.

MacPherson struts are used in the front with a multi–link layout in the rear and are both joined with coil springs and front anti–roll bars to engage drivers with responsive handling and provide the utmost comfort whether the road is smooth or less than ideal.

Safety Features of Kia Optima 2011

The 2011 Optima is equipped with a high level of standard safety features, as is the rest of the Kia line–up.

This includes six airbags, front active headrests, side–impact door beams, height–adjustable front seatbelts with pre–tensioners, three–point seatbelts for all seating positions, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Four–wheel antilock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a Traction Control System (TCS), a Brake Assist System (BAS) and Hill Assist Control (HAC) also are standard. [Source: KMA]

Kia News Update: The Optima has gotten a 5-star safety rating at most recent crash tests in the USA!

35 thoughts on “US-specs Kia Optima 2011 arrives, sales begins this fall

  1. I’m disappointed you cannot get the SuperVision instrumentation and LED taillights on the EX Turbo with Premier pkg., only on the SE. If you buy the SE, you can only get Black leather. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to test driving.

  2. I’m not sure about the seats or head rests on this model, but Kia made a big screw up with the 2010 Sportage (not the newest 2011 model). The head rests were so far forward we’ve had a lot of customer complaints about them, had people not buy the vehicle because of them, and seen people turn them around to face the opposite way. Fortunately that screw up is no longer around, and hopefully Kia won’t make that mistake on any of their upcoming models.

    Jeff, are you in the USA? They call the package SX in the USA…

  3. I read the same about the seats in the current gen Optima, yet I have one and the seats are fine. Once the leather starts to relax the seats are unbelievably comfy. Three people in the Optima this summer for 12-14 hours per day and we were all comfy in the seats. It is just that our leather is so tight when it comes from the factory. The cloth seat Optimas won’t have that problem.

  4. Seats are a issue on all Kia cars. My Forte has terrible seats and the new Sorento does also. I hope Kia figures out soon that people judge cars by their seat comfort sometimes. Time to send more money to JCI to build better seats.

  5. What about the passengers seat? No power adjustment for it. Same with a Sorento you can spend $34000 on one and get no power passenger seat. Looks like spending 30 for a Optima is the same way. Our wives are not happy.

  6. Greg: Good to hear you found the seats to be fine. I also read a couple of mentions of hard flat seats in recent reviews, although others didnt mention it.

    Jeff: I agree with you on the SX only having Black interior. I’d like to have tan be an option, although the black does look great.

    My biggest issue now is trying to decide between Nav and UVO. I’d like both, but I’m not sure exactly what the pros and cons are. I could buy a portable or use my droid for nav, but integrated is nice to have and it’s a bigger screen.

  7. Scott: Power passenger seat is optional on EX, EX-T, and SX models.

    Dash: Kia will have UVO and navigation in the same unit for sure by the 2012 model year.

  8. Thanks Greg, I found that info after the fact on Kia website.
    Dash my experience with factory navs are not that great. Yes they look cool but they not as good as my garmin gps and much more expensive to upgrade the maps.

  9. I’m disappointed you can’t get a heated steering wheel on the SX yet can’t get HID headlights except on the SX.

  10. When I see the seats, the ‘sporty’ notion created by the exterior styling is diluted. The lateral support isn’t good enough for a sporty car. the bolsters need to be higher. Other than that, I heard that the padding in the seat is insufficient, which eventually lets you feel the seat frame or something. Other than that, I feel this is an extremely exciting car whether you talk about styling, power or the amazing interior layout. Hope it does better than the Sonata because it deserves to.
    .
    Off-topic. I’m already seeing lots of new Sportages here in Dubai (even a few fully loaded ones). It really has good road presence with the new styling.

  11. Speaking of the Sorento, I noticed today that Consumer Reports has added a comment to its overview noting that first year reliability has been average for the V6, better than average for the Four. That means that the car will be called out as a recommended model in the November issue which comes out soon. Dealers take note.

  12. It’s not possible to come up with option packages that will satisfy everyone. Generally I’m pretty pleased with Kia’s choices, but the panoramic sunroof is baffling. I wouldn’t mind a sunroof, but I certainly don’t want half of my roof to be glass. This option has not been well received in any car that sells in significant numbers. A mini van or SUV maybe, but it’s a poor choice for a sedan. Certainly that money could have gone toward more comfortable seating, if that is indeed an issue.

  13. Jeff- you’re welcome. They did have “SE” trim in the early 2000s, but I think it was more of the “special edition” than the Sport that “SX” seems to denote now.

    After reading about the 1.7 CRDi that Europe is getting I’m again jealous that we still don’t have any of the CRDi engines here in the USA. One engine could be used in multiple vehicles, both Hyundai and Kia. So the cost of getting it approved by the DOT or EPA or whatever wouldn’t be a big deal when it’s used on multiple vehicles across two manufacturers…

  14. Les sieges sur la FORTÉ 2010 EX sont inconfortables, par contre sur la SX c’ est trés correct, il y a surement de l’ amélioration à apporter aux sieges quelque soient les véhicules KIA dans le milieu de gamme et bas de gamme, dans le haut de gamme il y a pas de probleme.

    Ce que je regrette encore une fois, c est qu on nous laisse sur notre faim, BRAVO PETER, mais il faudrait que tu penses a nous faire des planches de bord écourantes comme sur les AUDi, ca manque un peu d’ alu, de carbonne et de boiseries dans les KIA nouvelle génération.

    Et surtout messieurs les concepteurs, osez nous faire des finitions moteurs comme chez AUDi parlons en, ca ferez jaser un peu la concurrence, et qu’ est ce que c’ est que quelques touches de plastiques gris et noir, de l’ esthétique moteur,.

    Avec toutes ces nouvelles petites touches , KIA augmenterait ses ventes d’ un 20 % de plus que son 20 % actuel.

    Vraiment PETER tu as fait un job de fou depuis que tu es chez nous, mais il faudrait que tu oses un peu plus.

    Et à quand un roadster chez KIA …… et un pick up …….. bref une foule de véhicules nécessaire en amérique du nord et au Canada.

    Sur ce je te félicite car en 3 ans KIA a bondit dans les sondages et grace à toi KIA n’ est plus la marque de dernier recours pour avoir un char.

    La sous marque qu’ elle était, est devenu, la marque que l’ on regarde, tant ses modèles ont une touche d’ originalité.

    Maxime Un Fan de KIA
    Un vendeur de KIA au Québec.

  15. Would be nice to get HID lights and more conventional 18″ alloy wheels on an EX Turbo. Not a big fan of the SX wheels and mixed cloth and leather interior. It would also be nice if UVO and Nav worked together so you didn’t have to choose one.

  16. UVO and nav will work together very soon. That’s what Kia and Microsoft have been working on since January, and are hoping to unveil at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year. The 18″ wheels that come on the EX Turbo are different than the ones on the SX. Those wheels are unique to the SX model. HID headlights could possibly be retrofitted.

  17. I agree with Romagjack. I would’ve hoped that atleast the EX Turbo would’ve come with HID lights and LED tail lights but like greg said it does come with 18” wheels just the wheel is different, and from what ive seen i like ’em better than the slicer/pizza pie SX unique wheels.

  18. Available November 2010
    Optima SX:

    Premium Package (Panoramic sunroof, 4 way power passenger seat, 2 position driver seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats): $1,900

    Technology Package (Navigation system, back-up camera, Infinity premium audio system, requires Premium Package): $1,900

    Total Estimated MSRP:
    Optima SX: $26,690
    Optima SX w/Premium Package: $28,590
    Optima SX w/Premium & Technology Packages: $30,490

  19. Seriously? Compare it to the competitors. All of the features you get (Turbo engine included) and it is a seriously attractive price. Give me a midsize car that beats the feature content for the price. $1900 for Panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled seats and heated rear seats is a bargain in itself. Just be glad thy didn’t make it standard.

  20. You are right. I was thinking most mid sized cars were not over that price. $33000 Accord, $32000 Camry. I guess I have not paid enough attention to prices.

  21. Would anyone have an idea what the EX non turbo model be with all the bells and whistles minus nav cost?

  22. Optima EX-T:

    Additional Options Below:

    Premium Package (Panoramic sunroof, 4 way power passenger seat, 2 position driver seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel): $1,900

    Technology Package (Navigation system, back-up camera, Infinity premium audio system, requires Premium Package): $1,900

    Estimated Total MSRP:
    Optima EX-T: $24,590
    Optima EX-T w/Premium Package: $26,490
    Optima EX-T w/Premium & Technology Packages: $28,390

  23. Optima EX:

    Additional Options Below:

    Premium Package (Panoramic sunroof, gloss black B-pillar, 4 way power passenger seat, 2 position driver seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, wood trim door and center console inserts, metal gearshift bezel): $1,900

    Technology Package (Navigation system, back-up camera, Infinity premium audio system, requires Premium Package): $1,900
    Estimated Total MSRP:
    Optima EX: $22,690
    Optima EX w/Premium Package: $24,590
    Optima EX w/Premium & Technology Packages: $26,490

  24. Optima LX:

    Additional Options Below:

    6 Speed Automatic Transmission (A/T): $1,425

    Convenience Package (8 way power driver’s seat, auto-dimming rear-view mirror w/Homelink and compass, requires A/T): $575

    Technology Package (Navigation system, back-up camera, Infinity premium sound system, dual zone automatic temperature control, rear vents, requires Convenience Package): $2,375
    Estimated Total MSRP:
    Optima LX: $19,190
    Optima LX A/T: $20,615
    Optima LX A/T w/Convenience Package: $21,190
    Optima LX A/T w/Convenience & Technology Packages: $23,565

  25. Greg, where do you get your info from? Do you have some insider connection to Kia? I haven’t seen any press release for the pricing yet.

    Do you know if those who have either the UVO or Nav be able to bring them back to the dealer and have them be fixed to work together once Kia/Microsoft has solved the incompatibility issue? Also, do you have any info on whether or not Kia/Hyundai have any plans on adding AWD to their options for the Optima/Sonata in the future? That would be the final clincher for me to have the Optima as my next vehicle.

  26. Of course I have some insider connection. Not much, but there is a contact. As for the pricing, I am going by the prices listed on the Optima Configurator on Kia’s website last summer – plus a $795 destination charge. As for UVO and Nav, Kia will not have them available together to begin with, but even when they are together, there will be no retrofitting for early adopters. Kia is hoping to have UVO and Nav together for this year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES). With AWD, Kia has not yet found a system for cars that can wholly satisfy their strict quality and fuel economy standards. It is not entirely ruled out, but don’t expect it in production cars for AT LEAST three years.

  27. Well, it’s November 24th and I have yet to find an EX with any package that is available at any So Cal dealership. B/t/w.. I test drove the EX with both packages at the LA auto show. The car is absolutely everything I thought it would be and more. Regarding the seats, they were very comfortable (satin metal/tan interior). IMHO the car would not be same without the panoramic s/r. I actually thought the overall ride was smoother than the Sonata. I don’t understand why they didn’t keep the front LED’s like they have on the K5. Also, I totaly agree with the notion that the SX should be available with TAN interrior.. Oh one more thing… about the SX pizza slices. Don’t knock them until you see them in person. They acutally look much MUCH better in person. The photos do not do them justice!! My accord was a total loss and I really want to replace it with this vehicle. Come on KIA… don’t wait too long or you’ll lose your sales to your brother.

  28. Yes! thats a good point Darrin. Does anybody know if the SX turbo will have the front LED lights???!!! Thats a biiiig selling point with me because I really like that modern option. It seems thats the new trend. If not is there a way it could be installed after market?

  29. I bought a 2011 Optima LX just 30 days ago and it’s been a pain in the A** since, literally! I didn’t notice anything wrong with the seats the day I test drove it or the first couple of days after but that I started feeling numbness in my buttocks and legs. I’m 5’11 and weigh 170lbs so by no means am I a large man but I can’t see anyone sitting in this car over 6’ unless they are in the reclining position. After a week or so of pain, I went to the doctor and he says it’s my sciatic nerve that’s causing my pain, wonder what caused that to flare up??? Anyway, a week of stretching and pills haven’t helped. I can’t put a cushion on the seat because then my head will hit the roof, the seat is already at the lowest position and have maybe a inch of clearance. Looks like I’m going to have to do something drastic to keep the car, don’t know what that will be yet but for almost $30K, it’s a shame I can’t enjoy sitting in it.