This was one of the comments we received in response to our full test of the 2011 Kia Optima Turbo:
"jaggery: So Edmunds can we get a Long-Term test of this vehicle, and you guys just change the tires since that was the main thing you complained about??? I'd love to see how you guys like the vehicle over a longer period, and the gas mileage as well."
Dear Jaggery, yes we can. Set the clock; we've got 12 months and 20,000 miles with our new Long-Term 2011 Kia Optima SX Turbo. But we're not going to change the tires on it. At least, not yet.
Sure, the Nexen Classe Premiere tires were less than ideal on our track, but outright grip isn't the main focus of the Kia Optima Turbo despite the cool body kit and turbocharger. Instead, the 274-horsepower turbocharged motor is simply there to deliver V6 power with four-cylinder fuel economy. The EPA works these figures out to be 22 mpg city and 34 mpg highway — better than the Accord or Camry V6.
So here we've got a Kia midsize sedan with better fuel economy and power similar to the Honda Accord V6, better looks than a Mazda 6 and handling that splits the difference. Kia really is aiming to take over the world, starting with our long-term garage.
What We Got
Without ticking a single option box, our 2011 Kia Optima SX is in a price range rarely thought of as Kia's turf: $26,690. But this SX turbo is intended to be a direct competitor to the major players' V6 offerings. The Optima SX also includes 18-by-7.5-inch wheels, a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control, a cooled storage compartment, leather trim on the dash and steering wheel, Sirius Satellite Radio, USB and Bluetooth, in addition to the normal standards like power windows, door locks and mirrors.
But why stop there? We also added the Premium package ($2,150) which adds a slick panoramic sunroof, four-way power front passenger seat, driver seat memory, heated and cooled front seats and heated outboard rear seats. The Technology package was next at $2,000. That includes navigation with back-up camera and an eight-speaker Infinity audio system.
Total: $30,840. This time, though, we didn't shell out the $30K, as the Optima was provided by the manufacturer for this test.
Why We Got It
It's certainly not cheap, but Kia's done with cheap. It's focusing on what it calls a "design-led transformation" that has this Kia Optima looking like some bastard offspring of an Audi and an Acura with a dash of Vauxhall thrown in for good measure. Which sort of makes sense, as the design was a joint venture between Kia's studios in Frankfurt, Germany, and Irvine, California. Somehow, the German-American-Korean look works.
The design intrigue continues on the inside where Kia shows surprising restraint and tact. Everything faces the driver (which has irritated more than a few passengers, but we'll get to that), the silver cloth detailing on the leather seats is sporty and cool and the dash is simple but crammed full of function. At first blush, this is a fairly kickass entry in a hugely competitive segment.
But long-term road tests aren't about first blush, or second blush, they're about the long(ish) haul and what a car is like to live with every day. The Optima SX turbo has a more aggressive suspension and sharper steering than the normal Optima and you bet it feels and rides differently from a Hyundai Sonata.
How this Kia Optima Turbo strikes a balance between these different roles is what's important here. Is it a fuel sipper? A sport sedan or — sorry, Kia — a budget car playing in a world where it can't really compete?
Twelve months and 20,000 miles in our long-term test fleet should settle some of this. Follow along with our blog for frequent updates.
Current Odometer: 1,684
Best Fuel Economy: 21.3 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 18.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 20.3 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Add A Comment »
sotolux says:
04:18 PM, 05/11/2012
I am curious, what happened to the KIA Optima long term wrap-up? I can't find one!
outrageous2 says:
06:09 PM, 03/23/2012
I bought the Kia Optima SX 2012 a few months ago. As a medical examiner I drive daily long distance. I will put edmund's EPA admission to rest right now. This car gives me 32-35 and even when pushing it to see just how far I can go 36 mpg!! I will say I use either medium or high grade fuel but this gives me the mpg estimates consistently! These are everyday figures for the past three months. I of course bought this car brand new and as the sticker said on the window this car has always given me ridiculously great gas mileage. Edmund's must have been payed off into posting these totally erroneous gas mileage statistics because they're figure are just wrong... period. I suppose it's also possible that they have been feeding they're Kia foul fuel or that maybe they're Kia is damaged somehow but a 2012 Optima SX in proper working order will give you some of the most impressive mileage in terms of gas one may ever see. I owned a Saab 9-5 2005 prior to my Optima and I thought the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder turbo must have had the most impressive highway EPA of any car in it's class ( consistently received 30-32 mpg ) and this was with a five speed manual and premium fuel, not to mention this Saab only had 170 hp. This Optima is just silly conservative regarding fuel consumption. I am just so angry at these false EPA reading from Edmund's! They're reading are false, never mind just silly. I don't know how they got these reading but they're wrong. I have had 100's of driving hours on this Optima already just in three month's and even in town if I drive conservatively get 27-28 mpg! I never would have thought I could be so impressed with the amount of technology finesse this car encompasses. It is insanely powerful and elegant with a touch of sport. The only con with this car I have come up with ( and I have tried hard to find some) would be the suspension. This is a biased con because I reside in Maine and need to navigate some very bad roads at times. I find the suspension to be overly taught during the last ( very cold ) few months of winter. This in turn make the ride a bit bumpy, some may say almost intolerable but then again this baby was designed with sport in mind! It hugs the pavement beneath its feet and wants to go very fast! This is why I find it harder to navigate the cold solid broken pavement of Maine's street during the winter. I do not fault the design at all. It does still get me through to where I need to go, but I have learned to ( with some difficulty =-) to slow down before expected broken asphalt. If I had this car down in Florida where the streets are flat and open it would be my absolutely dream car. Don't get me wrong I just love this car. The engine is a thing of elegant beauty and as a car nut myself can say you just will not find a better value for your money. Not if your in the market for a mid sized sport sedan with a touch of luxury... Also for those who are bashing this car based on this idea that Hyundai has already manufactured and perfected this car but was named the Sonata. Please..., drive the SX and then the Sonata before you make comments that make absolutely 0 sense. The Sonata does not even come close to resembling the Kia Optima SX ( please note I said SX, I would not know about the lesser Optima models) I drove both prior to making ( my very clear decision ) on the SX. I liked the Sonata and was certainly impressed but truth be told I changed my whole perspective on the word " impressive" when I got out of the SX. I didn't look back, actually I forgot all about the Sonata and it's so called turbo. The SX has a tighter chassis and the response from touch to wheel, to tires to pavement was an entirely different experience between the two cars. I can't possibly imagine how someone who's driven both car's could claim that the two car's drive anywhere alike. The Sonata in my opinion drives like an overloaded boat in comparison to my SX. All mechanic's aside and this is again my opinion; The SX is (in term's of appearance) much more pleasing to the eyes. It's LED back lights, and xenon front lights with shaded glass, to the roof and side lines just blows away the looks of the Sonata. Yes the two car's share the same chassis but even the engines sound and perform very differently. This is because of the way they're tuned which makes a large difference in sound and performance. The exhaust systems are much different as well. The struts of the two car's are different ( The SX has machpherson struts and the Sonata does not) and to put it quite simply; The Sonata is a solid performance car for those who like to go fast and ride in style. The Sonata is simply a family car. I think the Sonata is a well put together car but in comparison to the Optima Sx it's a "Family sedan" and that's all it is. Good Day!
macsaan says:
11:12 AM, 03/09/2012
i dont know y edmunds got bad fuel econ...
mine is same one
its over 5401 mi.
i always note fuel econs and
i got this
20worst/36best
west209 says:
12:09 AM, 11/25/2011
KIA Advertises: EPA fuel economy (mpg
22 city/34 highway/26 combined
Edmunds observed (mpg)
18.8 worst/21.3 best/20.3 avg (over 1,266 miles)
I am getting the same as Edmunds observed on my 2011 Optima EX. This is false advertising! What can I do?!?!
watashisan says:
06:39 AM, 08/10/2011
YOUR RECENT REVIEW OF THE KIA OPTIMA SHOWED FAR LESS GAS MILAGE THAN I OBTAINED TRAVELING FROM SAND SPRINGS OK. STARTING WITH 280 MILES ON A NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX GTi , GOING TO CAMP VERDE, AZ, A BIT OVER 1000 MILES, STRAIGHT THRU DRIVING. OVERALL MILAGE BY O.B.C. WAS 29.5, BY OLD MATH METHOD, GALLONS DIVIDED INTO MILES TRAVELD BY ODOMETER TRIP READING, 30 MPG. AWSOME AUTOMOBILE. MY RESEARCH OF 3 MONTHS WAS WELL WORTH THE TIME, MOST COMFORT AND EASE IN LONG DRIVE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING ACROSS THIS CONTRY IN MANY DIFFERENT, CUSTOM AND MODIFIED, NEW AND HOT CARS. LOVE MY NEW OPTIMA EX TURBO, SAME EQUIPMENT AS YOUR TEST VEHICLE, BY THE WAY, NAVIGATION, ELECTRONICS PACKAGES AND PANORAMIC ROOFS, DROVE WITH A/C ON DURING THE DAY, AND WITH ROOF OPEN TO ENJOY THE NIGHT COOL AIR AT NIGHT. I AM A RETIRED U.S. NAVY COMBAT VETERAN, AND WAS CONSIDERED A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WHEN RETIRING FROM THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE.
rick6675 says:
02:32 PM, 08/08/2011
I bought a fully loaded electric blue SX turbo about 2 & 1/2 weeks ago, and love it so far. After driving an Infiniti G35 and Saab 9-3, I actually appreciate the absence of snob appeal in driving a Kia. The Optima SX has a nicer interior than the Saab I was driving, costs me less $ per month, gets better gas mileage, and has better pickup. The handling is probably a step below the 9-3, and definitely inferior to the G35 6MT, but the lower cost, great interior, and improved fuel economy more than make up for it, IMO. I cross-shopped the VW CC and Audi A4, before deciding that the Kia Optima SX offered much more value.
freak000 says:
08:36 AM, 08/05/2011
We recently purchased the Kia Optima SX Turbo and took a 1000 mile trip from Western Pa to Chicago. I used crusie control most of the trip and the computer avg showed 65 mph and 33.3 mpg.
At times we were up to 80 and the car was smooth as silk. I am over six foot and weigh 200 lbs and fit very comfortable in the drivers seat The style and luxury appointments with a great warranty sold us on the car for a msrp $30850 fully loaded. We got a $1250 discount and at this time few dealers in our area were giving anything. The $1400 extended warranty is well worth the cost for a new model and the warranty is transferrable. Domestic extended warranties cost upward of $3500 or more. The Optima is going to be a hit and the looks and comments were unbelievable.
adukes_007 says:
06:49 PM, 08/01/2011
This car looks better than the Sonata on the inside and out.
www.kiaturbo.com
theeskimos says:
01:31 PM, 04/23/2011
I picked up my loaded SX 2 weeks ago. I have a 120 round trip commute that is two lane 55 MPH with a couple of small towns down to 35 MPH thrown in. I have 1200 miles on it and am averaging 30.2 with the ECO turned on. With ECO turned on it still has plenty of get up and go and gets much better mileage (and you can always turn it off if you are in the mood for fun!). I hadn't driven my 2009 Ford Fusion V6 AWD SEL for the two weeks and when pulling onto a 55 zone it felt like a SLUG! We were adding a 4th car and looked at everything from Lexus hybrid, to Volkswagen diesels. I paid $27350 for the SX fully loaded and I love it. You don't get nearly the bells and whistles with the Hyundai twin. I was very much on the fence about the car and my husband convinced me that it was a great car at a great price, and he was right. He was so right that he went on a business trip this week and I went and traded that slug of a Fusion in for a second loaded SX (SUPRISE!!! honey). I will not be letting my teenagers drive them!!!!
orangelebaron says:
07:36 PM, 04/06/2011
I sat in one recently... unfortunately the front seats... like so many Asian vehicles (and some domestics) were ridiculously short. I don't like feeling like half my upper legs have no cushion under them.
And the telescoping wheel didn't telescope much at all (what's the point then?).
Otherwise it is very nice.