One conclusion is very clear after driving the 2011 Kia Optima: Kia has Honda and Toyota in its sights, and it won’t be denied. The first two generations of the Kia Optima barely created a ripple in the water in a market segment that is among the biggest in the country, but the 2011 Kia Optima is primed to change all that.

Even compared with excellent cars like the Honda Accord, the Optima shines. With styling that bears an unmistakable Audi influence and a feature list that steals the thunder from luxury sedans, the Optima will quickly jump onto many consumer consideration lists. Buyers in this segment like stuff, and the new Optima will offer niceties: heated steering wheel and rear seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and a glove box with a cooling function.

Previously, Korean cars left two big question marks: reliability and looks. The Optima addresses both. Kia Motors has pulled up its product quality and created a good-looking sedan with an equally good-looking and easy-to-use interior. The midsize-sedan buyer is more concerned about quiet and comfort than about sports-car-like handling, and Kia engineers tuned the Optima’s suspension with that in mind. The car’s standard 200-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine exhibits a throaty roar on to-the-floor acceleration, but otherwise it’s as docile as a sleepy puppy. We expect a little more growl from the 2.0-liter turbocharged version of the engine that delivers 274 horsepower when it becomes available later in the year, but this is a midstream car smack in the middle of a midstream market. The 2011 Kia Optima will likely be more than just a hit in the marketplace; we think it will change the way people think about the Kia brand.

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Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today