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Comments
comparable to the competitor V6 in power ! You already know my thoughts on that !
It`s really quite interesting to see how well this car rates with owners on all the internet sites. You might want to check for yourself !
I haven't wished for the V6 yet, the I4 has done just fine.
Me too ! Do you have any info as to why this test is seemingly taking so long? Is it simply a matter of IIHS scheduling and test info publication, or, has Kia been intentionally slow for reasons unknown ? I suspect the former but would like your view. If the side test is positive, the Optima would be in limiteed company for all-round safety testing !
Do you have any references or publications to support this statement that you could share? I always thought that the Spectra and the Elantra were "cousins"and that the Optima had the same platform as the Sonata except for differing suspensions ( the Sonata using double wishbone with the Optima using McPherson struts in front and mutilinks in rear ).
I like the Optima's looks a like. Was happy with my 01 Elantra but don't like the new one at all. Would have loved to see the new Elantra hatch (beautiful) but will settle for the wagon that's apparently coming. Much better looking car IMHO than the sedan and it would be on my short list if the Malibu Maxx bit the big one.
Look at the MPG forum about my recent MPG experience. Not pleased, but maybe it's still breaking in. Until I manually put it in fifth it was upshifting to third and fourth on any tiny grade, probably one big reason why my Malibu would have done quite a bit better on the same trip. Can't beat those much reviled OHV GM V-6's for high real world gas mileage and low, low maintenance.
Like this!
Or, even this!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
For $1200, it doesn't look like much damage to me. No panels need replacement.
Other than that, and disappointing mileage, we still like the car a lot. Other than one trip it's mostly around town and the car isn't getting much use (I put as much mileage on in two months as she has in 6).
I may have mentioned it before, but I'm a bit disappointed in the auto headlight feature, unlike my Maxx it's got to be pretty dark before these things fire up. Is there any way to make adjustments?
I asked about the auto light feature and they said it's not adjustable,but I'm thinking about contacting KIA directly.The service people dont always check their service letters.
Auto headlights= not until it's pitch dark
DIC= crippled with no mpg, no OLM
50 series tires= nice until I have to pay to replace 'em.
Upscale wheels= yeah, pretty nice-- worth maybe $400 @ Tire Rack
Black rather than chrome trim= who cares?
Am I forgetting anything? That leaves the instrumentation and that might be worth several hundred bucks in itself. NIIIICE.
I have 16" rims,so I dont know if those are series 50.I got the leather package so that I wouldnt have the 17" wheels which are really hard riding.
I'm not sure what the electroluminescent instruments are.Maybe I dont have those,although my car has every option.(as far as I know)
I've never driven the base car at night. My car has nice bright blue gauges-- upscale. Much nicer than my Malibu. I understand these are part of the upgrade. I'm not sure if the EX has them as standard, probably do.
Backy-- (or anyone), also haven't driven the Sonata at night. How do they compare?
Blacked-out headlights AP AP
Blacked-out front grille AP AP
Fog lights AP S
Supervision meter cluster AP AP
Trip computer AP S
Auto light control AP S
Aluminum interior trim AP AP
Leather-wrapped steering wheel & gearshift knob AP S
Silver-accented inside door handles AP S
Black one-tone interior trim -- AP
Black-leather seat trim
I'm sure this won't line up properly but hopefully this clipboard from the Kia site will be sort of readable. LX is on the left, EX on the right.
Don't know what "trip computer and supervision cluster are" different components of the DIC perhaps. My comments on the upscale lighting are from another forum. I'll have to check the base car to see if it's true.
If it is an add on, it would be the most attractive part of the appearance group. Most of the other stuff is unnecessary or doesn't function correctly (DIC, auto light control).
I had a 2006 Sonata, and honestly I think it was a better car in every way including the lights which were outstanding.The dash lights were nothing special.
This car (Optima) has grown on me,but it's very possible that a hybrid is in my future,unless my common sense gets the best of me.
The car definitely handles better than my electric-steering Malibu, but where the 'Bu Maxx gets better and better, the small stupidities on the Kia kind of wear.
I've owned 30+ cars and the Kia is still one of the top 4 I've owned-- maybe as high as second:
1. Maxx
2. Optima
2. Elantra (tied)
4. Festiva
Hey, that's three of the top four cars that are Korean. The Maxx is better than any of them in its comfort and detail, however--- just more throught out than the Kia--to bad it's got such an ugly front clip.
Actually many of the Optima's short comings -- lazy automatic light detector, no oil life monitor (if GM and Honda can do it, so can Hyunkia), missing MPG indicator could easily be fixed. Also, I don't think I'd mind the base car as much-- it's just that most of the add on's in the appearance group are so flawed. If you're going to charge me extra for the nicey-bits, they should add to the experience not remind me that the car isn't completely thought out.
1. Why don't the auto headlights come on?
2. Why isn't there a mpg meter? (I won't ding the car for lacking an OLM, most don't)-- but the mpg meter is obviously something that's being computed but being blocked from being shown.
3. If buying new (there was none on the lot of the local dealer at the end of the year and I got a good deal) with a wide choice of cars, I'd probably pass on the appearance package and save the thousand dollars. That's not negative, just stating a fact.
The Kia still handles a lot better than my Maxx, looks better than my Maxx. I gave it a 9.5 out of 10 on the Edmund's consumer checklist--pretty damn high-- a lot better than many of the comments on the new Camry, a car that looks like it's got a LOT of ongoing problems.
Kia should just fix a lot of the little stuff for 08-- it would cost them about five bucks a car. I also sort of share Mickeyrom's suspicions that someone at Hyundai may be purposefully decontenting the car to bring it in under the Sonata. If so, they should stop it.
There should be major savings in suspension components (Elantra-like platform rather than the multi link of the Sonata)-- if that saves 'em a hundred bucks or so it doesn't bother me a bit, the last gen-Elantra I owned is tied for my second favorite of all time and the only problem I have with the present Elantra is my local dealer and the fact that the new car is (IMHO) ugly.
If my Maxx bit the big one I'd give serious consideration to a Rondo. I'd also look carefully at the new Elantra wagon/hatch --that car looks beautiful-- even considering my rather lame local dealer. A Korea basher, I'm not. Just in this case, my pug-ugly Maxx does the details better.
I will have to see the base car at night. If those nifty electroluminescent dash lights are part of the appearance package, those and the upscale wheels might be worth the extra thou. in themselves.
Optima has, Malibu Maxx LS (base) doesn't:
1. Electroluminescent display.
2. Elapsed time as part of DIC
3. Fold back mirrors (could save $$$)
4. Sunglasses holder
5. Nicer exterior and interior styling
6. Heated mirrors (I think)
Malibu has, Optima doesn't:
1. Adjustable brake pedals-- power (not very important)
2. Power seats (2 way)
3. OLM in DIC (important but only GM and Honda have)
4. MPG in DIC
5. Intelligent radio (relays artist, song, etc.)
6. V-6 3.5 engine gets better mileage than Kia 4.
7. OLM and easy on oil nature of engine results in lower maintenance costs 6-7000 mile changes on dino. Longer fluid changes. Neither car has a timing belt-- important.
I paid $16 for the Maxx and $16.1 for the Optima with appearance package (including $500 for add-on leather).
The breaker in my case is the Maxx's hatch. Since GM did absolutely nothing to market that feature and it's being dropped in 08, I would very likely buy a Rondo or Elantra hatch/wagon (whichever they bring over) if I was in the market for a replacement.
Interesting side point-- Normally when I'm on this site I get an Optima ad in the side panel. It's now showing a Malibu. Edmunds is more clever in their marketing than I would have thought. The pop adds don't just rely on the forum, they know what you're writing....
That should pretty well even things out except:
1. The Optima's problems are easily correctable.
2. The Maxx should cost less to operate.
I thought it got better MPG than the Optima.
BTW,how would you feel about driving the Optima(4cyl) in the 4-5 dollar per gallon world.
Coolant every 100K, although I'll probably change it more often.
Long life transmission fluid and plugs.
My dealer used to be laid back about this but they just moved into a new building and last time I almost got into a fight with the service writer who wanted to go nuts on unnecessary services.
Interestingly enough I just drove a Corolla rental today while the Optima was in the body shop. Lots of freeway traffic and it only averaged 22 mpg. My assumption is that the rental company didn't have it completely full but if true that's not good at all for a car that's supposed to run in the upper 30's. I think the Optima would have done just as well.
Hadn't driven a Corolla at night. Nice dash but the axillary lights are green-- instrument cluster is a nice bright white with a clear yellow needle but not as nice looking as the Optima. Does beat my Malibu though.
The Corolla is...well a Corolla... pleasant enough for a car in its sixth year of production but considering it probably cost as much as an Optima it's not such a great deal.
I assume the Optimist will gradually improve to the same mileage as the Maxx. It's still tight and it's been driven extremely short distances.
"An airbag sensor that acts up intermittently!!"
Not to put words in Mickeyrom's mouth (he's welcome to confirm or tell me I'm wrong.)
I don't think this is a complaint about the Optima. I think it's a complaint about weaknesses in the Kia dealer network. I don't think this was a part that repeatedly failed, if I remember right the dealer (and zone rep?) had a lot of trouble re-flashing the computer to get this corrected. Individual parts can fail, I've certainly got a weak link in my Malibu's electric steering failing. This, however, seems to be a dealer that's poorly trained or with questionable competency.
In some ways that's a more serious complaint.
Comments from Micro or Mickey?
Yeah,it does seem like only a very few people post here.
Jeep Patroit
Kia Optima
It won't be used for wheeling but with the jeep I could tow my little boat looking for input rememmber this is a company car not my personal mudder to take to the dunes, this is basic transportation and to drive clients around in
Both are about the same cost both have +'s and -'s both get around the same milage with the Kia being slightly higher in MPG.
Any input would be great I really can't deside, my deal with my company is I can get any car with a payment of less then 350 a month but in keeping with out cleaner greener outlook it needs 30+ mpg and 4 doors.
The Salesman at the stealership swears up and down his Optima gets 38HWY MPG, maybe some of you Optima Owners can confirm that number for me.
You may want to look at the Optima MPG ratings, I don't think anyone's gotten 38 mpg, although Hyunkia engines are notoriously slow to break in. On the other hand the Liberty has essentially the same shared engine, although with some tweaks specific to Chrysler so if anything, it should do worse given the aerodynamic differences.
You may want to check IFCAR's ratings. He loved the Optima (first of inexpensive sedans) and didn't like the Liberty. He rated the Chrysler/Dodge sedans at (almost) the bottom of the heap because of the weak engine. When I confronted him (can't link to other forums from this one) about why he had the Sonata and Optima four at the top of the list and the Chrysler/Dodge cars at the bottom of the list for engines when they essentially share the same co-developed power unit, he stated that they seem a lot better in NVH. Having driven a Sebring before buying the Optima, I'd have to agree.
If you need flexibility, look at the Rondo while you're checking out the Optima. Sweet ride.
My wife's in the hospital so I'm trying to get some mileage on her Optima this week. Like it, but at this stage still prefer the flexibility, power, comfort and economy of my Malibu Maxx. I guess it's good that we both prefer our daily rides.
Sue
The other issue was with the headlights,but they cant fix that.Its just in the design.Get used to it...I did.
I have found that most cars come from the dealer with the headlights mis-aimed. This is one of the dealer prep items that are often overlooked along with wheel alignment and tire pressures.
What I would like to know if anyone would be so kind as to consult their owner's manual, is what bulb types are used in the headlamps for the new model Optima?
Other than these things, and a power outlet in the console that doesn't seem to work, I'm happy with the car. Just gotta get the bugs out of it.