Are you a Camry owner who just isn’t sure whether it’s worth surfing that Korean wave? Are you waiting for Kia to deliver that complete Toyota experience? Good news: the new Optima is such a solid competitor to the Big T, it even has its own accelerator-pedal issue!
Reuters reports that Kia is advising dealers to check out accelerator pedals on the 2011 Optima. Only 135 of the new 2011 model have actually been sold to customers, so Kia at least has a jump on the issue. The issue is apparently with the return spring on the pedal itself; it can become “noisy” or have, um,
“unsatisfactory responsiveness while driving”.
What does that last phrase mean? Korean apologists will probably claim that it refers to the possibility that the right pedal may not glilde back with Mercedes Lexus-like smoothness, while the Kenkanryu krowd are more likely to think that Kia has slavishly copied the Camry’s purported tendency to accelerate at max potential towards the nearest schoolbus, daycare center, or Critical Mass event. Regardless of how this shakes out, we’d recommend that all TTAC readers check their new Optima for satisfactory pedal responsiveness. And while you’re doing your walkaround, consider covering up the faux-Aston-Martin side vent with duct tape, will ya?
Alot of people have these neurotic fixations on Hyundai/Kia, but I saw one of these on the road two days ago and I was completely shocked how bad it looked.
If you photoshopped the Kia logo off the front and put a line of text saying the logo had be removed by photoshop I would have a hard time guessing between GM/Ford/Chrysler.
So call it ugly if you like but to me it looks just like another american car. If it were reliable and got good gas milage and I could get one cheap enough I’d drive it.
Oh and for what it’s worth the last car I ever even partially considered looks as a factor in the purchase decision was a 90s Saturn SL2 (and I considered the looks a positive). Every car I’ve bought before and since I’ve bought on purely financial logic.
the Optima could look better for sure. it’s a great leap forward from the old optima, but considering how good the cadenza is, meh is a well suited description… but like in all KIAs, for the price, it’s not bad
Was it the first Optima that cribbed design cues from just about every luxury carmaker at the time to come up with something that looked vaguely Mercedesish with some other style for flavor. Or was that another model? I can’t remember the hierarchy from then.
@tankinbeans: I believe the Hyundai XG300 / Kia Amanti is what you’re thinking of. It had headlights that copied those on Mercedes sedans, a side profile reminiscent of those of Jaguars, and a rear that looked like a Rolls Royce.
The new Kia grilles look like Honda grilles to me.
what’s with the reference to UA? I’m still waiting for one single proven case of Toyota UA where it wasn’t a lunatic driver who played balloon boy.
If the Kia UA is as real as the Toyota UA was, I’m not concerned.
The difference here is that they caught the problem early. According to the article they’ve only sold 135 so far and the problem was limited to 7 weeks of production. Hyundai and KIA have been doing a good job at resolving problems quickly. They made changes late last spring to improve crash test results on the 11 Sonata and they jumped on the Sonata’s steering issues. Contrast that with other companies that still drag their feet on recalls and wait until the government forces them to deal with the problem.
I agree the side vents should go – I’m not a fan of non-functional hood scoops and vents. In fact, I really don’t like the looks of the functional scoops, but keeping my inter-cooler happy is a trade-off I’m willing to make. As far as fake side vents go, the Optima’s vents are far less offensive than the eyesores tacked to the side of some recent Ford products. Then again, the vents aren’t a huge issue. I’m more concerned about bland handling.
” we’d recommend that all TTAC readers check their new Optima for satisfactory pedal responsiveness ”
Wow, TTAC only has 135 readers? And all of them own Optimas? Who woudda thunk! :D
“accelerate at max potential towards the nearest [..] Critical Mass event.”
So it ain’t all bad.
“consider covering up the faux-Aston-Martin side vent with duct tape, will ya?”
As if. They paid good money for that hole!
Kia, this is what happens when you copy someone else’s homework.
I think the former Audi designer Schreyer (sp?) did a GREAT job on the Kia lineup. They’re very cleanly styled, little adornment, and they all look like one family of cars, one line of thinking.
I guess since were used to the odd lumps and humps of the Camry, Accord and Sonata, something that doesn’t look like an alien love child is considered ugly and derivative. Hmmm…
I think the new Optima is gorgeous, inside and out. I checked it out at the LA Auto Show last month and was very impressed. Acura/Honda/Toyota should take a lesson from this beauty. A family sedan can look sporty and attractive, even today!
Sorry Jack, but this story smacks of sour grapes. In order to remotely compete with Toyota, Kia would need to wait about a decade before bringing this up as a problem. A few PowerPoint decks explaining the tens of millions they saved by not doing appropriate repairs, while in the midst of a decade of decontenting and declining quality. THEN they would be competing with Toyota.
+1
I don’t see any “Korean apologists” downplaying this story… only Jack trumping it up. That’s kind of ironic, when one considers how TTAC has consistently (and rightfully) defended Toyota against unfair media hype.
Are there really any Korean apologists? Mostly it’s people commenting on what a good job they seem to be doing lately with most of their vehicle lineup.