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This is all we’ve got on the new Kia Optima. You’ll have to wait until next week for official details, but expect the same specs as the current Hyundai Sonata.
36 Comments on “New York 2015: A Preview Of The Next Kia Optima...”
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Shame they weaksauced the 2.0T. Lets really put things in context. The Accord’s BASE 4 BANGER is faster than the Sonata 2.0T with the auto. Something’s not adding up at all. Optima is the best looking sedan too IMO, hopefully they don’t dull it up like they did the Sonata too. Especially on the inside.
My mother owns said base Accord, although a pleasure to drive, it is easily one of the slowest cars I’ve ever driven. I can’t imagine these 2.0t’s being any slower.
Maybe you meant Sonata/Optima base vs Accord base?
@EAF..look at his name. He meant it the way he said it…lol
That’s funny considering me and my buddy with a 2015 Sonata Limited with the basic 185 Hp 2.4 raced a 2014 Accord 2.4 automatic LX and it was nearly a dead heat up to about 60 MPH! With 60 more horses 80 plus extra torque the turbo version of this car should easily dispatch any base 2.4 Accord /auto setup. And before you start quoting C&D or Motor Trend be advised that there test car suffered a pre-production issue that made said cars much slower and that was right in the articles. If you look on Youtube there is a video of a 2015 Sonata turbo and it is much quicker than the 8.2 seconds they got.
RACE FANS!!! (echo) Race fans!! Fans!
THIS SUNDAY!!! (echo) This Sunday!! Sunday!
ACCORD 4 CYLINDER VS 4 CYLINDER OPTIMA!!!! (echo) 4 Cylinder!! Cylinder!
FOUR CYLINDERS OF FURY AT RACEWAY PARK.
YOU PAID FOR THE WHOLE SEAT BUT YOU’LL ONLY NEED THE EDGE edge edge…
You mean they de-powered the Optima too, despite the Optima being the more aggressive of the pair?
That’s…infinitely stupid.
>>Shame they weaksauced the 2.0T. Lets really put things in context. The Accord’s BASE 4 BANGER is faster than the Sonata 2.0T with the auto. Something’s not adding up at all. Optima is the best looking sedan too IMO, hopefully they don’t dull it up like they did the Sonata too. Especially on the inside.<<
C&D says you're right w/ the Accord Sport at least:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.6 sec
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-honda-accord-sport-sedan-long-term-test-wrap-up-review
Sonata 2.4
Zero to 60 mph: 7.9 sec
Sonata Turbo
Zero to 60 mph: 8.0 sec
http://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/sonata
Motor Trend got the same for 2015 Sonata Turbo
"We measured a 0-to-60 time of 8.0 seconds"
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1410_2015_hyundai_sonata_sport_20t_first_test/
Something is wrong here. I find it hard to believe a car with 55 less horsepower and possibly a higher curb weight could be that much faster…the automatic in the Turbo must be complete garbage.
When they tested the Sonata ECO the mentioned the 2.0T:
“To be fair, that particular 2.0T had a turbo-system hiccup during the testing and may not have been breathing quite properly. “.
The 1.6 ECO was clocked at 6.7 to 60.
That doesn’t explain that MT got 8.0 0-60 too.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1410_2015_hyundai_sonata_sport_20t_first_test/
C&D says their 0-60 time may have been a fluke as they had a pre-production car, but 2 out of 2 is looking less like a fluke and more of a problem. The non-Sport Accord is still good for a 7.4 0-60. Hyundai dun goofed.
Third confirmation: Edmunds has Sonata 2.0T at 8.3
Front grill looks like Worfs weapon of choice. Or a Volt deployed weapon.
At least the headlights don’t reach all the way back to the B-pillar.
You guys killed me with this 1-2 punch. We need a “like” function for the comments here.
It *does* look a lot better then the overdone ‘Tiger Nose’ of the last gen.
Even better would be a thumbs up/thumbs down!
Looks great! If they’ve minimized the ports on the side I might consider this best looking family midsizer.
They build excitement.
Yup, Kia is Pontiac.
Hyundai is Buick.
So I guess a turbo Optima is a Grand Prix GTP?
I have no problems with this.
No sir, Hyundai would be Olds.
Not too shabby, but it does remind me of an MKZ…
I’m not surprised, jellybeans all of them.
Hey Blake, nice Camry.
I was thinking the thing, but for some reason this seems better executed…
So was I. But MUCH better looking. I’m not a fan of the oddly splayed lower front face fad these days. Kia also cops from the latest Corolla for it’s Forte as well; Toyota advertises the ’15 Camry as bold with their gappy facia: Well, I say it’s ugly, and I say the hell with it*. And the vertical brake duct slash is getting old as well. (*Ten points to anyone who knows where that statement came from)
I don’t think Hyundai/Kia is weaksaucing its engines as much as it’s retuning them for better real-world performance and economy. Before this year’s Sonata, one had to flog the car a bit to extract anything close to the 200hp the 2.4-liter NA engine offered. And that was very bad for fuel mileage as witnessed by a lot of angry owners who complained they weren’t hitting anywhere near the EPA numbers. Car and Driver said they didn’t really miss the extra 15 horsepower in real-world driving. And, of course, the pre-production turbo wasn’t breathing right. I’d withhold judgement on the new Kia until it hits the showrooms. But, frankly, the 1.6-liter Eco is the Sonata that interests me. I’d like to see what a Kia version would be like. Heck, I’d like the see the Eco powertrain in the Veloster.
You know what I want to see in the Veloster? The Genesis interior.
And powertrain.
Now we’re talking!
It certainly does look like Hyundai got it right with the 1.6T Eco, seems decent to drive while getting good mileage.
I’m driving a ’15 2.4 Sonata now, and came with a gnat’s a** of getting a loaded ’14 Optima SX turbo. It was a close call (the Optima was wildly discounted) but a slightly higher base price and slightly more expensive insurance made the Optima about 80 bucks a month more than the Sonata. That combined with the vague feeling that the Optima just wasn’t put together quite as well on the inside to give the win to the Hyundai despite its 90hp disadvantage and lack of vented seats, power mirrors, and panoramic sunroof (which admittedly was very cool).
All of that said, this looks rather nice and will probably be on my radar in 2017 assuming circumstances have not conspired favorably enough to see me cross-shopping the Genesis, A4 and S60…
The Optima is really nice. I hope they bring over that wagon. Wifey wants a Golf Sportwagen but the Optima wagon concept floating around is much sexier…
Yeah, I’ve been impressed with the performance of VW stuff but they mostly seem like their designs are based on the generic car silhouettes on the ventilation buttons.
I really want to love the Optima and did almost love it when they first came out in the last gen body style. I thought the interior was fantastic and it could be head with a stick. Now? Meh. Give me a Mazda6 anyway of the week.