What's Wrong With This Picture: Kia's Optima-sm Edition

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: March 14th, 2010

what s wrong with this picture kia s optima sm edition

Quick, want to guess what the single piece brings more traffic to TTAC than any other? Thanks to an early Korean-spec test (don’t worry, further tests of the US-spec model are forthcoming) and the blessings of good Google rankings, our 2011 Hyundai Sonata review has been our single biggest source of traffic over the last several months. But getting a review out early isn’t the only reason so many folks are finding their way to TTAC by way of the Sonata: people are researching the car like crazy. Kelly Blue Book lists the Sonata as its number four most-researched vehicle, as does Edmunds.com, indicating that it’s poised to play with the perennial chart-toppers from Honda and Toyota. Meanwhile, Kia still has yet to make the jump to mainstream prominence, although its version of the Sonata (still unfortunately named Optima) could be an important step in Korea’s bid to make inroads on the US market. Certainly its Peter Schreyer-designed lines won’t have anyone confusing the Optima with a decontented Sonata.

#3WTP #Design #Hyundai #Kia #Optima #Sonata

Edward Niedermeyer

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2 of 43 comments

Disaster on Mar 15, 2010

I can see a lot of different influences in it...Ford Fusion, VW CC, Hyundai Genesis, Kia's own Forte. It is a nicely styled car but add me to the list of people who hate nonfunctional fender vents, and the wheels do look aftermarket...not in a good way.

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Panzerfaust on Mar 15, 2010

^ I agree. It looks like a Buick from the side and a Ford Fusion from the front. Nicely done, but hardly original. The wheels look like they were picked by an 18 year old.

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