Never owned a Kia, seriously considering 2011 Optima

I suggest you stay away. I consider a Kia a brother brand. I'm being honest see whos driving them. They are cheap disposable cars and thats what they attract. I'd go Hyundai before that Kia crap.

 

It's built on the same platform as the Sonata. While it doesn't share as much of it's components as other cars which are platform mates it's still going to have the same reliability as the Hyundai. I prefer the Sonata myself and would buy a Sonata 2.0T if I was in the market for a sedan.

As far as why not having a V6 option, why do you need one? If you can get the same power as it's V6 competitors with better fuel economy why have a V6 just for the sake of saying it has a V6? It's not like forced induction is something new no reason to think it won't hold up.

All you can really do though is go check one out and take it for a ride. I definitely think it's worthy of a look. No point in discounting it just because it says Kia on it unless you're a badge snob.

 

I traded in my 2005 Kia Amanti to buy my Taco. The Amanti was a well fit and finished vehicle, good gas miliage, large interior and trunk space. The only knock I had on that car was the cold throttle response, hit the pedal and nothing a second later it snapped your neck. A little nerve racking when trying to get out into traffic.

 

Kia and Hyundai have come a long way