2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked - Jalopnik Comments

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

TwilightSentinel — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:13:30 EDT

argh, that's "workHORSE" -- though "workhouse" works in an odd way.

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

TwilightSentinel — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:12:48 EDT

Who on earth wants "passion" in a workhouse, inexpensive 4-door FWD sedan? Give me a cheap, plain-wrapper box like this (can I delete the alloy rims for credit?), and I'll be happy to spend the savings on a Caterham 7, high-priced hookers and blow.

Y'all can keep your enthusiast sedans.

TwilightSentinel

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

azali — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:15:46 EDT

weird... Kia does Sirius but Hyundai does XM?

azali

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

jpegger — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:25:28 EDT

Yes... this revision is pretty boring. The front of the current version was much better in my opinion, while the back is kind of nice.

However, this car is not crap! KIA and Hyundai (now) are on average every bit as good, or better (Especially for the money and warranty) than Honda, Toyota...etc. Just check with the latest consumer reports, and JD Power studies. Just look at the new Genesis and Genesis coup! The current KIA Optima is at the top of the consumer reports list with the Camry and Accord. It also earned a five star crash test rating in every category, including rear end collisions. In fact, it got the best rating ever I believe. Its time people start taking KIA and Hyundai seriously. Go to the dealer and look at one for yourself.... and you'll see that everyone bitching about them on here sound pretty silly.

jpegger

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Blue387 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:18:10 EDT

When I saw the grille, my first thought was something from fomoco...

Blue387

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

NovaloadMissesPolar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:48:18 EDT

The Sounds of Silence?

NovaloadMissesPolar

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

brandegee — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:37:32 EDT

They should have played something from Art Garfunkel's solo albums, cuz that's what this car is. Whiny and tinny with a strange grille.

@UDMan: The suspension isn't bad...it must've gotten the Sonata's platform at the last major redesign. The engines, however, guarantee Kia will only poach 4-banger sales from Honda and Toyota. I like how the PR didn't even bother mentioning the power rating of the V6.

brandegee

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

ranwhenparked — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:00:41 EDT

The story behind the Ford Fusion was that the car originally had a much blander grille that focus groups hated, so it was quickly restyled with the Gillette arrangement- hence the boring Camcord body shell with the more stylish nose.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kia presents the hastily canceled Ford Fusion prototype.

ranwhenparked

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Euromobile — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:37:21 EDT

Oh aye, I meant to ask what Belle & Sebastian track(s) they played?

Euromobile

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Euromobile — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:36:14 EDT

@halfshaft, all man: It's a trick of the light. Metallic, pearlescent and mica paints all do that. They react slightly differently depending on what type of surface they're sprayed onto. Something to do with how the metallic flake lands.

Euromobile

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Unevolved 8.04 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:17:23 EDT

Oh my God it's an Accord.

Unevolved 8.04

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

KingRoyale — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:25:50 EDT

Hmm not a bad choice for my pops to replace is 97 626 with...or a used current-gen Sonata. Either way, I'm actually impressed by a production Kia. That can't be a good thing in anyway shape, way or form...

KingRoyale

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

ganzhimself — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:24:08 EDT

@graverobber:

That, good sir, is a perfect analogy.

ganzhimself

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

General Halfshaftery — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:15:21 EDT

The paint doesn't match the body on both the front and rear bumper caps.

General Halfshaftery

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Mysterious Utility Bento — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:14:24 EDT

My MOM has an Optima.....my MOM! Nuff Said

Mysterious Utility Bento

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Seth L — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:12:25 EDT

So much for Hyundia wanting Kia to be the sporty brand.

Seth L

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

danio3834 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:10:16 EDT

Looks like the last gen Avalon...or kinda like a 500

danio3834

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

suzq044 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:29:52 EDT

It now looks like an Accord.

suzq044

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

sos10 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:24:59 EDT

...The 2009 Optima is presented with new front, side and rear styling cues, which build upon Kia's philosophy of creating dynamic vehicles that evoke passion....
But only if taken a dozen of Viagra pills one hour earlier.

sos10

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

UDMan — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:16:19 EDT

Isn't this just a reskinned Hyundai Sonata? Optimas have always been Sonatas under the surface.

UDMan

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

BLS — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:05:41 EDT

@lascauxcaveman:
This and the Rondo are the two cars I would recommend to people who don't really like cars. They are fine, safe, easy on gas, and have a long warrantee. Not too big like Camry and Accord and Taurus. And cheap.

BLS

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Ash78 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:02:27 EDT

@lascauxcaveman: 98 Accord meaning two generations ago, or last-gen?

I like the 2-gens-ago version more than the last. The current is growing on me a little, but I'm still waiting on a wagon to even consider it.

Ash78

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

Tachman — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:02:07 EDT

Wow, a decent looking Kia shocks the automotive world. It was bound to happen someday, just look at Hyundai. I don't really see any Accord or Camry like some of the other posters have mentioned. To me it looks like a Fusion with a better nose. It's a step in the right direction for Kia but I'm still not willing to purchase any of their products.

Tachman

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

lascauxcaveman — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:56:19 EDT

@PhoneticLorin: Have you seen a new Camry? They are huge and fugly. This Kia is actually kinda pleasant looking, albeit bland. Like the aforementioned 98 Accord, with a few styling cues from Ford 500 and Infiniti G35.

Sure it looks plain, but at least it doesn't look wrong. You can put me firmly in the camp of those who like the 98 Accord better than the new one.

lascauxcaveman

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:53:24 EDT

Whoa, Optima channelling Accord, mimicking Ford Five Hundred.

Okay, overall it's not a bad looking car. Nothing egregious about the styling, and a nice feature set.

Sort of like that plain Jane girl next door that when you finally get her in the sack, you find out that she's.... not all that good. Still, she gets the job done.

graverobber- It says Loud Pipes Save Lives

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

jeremyc — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:49:30 EDT

Maybe they were playing the lite rock to bore you before the reveal.

jeremyc

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

dolo54 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:48:29 EDT

The Kia I rented had the most noxious fumes coming off the interior plastic that I was forced to keep the window open in the freezing cold.

dolo54

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

crankcase — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:46:59 EDT

Looks like a Toyota, which in Kia's case, is not such a bad thing.
Nonetheless, yawn.

crankcase

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:45:48 EDT

You call it a '98 Accord like that's a bad thing. Just a few posts ago, everyone was pining for the older Accord style.

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

mytdawg — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:44:40 EDT

Somebody, somewhere, is just chomping at the bit to get in line to purchase a brand new 1998 Honda Accord. I'm sure of it.

mytdawg

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

teargas — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:31:04 EDT

I love my car
I'll admit today I've gone too far
To enamour myself of my little motor car

teargas

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

PhoneticLorin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:25:14 EDT

How is that NOT a Camry?

PhoneticLorin

2009 Kia Optima Gets Mid-Cycle Refreshment, Auto World Shocked

beercheck — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:23:46 EDT

Kodachrome? Baby Driver??

beercheck