Optima closes in on Accord in midsize car match up

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Updated: September 27, 2011 3:47PM

The question facing midsize car buyers is: “What sedan should I buy?” There are a bewildering number of choices in this segment. The (easiest?) choices have been either the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. While Toyota has suffered some quality/confidence issues Honda has remained steady.

In this review I’ve targeted two different opponents: a recognized category leader in the Honda Accord and a revamped, hard-charging challenger in the Kia Optima.

Kia has been one of the real automotive success stories, going from a “new car at a used car price” company to a fierce competitor firing on all cylinders with styling, quality, technology, competitive pricing and investing in America (like Honda) with a new manufacturing complex in Georgia.

So how does the Optima stack up against the established Honda Accord? Read on.

Exterior styling

I need to be clear: The Accord has moved on up. Long considered a midsize sedan, the Accord is currently classified as a large car by Uncle Sam – but it doesn’t look the part. Accord defines ho-hum, nondescript styling: smooth, crisp fender lines and a greenhouse that blend in anywhere.

The Optima, on the other hand, has a fresh “in-motion” look that is sporty (especially with wheel options). There’s nothing polarizing about its look; it’s just appealing and upscale. Optima takes the appearance category.

Interior design

The separation between these cars’ interiors falls to the difference between nice and good, so buyers benefit with either one. The Optima has a nice interior with a slightly aggressive cockpit look and bold lighting. The Optima’s fit and finish was nicely done and it comes with a nice level of standard equipment. The only real issue I had is that seat comfort suffers on longer road trips. Rear passenger legroom is decent for adults.

The Accord’s slightly larger dimensions help here as passengers benefit from the extra space. The interior is solid and received minor upgrades this year. The fit and finish is class leading, but Honda is letting too much hard plastic creep in. Buyers have numerous tech options/upgrades to pick from. I also liked the solid/quiet feeling I got after I closed the doors. Accord takes this category.

Driving characteristics

Neither of these cars are designed, or marketed, as sports sedans. Their primary mission is to get you safely and comfortably to destinations. That said, some drivers (this author included) like to see how much fun/performance they can extract from their vehicles. I was surprised by the Accord’s regression in this area. The larger dimensions seem to have put a drag on performance. The Accord does not seem as nimble or responsive as previous versions (with the exception of steering). My Accord SE came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. While the Environmental Protection Agency numbers of 23 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with a five-speed automatic are excellent, this car could use V-6 motivation. The 177-horse four-cylinder moves the car adequately, but it is under a slight strain. When you add passengers and gear it becomes even more apparent.

The Optima EX also employs a 2.4-liter four-cylinder (no V-6 option) but it has 200 horses, which makes a difference as both cars weigh just slightly more than 3,220 pounds. The Optima is not a speedster by any means, but the engine doesn’t work quite as hard. The Optima attains a slightly better EPA city number of 24 mpg city and matches Accord with a 34 mpg highway figure via a six-speed automatic. On the road the Optima felt more responsive and nimble. In fairness the Optima was shod with 17-inch standard rubber while the Accord wore 16-inch shoes. In a match up of four cylinders the Optima just squeaks past.

In the long run

The current Optima is a new animal, but the previous generation has had an average reliability record over the past several years based on several industry rating scores. While “average” is not a necessarily a negative, the Accord has fared far better over the same time frame. So while the data on the current-generation Optima is not in yet, the Accord maintains the higher rating for now.

Pay the man

Kia has always positioned itself as a value leader, yet it came in higher than my Accord SE tester. The Optima had a base price of $22,495 and the Accord was a one-price sedan checking in at $24,480, including destination. However, the Optima added $4,250 worth of options, including a navigation system, power sunroof, heated/cooled/power seats and a few other items that pushed the price to $27,440 with destination. Without these options a similarly equipped Optima would have been $1,985 less than the Accord, but it did come with a high level of standard features. You’re paying more to get more, but Kia is diluting its value proposition by being close (base to base car) to Accord.

When shoppers go against the established leader they are looking at price and then content level. In a purely unscientific survey I asked a handful of acquaintances what they thought and they unanimously indicated that they would like to see more of a price variance between the two (even with the Optima’s standard features) to consider a switch. So, somewhat surprisingly, I have to give the nod here to the Accord.

Conclusion

In the end has the Kia Optima dethroned the Honda Accord? Absolutely not. However, the margin between the two cars has narrowed to the point that if you don’t want to step up to the Accord’s (or Camry’s) slightly higher entry point, then the Kia Optima with its snazzy styling, road manners and warranty package would be a top choice.