The redesigned Kia Optima outpointed the high-selling Honda Accord in a face-off between the two family sedans conducted by Consumer Reports. The Optima now ranks among the top 10 of all four-cylinder family sedans tested by the organization.
The Optima now ranks sixth among the four-cylinder family sedans tested by Consumer Reports, ahead of the Honda Accord and behind the Suzuki Kizashi. The Optima edged out the Accord by just one point in CR's testing. Both vehicles achieved "Very Good" overall scores.
Top-scoring four-cylinder family sedans include the Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry, in that order.
Kia's Optima drew praise from Consumer Reports' engineers for its handling, transmission, controls, fuel economy (25 mpg overall in CR's own tests) and its crash-test results. Its lows included road noise, low rear-seat height, and limited rear visibility.
Consumer Reports also released its evaluations of three midsized SUVs, the redesigned Ford Explorer, the gas/electric Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg TDI. The Highlander Hybrid outpointed the others and posted an "Excellent" overall road test score. The Touareg came in close behind the Highlander and now ranks fourth overall in CR's ratings of midsized SUVs. The Explorer fell short in this competitive market segment and now ranks 17th out of 19 vehicles in the category.
The June issue, which goes on sale May 10, also features results of a survey of subscribers on independent repair shops vs. car dealers, with independents getting higher marks in satisfaction and a special look at a reader's 2004 Toyota Prius, which traveled some 214,000 miles-yet still delivers similar fuel economy and performance to when it was brand new.
All the reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org.Updated daily,ConsumerReports is the go-to Website for the latest auto reviews, product news, blogs on breaking news and car buying information.
Consumer Reports has current ratings on dozens of makes and models of both sedans and SUVs. All five newly-rated vehicles were either redesigned or freshened for 2011.
2011 BMW 1M NA Launch Photo Gallery
2012 BMW 6-Series NA Launch Cabo Photo Gallery
Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 Photo Gallery
2011 New York Auto Show Photo Gallery
New York Auto Show Preview Photo Gallery