Kia Optima beats Infiniti G35 and Chevy Malibu in new IIHS test

Tests undertaken by America’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveal that a number of popular 2008-model midsized sedans have shown marked improvements in their side-impact safety ratings.

However, the news isn’t all good as the majority of cars tested saw only marginal improvements in their rear-crash results, a segment which costs the insurance industry around $8.5 billion every year.
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silver1 - 4/10/2008 10:26:41 AM

-10 Boost

I don't know how they did it. Must be part of those trade secrets that Kia/Hyundai stole from Toyota a while back..

w209w114 - 4/10/2008 10:44:32 AM

+5 Boost

Denial is a normal human reaction.

bimmer - 4/10/2008 1:30:18 PM

+2 Boost

@silver1

And Toyota had those "trade secrets" from where...!!??

w209w114 - 4/10/2008 10:46:11 AM

+3 Boost

It should be, they have only had like 25+ years to get it right.

w209w114 - 4/10/2008 10:45:27 AM

+5 Boost

Kias have been proving themselves as very safe cars lately compared to the competition.

KZ258 - 4/10/2008 10:51:24 AM

+2 Boost

kia beatin infiniti? thats bad, very bad

w209w114 - 4/10/2008 11:46:53 AM

+5 Boost

more denial...

sholemon - 4/10/2008 2:52:31 PM

+1 Boost

http://www.carsdirect.com/infiniti/g35/safety

That link seemed to say that the G35 got 5stars both front and back side impact.

Whelan - 4/10/2008 4:34:04 PM

+2 Boost

I'm pretty sure people are not cross shoping the Optima to these cars. I had an Optima as a rental loaner once, Got it right after they gave me a Kia Sportage 2.7L V6. Car was very wishy washy on the roads, had no acceleration, braking was soft, and everything about it screamed cheap plastic.

dano100 - 4/11/2008 10:23:02 PM

+1 Boost

Damn, my wife just bought a G35X. We should have driven the Kia, given it's high resale value and stunning performance. I have often wondered why so many Kias are on the used car lots when they have a 10yr/100K warranty. Could it be even though the fix is free you don't want the car in the shop more than it is in your garage?

Htay7500 - 4/13/2008 7:27:52 PM

0 Boost

for some reason, I'm seeeing a trend which is that Korea makes some safe cars.