Consumer Reports Ranks Kia Optima Over Accord - Ford Explorer Falls Short

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.



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Caraficionado - 5/10/2011 1:44:43 PM

-1 Boost

Go Kia!

Agent009 - 5/10/2011 4:13:32 PM

-2 Boost

The Koreans have upped their game while some of the competition have let their guard down. It was inevitable that they would gain some ground.

Joe_Limon - 5/10/2011 1:59:09 PM

+5 Boost

For once, I was wondering the same thing as you.

Joe_Limon - 5/10/2011 2:20:36 PM

+1 Boost

you seem to hate this website. Why do you keep going back? Is it like picking scabs?

Spectator - 5/10/2011 3:37:04 PM

+8 Boost

Does you have to ask this question...look who posted it.

Korea's one man automotive PR campagin.

Agent009 - 5/10/2011 4:11:49 PM

-1 Boost

Actually it is a press release as found on several other sites.

800over - 5/11/2011 11:51:05 AM

-2 Boost

FOr once I have to agree with 009....CR usually does mulitple tests within each category only showing 3-4 models at a time. Kia came out on top of that test....not perfect but they are getting better.

Agent009 - 5/10/2011 4:11:10 PM

+1 Boost

that was indeed my bad... I have corrected the title to reflect the Accord NOT the Camry.

speed123 - 5/10/2011 4:37:41 PM

+9 Boost

So this brand new car couldn't take down the 5 year old Altima, which is getting ready to be redesigned, LOL!! Good job Nissan!

poot66 - 5/10/2011 11:15:27 PM

+1 Boost

I agree the Kia looks really hot and the Accord got pretty fugly in the back I really don't understand why they did that to me it was perfectly fine before they added that ridiculous light that doesn't even light up though the chrome grille was definitely an improvement.

mggray - 5/10/2011 11:24:09 PM

0 Boost

Poot66, AND it doesn't even follow the line of the taillights! That drives me nuts every time I see it!!

lexusrox123 - 5/10/2011 8:07:56 PM

+6 Boost

So, the brand new Kia beat the 4 year old Accord? It would be disappointing if it didn't happen. Its not exactly groundbreaking news, especially since the Kia didn't get first overall.

jtz7 - 5/10/2011 9:00:00 PM

-3 Boost

"So, the brand new Kia beat the 4 year old Accord? It would be disappointing if it didn't happen. Its not exactly groundbreaking news, especially since the Kia didn't get first overall."

Lol, the 2006.5 Optima almsot won car of the year if it had the Sonata's 3.3 V6 enginge. But every midsize sedan lost that award to the Saturn Aura. What's the Nissan and Toyota doing losing that award to the Saturn Aura huh?

jtz7 - 5/10/2011 9:03:03 PM

-4 Boost

I can't wait to Hyundai outsells Nissan without Kia. I'm just dying to hear ya'll commets. Now give me my negative points even though that want change the fact Hyundai was only 3000 units away from Nissan last month in sales. And if Nissan is so great why can't the cube and juke outsell the Soul? Bring it on Nissan is already the weaakest of the three from Japan and it shows it. That Versa ain't s**t. How the heck you redesign the hatch but give the sedan a facelift?

poot66 - 5/10/2011 11:33:21 PM

+5 Boost

Hyundai/Kia will NEVER be what Nissan is you don't know what your talking about. For one the only reason they sale is because they are so cheap and their profit margins are no where near Nissan, Toyota or Honda. As soon as they have a REAL name and actually charge money for their products they will peek and that's when the real challenge begins. Nissan and other Japanese brands have a real reputation the world over that takes decades to build which is why people still buy Toyota's had that been Hyundai accelerating they would be done. It takes more to play with the big boys than FINALLY building "DECENT" cars.

UnbiasedAuthority78 - 5/13/2011 10:49:12 AM

+1 Boost

Poot....your comment is stupid!

irishmike - 5/10/2011 9:19:48 PM

+5 Boost

I'll buy a Kia, sure. As soon as I am assured it will feel as good as my 15 year old Accord does at almost 200K, never breaks--like the Accord, has impressive resale value, is still enjoyable to drive, etc.

chewy - 5/10/2011 9:59:11 PM

+1 Boost

What did they say about the Explorer, quite a low ranking for a brand new model?

jtz7 - 5/11/2011 11:59:37 AM

-4 Boost

I don't give damn if Kia never be where Nissan is. The Soul is crushing the cube. So now what what now what? Come on bring it on!!! Oh if Kia is selling because they are so Cheap? Why is it that Saturn and Suzuki ain't where Kia is then huh? What about mistubishi huh? Come bring on!!! We going talk about sales. Why is it that the Sorento is top ten best sellign CUVs in the states huh? Because they are cheap? Please you think the Optima is cheap. Heck the new Rio will outsell that Versa hatch that has the Mazda 3's side profile. I'm jtz, and Hyundai will over take nissan (don't put words in my mouth next time I said HYUNDAI HYUNDAI HYUNDAI not Kia)

jtz7 - 5/11/2011 12:01:14 PM

-3 Boost

You know what. You guys want to compare a new car to another new car huh? What about the Chrysler 200 huh? It aint' on that list is it? And since when did Suzuki make a better ride than a Honda? Oh wait but you guys didn't say that though huh? now give me my negative points.

jtz7 - 5/11/2011 4:16:38 PM

+1 Boost

So are Toyota, Nissan and Honda fanboys. Now give me my negative points. hurry up.

JBecket1 - 8/2/2011 4:31:52 PM

+1 Boost

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