Kia

Review: 2011 Kia Optima EX

It's rough being a little brother. Sure, your family loves you as much as your big brother. But you get hand-me-down clothes and toys, the noogies never end, and you always have to play Luigi.

Kia is out to prove that sibling rivalry makes it stronger. As little brother to Korean powerhouse Hyundai, Kia often plays second fiddle with new models, technology or fresh designs. Yet Kia's forging a corporate identity unique from Hyundai, offering sportier, more aggressive designs than its luxury-oriented Seoul-mate. Take the 2011 Kia Optima for example. It shares its engine and basic mechanical underpinnings with the best-in-class 2011 Hyundai Sonata, but its style and attitude sets it apart. After a week behind the wheel of a 2011 Kia Optima EX, it's clear this little brother might give Hyundai a few noogies of its own.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3

Review: 2011 Kia Sorento SX All-Wheel Drive

Kia is a rising star in the automotive universe. It was only a few short years ago that the company was synonymous with cheap, disposable transportation. But now, like its parent company Hyundai, it's a go-to brand, one that's selling cars because they're desirable in their own right.

Case in point: The 2011 Kia Sorento. This midsize five-plus-two-passenger crossover slots in above the company's smaller Kia Sportage crossover. It's stylish, comfortable, packed with features, and since its introduction has become one of the hottest selling vehicles in Kia's lineup. To find out why, I drove one for a week.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.3