New 2021 Optima looks ..........Futuristic .

[xot1]

 

[Waynerm002]

Waiting for the press release and ride and drive. I really hope they do a GT version with that 2.5t, at 300 HP/TQ like the N version Sonata is touted to be.

 

[xot1]

Waiting for the press release and ride and drive. I really hope they do a GT version with that 2.5t, at 300 HP/TQ like the N version Sonata is touted to be.

Will you buy one?
It will be much inferior to the Stinger in terms of performance, ride, handling, NVH etc.

 

[duperre]

Why it looks like the spacecraft from Arrival lol

 

[BlueByYouGT]

NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) etc.

What makes you say that? My 2014 and 2017 Optimas were both more solid and we'll put together than my Stinger.

Ride and handling will certainly be different because it isn't set up as a RWD Grand Tourer, but I don't know if "inferior" is the correct word to describe the way the Optima handles. Depending on the type of ride you are looking for many would prefer what they get in an Optima over what the Stinger offers.

 

[xot1]

What makes you say that? My 2014 and 2017 Optimas were both more solid and we'll put together than my Stinger.

Ride and handling will certainly be different because it isn't set up as a RWD Grand Tourer, but I don't know if "inferior" is the correct word to describe the way the Optima handles. Depending on the type of ride you are looking for many would prefer what they get in an Optima over what the Stinger offers.

I had an 2016 optima before the Stinger and inferior is the word that comes to my mind for like everything but second row space. Maybe the cars are tuned differently in the US.

 

[BlueByYouGT]

I had an 2016 optima before the Stinger and inferior is the word that comes to my mind for like everything but second row space. Maybe the cars are tuned differently in the US.

Or you're judging it from the perspective of someone looking for a sporty ride.

The only thing my Stinger beats my 17 SXL at is performance and exterior looks.

 

[xot1]

Or you're judging it from the perspective of someone looking for a sporty ride.

The only thing my Stinger beats my 17 SXL at is performance and exterior looks.

The seats are not nappa leather, the plastics used in the cabin are cheaper.. Sound insulation is worse. Maybe your optimas are made better than ours...

 

[BlueByYouGT]

The seats are not nappa leather, the plastics used in the cabin are cheaper.. Sound insulation is worse. Maybe your optimas are made better than ours...

Yes, it may be a regional thing. Either our Optimas are made better or your Stingers are made better.

My last Optima was better equipped than my GT1. Quilted Nappa leather, 360 cam, adaptive cruise, front seat ventilation, 4 seat and steering wheel heaters, squeakless panoramic sunroof, soft touch everything, rear window shades, etc, etc, etc...

If you actually analyze each car you will see most of the tech in the Stinger was passed down from the 2015> Optima SXL. Alot of what I had on my Optima wasn't even an option for any trim level of the 2018 Stingers.

 

[xot1]

Ok I can already find differences here.

No quilted nappa leather
No 360 cam
No second row heating
SQUEAKING pano sunroof

 

[BlueByYouGT]

Ok I can already find differences here.

No quilted nappa leather
No 360 cam
No second row heating
SQUEAKING pano sunroof

That's weird. I've never understood why Kia does things that way. First year Stingers in the U.S. were missing a lot of features that were available in S.K, Australia, and Canada. I'm sure Kia has some big brained accountants working in a basement some where making these weird decisions.

 

[westcoastGT]

That's weird. I've never understood why Kia does things that way. First year Stingers in the U.S. were missing a lot of features that were available in S.K, Australia, and Canada. I'm sure Kia has some big brained accountants working in a basement some where making these weird decisions.

Kia USA was to blame , they spec the cars .

 

[Waynerm002]

I still have my 2017 Optima hybrid and I feel it is quieter inside than the Stinger. That though, could be attributed to noisier tires on the Stinger however, our US market Optima SX-L and Hybrid EX are top of the line for their respective class but to get some of the SX-L goodies, you would have to get the Plug-in hybrid. Things like the 360 camera and nappa leather weren't offered on the Hybrid EX. I think the Stinger in Korea got the luxury car treatment but not for the US. I don't believe all our windows are laminated, just the front ones, we don't have 1 touch up/down window switches on the rear windows and I feel the sound insulation is less as well.

I first drove an Optima EX with the 2.4L engine in 2016 when the were first released, the quiet cabin, supple ride quality and clean sounding audio system made it feel like you were driving a luxury car. We ended up going with a Volvo S60 T-5 R Design which wasn't as quiet but I got a great lease deal on it, when the KIA dealers weren't wiling to play ball on their new, at the time, SX-L's. A test drive of the 2017 hybrid had me trading it 2014 to get the upgrade. While I wanted a 2.0T Stinger, it had more cabin noise than the Optima and I wasn't going to do that. I did test an A5 2.0T Premium and the noise was a little better than the Stinger 2.0T and closer to the Hybrid however, the 3.3T Stinger beat it in price and options.

Will I get another Optima? Probably. Would I give up the Stinger for it? That's something I will have to look into later. I saw a video from a Korean presenter that mentioned the AWD version might have an electric motor driving the back wheels. That to me says plug-in hybrid and if it made as a Sport hybrid. I would be down for that and trade the Optima hybrid. If they do something similar with the Sorento, I would take the Optima and trade the Stinger so the wife could have her hybrid SUV.