[July 15, 2011] The Dallas Morning News Terry Box column [The Dallas Morning News] Tweet (Dallas Morning News (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 15--Kia no longer cruises Bargain Boulevard in hard-creased tin. How's that for a revelation? A short decade or so ago, most Kias looked as if they had been built in a barn somewhere by communists with big hammers. Lumpy and as undistinguished as government pool cars, Kias seemed to be aimed mostly at buyers on really tight budgets in need of something with a long warranty. Some ran on bacon grease, I think. No one, though, is likely to say that about the slick, sophisticated 2011 Kia Optima SX I had recently -- a thoroughly transformed sedan that follows other recent Kia heavy hitters like the Soul, Sorento and Sportage crossovers, and the Forte compact. All of those vehicles rolled out of Kia's California studio, their designs pushed, penned or tweaked by Peter Schreyer, a former stylist at VW who has brought some real pop to the Korean automaker. In the new Optima SX, Kia can finally claim a complete car -- an affordable, practical sedan with looks, comfort and good performance. Is the sun cooling? Are Republicans advocating government takeover of all corporations? Are we getting raises? Probably not. But I think the success of Kia and affiliate Hyundai -- which owns 40 percent of Kia and shares platforms and engines with it -- is indicative of what can happen in the global auto industry today. Since everyone uses similar assembly equipment and processes, and generally has access to the same base of suppliers, all you really need are some hungry suits at the top, quality engineering, great design and a niche. No problem, huh? -- just ask struggling Suzuki. But the point is that an automaker with enough resources and resolve can redefine itself now in less than a decade. Take a look at my $30,000 black Optima, which shares its architecture with the even more successful Hyundai Sonata, a striking sedan that is becoming the new Toyota Camry. Kia is supposed to be a bit more daring and sporting than Hyundai to attract younger buyers -- intent you can see in the Optima. The big news with my Optima was its optional new engine, a terrific, turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder with 274 horsepower and a meaty 269 pound-feet of torque at a low, diesel-like 1,750 rpm. I highly recommend it. Tied to a six-speed automatic, the smooth, gutsy motor is rated at 22 miles per gallon city and 34 highway and, like all Kias and Hyundais, is backed by a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Though stronger feeling below 5,000 rpm than above, the engine still has plenty of suds throughout its 6,500-rpm range, pushing the 3,400-pound Optima to 60 in a quick 7.2 seconds. Stout little engine While the new four operates in relative silence -- with none of the great burps and whistles of a hot-rod Subaru -- it's also well-mannered. Even under hard acceleration, the stout little engine never shoved the front-wheel-drive Optima around with torque steer. Considering the car's head-turning styling, though, I wouldn't mind a bit more exuberance spilling out of the exhaust pipes -- but that may just be me. Although the Optima and Hyundai Sonata are virtually identical in size, each has its own identity. Like all Kias, the Optima wears Schreyer's curved "tiger-mouth" grille flanked by long, fierce headlamps that wrap into the front fenders. The top of the windshield subtly mimics the grille as it flows into a curving top, which I thought was a nifty touch. The Optima muscles up visually with a slightly raised hood. But the car has smoother sides than the Sonata, sliced only by a conventional character line that runs along the tops of the fenders and doors, and a second, taut line down low. I could live without the trite, horizontal nonfunctional "vents" on the front fenders and the odd 18-inch wheels -- which looked like large Cuisinart blades -- that overpowered the car's modest 225/45 tires. Also, its thick rear roof pillar reminded me of the Lexus IS, which didn't seem too original. But overall, the muscular Optima still looks distinctive and fresh. Steering the last flaw Likewise, the contemporary black interior in mine had a couple of, uh, different touches, but they seemed to suit the car nicely. The seats, for example, were stitched in black leather with perforated centers and trimmed on the edges with an unusual two-inch band of silver cloth mesh. Meanwhile, the shift knob featured what appeared to be a dark eye of some sort in its center. A swoopy dash in very decent black plastic included a hooded instrument panel with black-faced gauges. A comfortably conventional back seat offered good head- and legroom. Treat your passengers to a spirited run. As with lots of Kias, the steering is not one of the Optima's strengths -- thick and numb, but reasonably quick. Though the car leans slightly in curves, it remains composed at moderate speeds. Understeer, however, becomes an issue as the speeds really begin to increase. But with its firm, fluid ride, the Optima is more cruiser than corner-carver anyway. Despite the mediocre steering -- one of the last real flaws Kia needs to fix -- the Optima is an impressive car, looking and feeling more New Age German than Asian. It's a significant step up for a brand that still sells $12,000 cars -- enough, I suspect, to keep some Toyota, Honda and Nissan engineers awake at night, not to mention number-crunchers from Ford and GM. Call it Kia's Revenge, I suppose. AT A GLANCE: 2011 Kia Optima SX Type of vehicle: Front-wheel-drive, five-passenger midsize sedan Price as tested: $30,840 Fuel economy: 22 miles per gallon city, 34 mpg highway Engine: 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque Transmission: Six-speed automatic Weight: 3,385 pounds Performance: 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds Safety rating: Not rated yet SOURCES: Kia Motors America; Motor Trend ___ To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dallasnews.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Dallas Morning News Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. 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