Best looking Korean car

[2o6]

Go!

[Laconian]

Five years ago I would never have imagined saying this, but... the newest generation of Kia Optima. It looks good, not just in a "looks good, for a Korean car" kind of way.

[2o6]

Five years ago I would never have imagined saying this, but... the newest generation of Kia Optima. It looks good, not just in a "looks good, for a Korean car" kind of way.

Hands down, the best looking midsizer.

[Payman]

Hands down, the best looking midsizer.

I agree, along with the VW Passat CC. I priced out both, each with their own 2.0T and similar options, and the Optima came out almost $10,000 cheaper. I will definitely check out the new Optima when the local dealer gets them in. Actually, the Optima is called "Magentis" here in Canada.

[2o6]

Don't laugh

[Laconian]

Don't laugh

Can I still ?

[2o6]

Can I still ?

[ifcar]

Can I still ?

Not only can you, but you should.

[Laconian]

Not only can you, but you should.

Daewoos were blobby tin cans that weren't considered attractive even when new.

[2o6]

Daewoos were blobby tin cans that weren't considered attractive even when new.

I think it's an attractive design. There are a lot of cars that blow it out of the water, but for what it was it was very attractive.

Giugiaro styled it, and it was done very well.

[MX793]

I'm rather fond of the styling of the '03-'06 Tiburon myself.  In fact, I think I'd place it just ahead of the Genesis Coupe on the beauty scale.  Didn't care for the facelift in '07, though.

[Payman]

I'm rather fond of the styling of the '03-'06 Tiburon myself.  In fact, I think I'd place it just ahead of the Genesis Coupe on the beauty scale.  Didn't care for the facelift in '07, though.

Agree. The GC looks demented.

[2o6]

I'm rather fond of the styling of the '03-'06 Tiburon myself.  In fact, I think I'd place it just ahead of the Genesis Coupe on the beauty scale.  Didn't care for the facelift in '07, though.

I don't think the Genesis coupe is attractive at all.

[Laconian]

The GC looks like a case of trying-too-hard-itis. The Koreans seem to be susceptible to that. There is a point where adding more yields less - take the Sonata, for example. Creases and wavy lines EVERYWHERE.

[Payman]

The GC looks like a case of trying-too-hard-itis. The Koreans seem to be susceptible to that. There is a point where adding more yields less - take the Sonata, for example. Creases and wavy lines EVERYWHERE.

Kia did a much better design job with that platform. The Optima looks upscale Scandanavian, and the Sonata... not really sure what they were going for.

[MX793]

I don't think the Genesis coupe is attractive at all.

I'm not a fan of the weird dip for the rear quarter windows and the "Z" shaped beltline is kind of strange, but all in all I think it's a nice design.  Particularly in person.  But there's some awkwardness there that isn't found in the design of the early MkII Tiburons.

Now that I think of it, some of the weirder lines of the GC are akin to some of the lines (namely the disconnected/multi-tiered beltline accent) on the Pininfarina-designed MkI Tiburon.

[Onslaught]

[Onslaught]

Oh, and this one too.

[Payman]

Oh, and this one too.

I think the GC looks great in side profile... I like the aft window treatment and crease lines. The front end looks really strange to me though. Kind of like a demented jack-o-lantern.

[Laconian]

One thing's for sure, the trend is good.

More than I can say for any Japanese make except Mazda (which is only middling - smileyfaces have got to go).

[Payman]

2011 Sonata Hybrid. 

[Laconian]

2011 Sonata Hybrid. 

OMG NO

[MX793]

2011 Sonata Hybrid. 

Yeah, when I first saw pictures I was like "WTF did they do to the grille" and promptly began looking to see if they were going to change the grille on the regular Sonata to match.  Thankfully, they're not.

[2o6]

The new Accent and Elantra look good, though.

[Payman]

I dunno, Kevin. It's certainly polarizing, but I'd have to pass judgement in person on this one.

[SVT666]

Looks much better in the metal than in pictures.  I didn't like it at first, but now I'm totally digging it.

[Cookie Monster]

Looks much better in the metal than in pictures.  I didn't like it at first, but now I'm totally digging it.

I still hated it after seeing it in person.

[omicron]

I've always liked this:




Hated the interior, but the exterior wasn't bad at all.

[SVT666]

I've always liked this:




Hated the interior, but the exterior wasn't bad at all.

Nice looking car for sure, but it is far and away the most boring car I've ever driven.  Far more boring than a Camry. 

[omicron]

Nice looking car for sure, but it is far and away the most boring car I've ever driven.  Far more boring than a Camry. 

Best I only look, then.