sonata vs optima

[veeman]

I was with my brother in law a few weeks ago car browsing (he's in the market but not in any rush)

He wants a "regular" car, a mainstream midsizer. 

He already test drove the camry and sonata and he really dug the sonata.  I was trying to steer him towards the optima telling him that it's the same car with better (subjective) styling.  Looks more "manly".  Where we were test driving, the kia dealership was next door to the hyundai dealership and both the sonata and optima were less than 100 feet from each other.  After looking at both cars from the outside basically next to one another, he said he liked the sonata significantly better.  I asked him why because to me the optima looks cooler.  He said:

"the sonata looks like a lexus.  its soft and luxurious looking.  it looks more expensive than it is.  the optima looks sporty but as if its trying to hard to be a sports car when its not."

interesting take which I never heard before.  i still think the optima looks better but i understand his take on it.  the new sonata is growing on me more and more.  I thought its design would age quickly but now I'm not so sure. 

[Laconian]

I agree with you with the Optima. I think the age of puffy creases galore is drawing to an end. I think that the Optima better embodies the shape of things to come. And the Optima optioned up with the black glass roof, is incredibly attractive... even if you think it's trying to be something its not.

[SVT666]

The Optima is a sexy car.  It's also a comfortable car.  It also drives well.  Unfortunately that's as far as it goes for me.  I drove one and it was almost completely devoid of character.  It also turned the wipers on whenever I signaled to turn right.  No explanation for that.  It was brand new on a dealer lot.  That would worry me about quality and reliability if a brand new car that I was the first to drive had an electrical issue like that right from the assembly plant.

[2o6]

Optima is a very, very, very attractive car. Like SVT said, it's pretty boring to drive, though.

[Madman]

The problem with excessively bold styling is that it tends to date very quickly.  And, IMO, the Sonata is an excessively bold design that already looks stale and dated.  It's the Sonata which, to my eyes at least, looks as if it's trying too hard.  The Optima is a more classically handsome design which I think, in years to come, will hold up very well.

Given a choice between these two, the Optima gets my vote every time.

[Rupert]

Optima looks alright, Sonata looks like a Camry/random blob.

[mzziaz]

The Optima looks far better than the Sonata, imo.

The Sonata looks very similar to the euro i40, btw.

[Hachee]

I happen to like the Sonata, more so than most in its class.  But the Optima, IMO, is absolutely one of the best looking cars available now, regardless of price.  There's not a line or detail I don't like.

[CJ]

[2o6]

Whatever Hyundai has is working; I've heard people say the Optima is ugly and they think the Sonata is beautiful.




IMO, Kia has the best looking mainstream lineup out today. Rio IMO is best in class styling, Soul looks good, Optima looks amazing, Sportage is my favorite small SUV. Their only weak spot might be Forte, but it's not bad looking (and it's about to be replaced anyway)

[veeman]

CJ, those shots you've taken of your dad's sonata is advertisement material.  Looks great.  Also it isn't trying to deceive anyone.  I think that's where hyundai got the veloster wrong.  It's not styled properly for an econobox.  The way it looks, which I don't think is bad, one should expect it to handle much better than it does.  Like a golf gti or mazda 3.  It's like eating a low fat cake.  On the outside it looks great.  Get into it and it's terrible.  

[Mustangfan2003]

My sister just got a 2011 Sonata.  She could've got a new Optima for the same price but was dead set on the Sonata.  I drove it Saturday and it's a pretty nice car.  Just let down it wasn't a turbo. 

[CJ]

CJ, those shots you've taken of your dad's sonata is advertisement material.  Looks great.  Also it isn't trying to deceive anyone.  I think that's where hyundai got the veloster wrong.  It's not styled properly for an econobox.  The way it looks, which I don't think is bad, one should expect it to handle much better than it does.  Like a golf gti or mazda 3.  It's like eating a low fat cake.  On the outside it looks great.  Get into it and it's terrible. 

Thanks! Unedited from my iPhone 4S!

[SVT666]

My sister just got a 2011 Sonata.  She could've got a new Optima for the same price but was dead set on the Sonata.  I drove it Saturday and it's a pretty nice car.  Just let down it wasn't a turbo. 

That base engine is totally gutless.

[Atomic]

CJ, those shots you've taken of your dad's sonata is advertisement material.  Looks great.  Also it isn't trying to deceive anyone.  I think that's where hyundai got the veloster wrong.  It's not styled properly for an econobox.  The way it looks, which I don't think is bad, one should expect it to handle much better than it does.  Like a golf gti or mazda 3.  It's like eating a low fat cake.  On the outside it looks great.  Get into it and it's terrible. 

Absolutely right! Professional pics for sure. Nice work, CJ!

[Atomic]

I would seriously test drive both cars and go with the one I like better. It's my understanding they drive differently, with one riding better (Sonata), the other handling nicer (Optima).

[ifcar]

That base engine is totally gutless.

Not for a four-cylinder midsize sedan -- it's one of the punchier engines in its class.

[2o6]

Not for a four-cylinder midsize sedan -- it's one of the punchier engines in its class.

I agree 100%, I actually question the need for the turbo model.

[SVT666]

I agree 100%, I actually question the need for the turbo model.

Seriously?  I drove the Optima and Optima Turbo.  I drove the NA Optima first and even my wife who isn't a horsepower freak in the least said there was no way she would buy a car that slow.

[SVT666]

Not for a four-cylinder midsize sedan -- it's one of the punchier engines in its class.

At least by the seat of my pants the Accord 4 pot feels faster.  The Optima was painfully slow.

[ifcar]

"Painfully slow" seems like an exaggeration to me for a $25,000 car running 0-60s in the low 8s. I mean, sure, it's no G37, but "painful"?

[SVT666]

"Painfully slow" seems like an exaggeration to me for a $25,000 car running 0-60s in the low 8s. I mean, sure, it's no G37, but "painful"?

Yeah.  Put my foot to floor and there was just no "get up and go".  To be fair, I had the whole family int he car, but that's when the power matters.

[Vinsanity]

What I noticed in hindsight is that the ongoing refinement of cars every year is creating an unintentional impression that they also feel slower. Namely, the lack of engine noise inside the cabin and increased isolation gives the feeling that there isn't much going on when you put your foot down. I even noticed this in the current model CTS compared to mine. My first impression was that the newer car felt gutless due to its greater heft and lighter torque, but now I think that impression is because my car feels positively visceral in comparison to the newer one.

[SVT666]

What I noticed in hindsight is that the ongoing refinement of cars every year is creating an unintentional impression that they also feel slower. Namely, the lack of engine noise inside the cabin and increased isolation gives the feeling that there isn't much going on when you put your foot down. I even noticed this in the current model CTS compared to mine. My first impression was that the newer car felt gutless due to its greater heft and lighter torque, but now I think that impression is because my car feels positively visceral in comparison to the newer one.

No, the NA Optima really is slow. 

[TBR]

No, the NA Optima really is slow. 

No it isn't. Not for what it is.

FWIW, I don't think either looks particularly good, especially the Optima.

[Atomic]

No, the NA Optima really is slow. 

I hear you... Not everyone's experience is the same. If driving a cars side-by side and the same cars in the same order, there might be more agreement between drivers. I once test drove an Maxima Altima SE Hbrid (when they first came out) and love everything about it, but it was very, very slow to me and I would imagine many others, too, but my experience came after testing the latest Maxima, already having owned several.

Also going from a turbo version of a car to the base engine, I have felt underwhelmed.

So... You are all right 

[GoCougs]

I happen to like the Sonata, more so than most in its class.  But the Optima, IMO, is absolutely one of the best looking cars available now, regardless of price.  There's not a line or detail I don't like.

Agree on the Optima; they did a fantastic job.

[Xer0]

The Optima does look great.  But I've seen a couple with tiny rims (16?) and it just looks awkward with those tiny things. 

[CJ]

No, the NA Optima really is slow. 

Your definition of slow needs reevaluation.  It may not be the speediest thing on the planet, but it's perfectly fine for 99% of the world.

[SVT666]

Your definition of slow needs reevaluation.  It may not be the speediest thing on the planet, but it's perfectly fine for 99% of the world.

I'm not 99% of the world.  Even my wife thinks it's slow and she generally doesn't give a shit about power.