2011 KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo Review and Performance Comparison

KIA Optima Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2011 KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo is a powered by a Petrol Straight 4. This variant of the KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo is the 6 speed / Auto version and was first brought out around 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.

This particular KIA Optima has a 1998cc Turbo Petrol powerplant driven by the KIA Front Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Straight 4's include the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce

The Optima shares its Petrol Straight 4 engine configuration with the likes of the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce and the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Optima's Front Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the earlier 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1535 kgs (3384 lbs) places the KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo in a similar weight category as the 2025 Maserati MCPURA Cielo 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo and the excellent 2025 Toyota Supra A90 Final Edition, give or take 50kg.

The KIA Optima shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (276 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 1998cc 16 valve, Straight 4 engine produces around 274 bhp (204 kW) @ 6000 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (276 bhp) and also the 2024 BMW 1 Series M135 xDrive (296 bhp).

The Turbo Straight 4 throws out 269 lb-ft (364.7 Nm) @ 4500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 BYD Sealion 7 Comfort (280 lb-ft) or the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (288 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2011 KIA Optima in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2016 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo Sportback (203.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the KIA Optima.

The KIA Optima has a power to weight ratio of 178.5 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2011 Optima 2.0 Turbo means you're competing with the 2016 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo Sportback (203.3 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 4Motion DSG 2.0 Turbo (203.3 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo generates around 175.2 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 1984 Chevrolet Corvette C4 350 (200.2 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 1992 Jaguar XJ R-S 6.0 V12 (200.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo can accelerate 0–60mph in 6.30 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 6.5 secs. Acceleration rivals to the KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo include the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (6.30 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (6.30 secs).

The Straight 4 engine of the KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (6.40 secs) and the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (6.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo and the BMW X5 M50d 3.0 Diesel Turbo

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2011 KIA Optima can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.33 secs with a trap speed around 95.0 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the BMW X5 M50d 3.0 Diesel Turbo (14.34 seconds @ 95.0 mph) and a close race between the Plymouth AAR Cuda 340 V8 (14.34 seconds @ 95.0 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2011 version of the KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 Optima equals the Vauxhall-Opel Vectra 3.2 V6 GSi (154 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2011 KIA Optima 2.0 Turbo then there's the slightly slower the Vauxhall-Opel Vectra 3.2 V6 GSi (154 mph) or how about the impressive Ford Focus Wagon ST (154 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 2011 Optima Rivals List.
• 2011 Optima: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of KIA
• Compare the 2011 KIA Optima