Long Term Update 3: 2011 Kia Optima SX

When Kia first started making cars it was known for three things: soft styling, soft suspension and small seats. We have already discussed how it has dramatically changed the styling of its all new Optima, but did they do anything about the seats and suspension? Short answer, yes, but let's look at what they have done. For far too long Kia seats, specifically the seat bottoms were far too small for our larger American frames. They always felt flat with nothing to support your thighs on the sides or from beneath. It was an extreme case of sitting on the seat, not in it. But, just like the styling, Kia has completely changed its seats.

Now, with the good comes the bad, and there is some bad about the Optima's seats. Kia took one page from the Germans they should have skipped, the one that says all seats that give you support must be very firm (Audi, Porsche). Now, not all the German manufacturers make their seats firm, some have managed to craft supportive seats that are also comfortable (BMW). Kia could have taken the route of the latter, but unfortunately it didn't, hence we have larger, more supportive, but hard seats.

View the original article here