MOTOR RIVALS

The all-new 2016 Kia Optima is a symbol of the Kia brand's maturation through continuous refinement and obsessive attention to detail. An instant hit with consumers looking for a fresh alternative to an otherwise staid segment, the Optima has been KMA's top-selling vehicle for three consecutive years, and the all-new model is poised to continue that success. Conceived under the watchful eye of Kia's president and chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, with modern and instantly recognizable design cues, the Optima maintains its athletic identity but rides on a chassis that is longer, wider and stiffer for improved ride and handling and a more spacious cabin. Available with three engine choices, including a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that's mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), the Optima is more confident than ever on the road. Offered in five trim levels - LX, LX 1.6T, EX, SX and SXL, the all-new 2016 Optima is priced aggressively with a starting MSRP of just $21,840 for the LX with a 2.4-liter engine. Because the previous generation Optima was such a success story for the brand, Kia's designers had to strike a delicate balance, retaining the identity of the vehicle while, at the same time, making a confident move forward to keep the car modern and fresh. Sweeping contemporary surfaces and modern architecture inspired the design of the all-new Optima, revealing a sophisticated and dynamic sedan that is instantly recognizable yet has more road presence than ever.

Powertrain

The all-new Optima is available with three engine choices, striking a performance balance between sportiness and fuel efficiency. Two powerplants carry over from the previous generation, the 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder, available on the LX and EX models, and the 2.0-liter GDI turbo engine, available on the SXL and SX Turbo models. While the engines have yet to receive EPA certification, the 2.4-liter is estimated to produce 185 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 178 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. The 2.0-liter turbo is expected to generate approximately 247 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,350 rpm. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic® shifting while the SX and SXL trims add paddle shifters. Both engines have been retuned for fuel economy and better performance and drivability with maximum torque now available at a lower RPM.

All new for the 2016 model is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. The 1.6-liter will be offered on the LX trim. Pushing out an estimated 178 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a stout 195 lb.-ft. of torque at just 1,500 rpm, the new engine mates to a seven-speed DCT, a first for the Kia brand. The transmission optimizes the engine's responsiveness for a sporty feel that doesn't sacrifice fuel economy. All three engines channel energy through the front wheels.

Chassis

Improving ride and handling was a top priority for engineers. Overall, the chassis is lighter and stiffer, resulting in improved steering response, high-speed stability and handling. Moving the suspension location points of the front and rear sub-frames outward optimizes suspension geometry for a smoother ride over uneven pavement. Where the previous Optima made due with dual bushing mounts, increased lateral stiffness was achieved with a four-bushing mount system for both sub-frames. The increased stiffness pays dividends in improved steering response and tractability through corners. More robust wheel bearings up front and the addition of larger dual lower control arms at the rear also help refine the all-new Optima's ride and handling characteristics. Available Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) improves steering response with a higher gear ratio.

Technology

Kia's cutting-edge connectivity system, UVO, comes standard with four additional eServices not previously available on Optima: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score. Additionally, Optima is Kia's pilot vehicle for the introduction of AndroidTM Auto and Apple® CarPlay (late availability), which allow drivers to access a suite of core functions from their smartphones. After connecting their smartphone to the head unit via the vehicle's front fast-charge USB port (another fast-charge USB port is located in the rear seat), the 8-inch touchscreen screen displays the smartphone's most important features. Core functions including music, messaging, navigation and voice calls are available via the screen, the steering wheel or via voice command. Kia is one of the first to deliver this technology, which is available for select Android phones operating with Lollipop or Apple phones operating with iOS8.X or higher.

While the standard six-speaker audio system will satisfy all but the most demanding enthusiasts, true audiophiles will gravitate to the available Infinity® Premium Audio System, which includes 14 speakers, Clari-Fi™ technology and an upgraded 630-watt digital amplifier. Clari-Fi is a patented music restoration technology that rebuilds audio signals that are lost in the digital compression process. This technology breathes new life into your favorite music, restoring a high-fidelity listening experience to any compressed digital source. Optima's premium Infinity audio system also comes equipped with next-generation QuantumLogic™ Surround technology, which extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multidimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and detailed.

The all-new Optima takes convenience to the next level with a long list of available technologies across the various trim levels. Available on every Optima is a rear-camera display while SX and SXL trims offer an available 360-degree Around View Monitor. Available driver-aid technology, including Advanced Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) - which, under appropriate conditions, will bring the vehicle to a complete stop to potentially avoid a collision or reduce damage - makes the task of driving easier and more convenient. Also available for the first time on any Kia vehicle are Bi-function HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Lamps (DBL) and intuitive High Beam Assist (HBA), which recognizes oncoming traffic and automatically switches the lights to low beam until the opposing vehicle has passed.

Safety

The 2016 Optima features a uniquely engineered body that combines various high-tensile strength steel alloys and sits on a chassis that is stiffer and more durable thanks to the increased use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). With more than 50 percent of the body constructed from AHSS, the all-new Optima represents a 150-percent increase over the previous car. The greater use of structural adhesive by more than 450 percent over the previous generation improves NVH and contributes to structural rigidity. Engineers also added more hot stamped components to the all-new Optima, a 350-percent increase over the 2015 model. This body structure helps provide crash protection, better driving dynamics, and is the foundation for a quieter ride.

Crisply styled and aerodynamically efficient, the ninth-generation Honda Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe body designs and engineering features are the most sophisticated in the Accord nameplate's history. Every aspect of the body is tailor-made to improve every aspect of the Accord ownership experience, from more precise ride and handling to a quieter interior environment, along with enhanced visibility and increased fuel efficiency. The Accord's uni-body uses a large percentage of high-strength steel, which gives the Accord high structural strength for improved ride quality and more precise cornering. The Sedan's body design is bold and decisive, sleek and fluid, while the Coupe body design is rakish, taut and athletic. In both body styles, extensive use of aerodynamic detailing, including expanded use of under-covers, improves the Accord's aerodynamic efficiency, which directly benefits fuel efficiency. For 2016, development work on the ninth-generation Accord sedan body has centered on increased rear body rigidity in order to significantly improve both ride quality and handling. Particular attention has been paid to increased torsional rigidity with incremental improvements in bending and lateral rigidity as well. Development work centered on how to further smoothen the flow of air both under and around the sides of the body. The Accord Sedan and Coupe both get a major facelift. All 2016 Accord models feature sportier, more sophisticated and expressive styling cues, including restyled front and rear bumpers fasciae, a new grille and new taillight designs, as well as new aluminum wheels for all models and trims.

Powertrain

The 2016 Accord Sedan and Coupe are offered with two advanced engines - a direct-injected (DI) 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, and a 3.5-liter V-6 that is the most powerful engine offered in a Honda sedan to date. Available transmissions include a sporty and fuel-efficient continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the 4-cylinder engines, unique 6-speed manuals for the 4-cylinder and V-6 engines, and a 6-speed automatic for V-6 models.

The direct-injected 2.4-liter i-VTEC inline 4-cylinder powerplant is the base Accord engine, providing 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft. of torque. With its high-flow exhaust system, the Accord Sport Sedan 4-cylinder engine generates 189 horsepower and 182 lb-ft. of torque.

The available 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivers 278 horsepower at 6200 rpm and 252 lb-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm. On V-6 models with 6-speed automatic transmission, the engine also features Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) variable displacement technology. Depending on driving conditions, the engine operates on three or six cylinders to help boost fuel efficiency or power as needed.

The V-6 engine can be paired with a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual transmission, or a 6-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control. The V-6 is designed to run on regular unleaded fuel, and has an anticipated EPA fuel economy rating of 21/34/26 mpg city/hwy/combined (Sedan).

Chassis

The 2016 Accord received numerous engineering changes to its chassis design with the aim of further improving both ride and handling while creating greater differentiation in the performance characteristics of different models, in particular the Sport Sedan and Touring Sedan and Coupe. All 2016 Accords apply higher performance dampers and new compliance bushings. All models get new front and rear high performance dampers designed to offer increased response especially in the initial stage of body movement. Development work has centered on reduced internal friction and increased linearity, resulting in the redesign of the oil channel aiding both ride comfort and handling precision.

Accord Touring trims (Sedan and Coupe) get further upgraded Amplitude Reactive Dampers with variable suspension stroke, providing for an even more refined ride quality and improved body control during cornering. The Touring trim also gets new hydraulic rear subframe bushings for reduced high-frequency vibration.

Technology

The new Honda LaneWatch™ display, included on Accord EX, EX-L and Touring Sedan models and EX-L and Touring Coupe, uses a camera located below the passenger-side mirror to display an expanded rear view of the passenger side roadway on the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID).

The Accord audio and digital experience is also significantly upgraded for 2016 with the application of a new 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface (EX and above trims) featuring Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto, as well as newly available HondaLink Assist (e911) and HD Radio. Smartphone pairing is now simplified with a single USB cable connection, no longer requiring a separate HDMI cable connection. The new Display Audio system serves as the interface for new Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto, offering a multitude of new functions and features, including smartphone-linked navigation (Apple Maps or Google Maps), audio streaming, voice-controlled SMS text messaging and more.

Safety

Featuring a host of new standard and available technologies, the ninth-generation Accord Sedan and Coupe offer a wide range of active and passive safety and driver assistive features and technologies. For 2016, all Accords can be equipped with Honda Sensing™, among the most comprehensive suites of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies in the midsize class.

Also, all 2016 Accords feature a standard Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and Expanded View Driver's Mirror. Also, for the first time, Touring trims feature new auto high-beam headlights, which enhance nighttime visibility and driving convenience by automatically defaulting to the high-beam setting and switching to low beams when an oncoming vehicle is detected.

Inside, passive-safety features include a total of six airbags, including dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, improved new SmartVent™ front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. The SmartVent side airbag construction helps mitigate the risk of excessive airbag deployment force while eliminating the need for the prior Accord's Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).