2011 Kia Optima Earns Five-Star NHTSA Rating
The 2011 Kia Optima received an overall rating of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new crash-test rating system, the agency announced today.
Read Cars.com’s Full Review of the 2011 Kia Optima
The Optima’s overall composite score is composed of a five-star frontal, five-star rollover and a five-star rating for the combined side pole and barrier tests. The side barrier test is an area where other vehicles have shown weakness with the safety agency’s new testing format. The side pole test simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.
The 2011 Optima was named Cars.com Best of 2011 earlier this year, our site’s top award.
NHTSA also tested the Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan, Nissan Murano, Subaru Forester and Dodge Caliber. NHTSA’s crash-test ratings for these vehicles were downgraded from their 2010 scores under the new testing format. The Caliber and Forester scored particularly poorly in the side pole test, receiving a one and two stars, respectively. You can see the full scores for those vehicles in the graph below.
The Optima, Fusion, MKZ and Forester were named Top Safety Picks for 2011 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That means the sedans received the best possible score of Good in the agency’s crash tests.
Out of the 24 passenger cars, 20 SUVs, two vans, and nine pickups NHTSA has tested so far, only 13, including the Optima, have earned a five-star rating under the revamped system. The other 12 are the Acura MDX, BMW 5 Series, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Volvo XC60 and Honda Odyssey.
NHTSA is still finalizing scores for vehicles like the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CTS, Chrysler Town & Country, Nissan Cube and others, for the 2011 model year.
2011|Kia|Optima
2011|Dodge|Caliber
2011|Ford|Fusion
2011|Lincoln|MKZ
2011|Mercury|Milan
2011|Subaru|Forester
2011|Nissan|Murano
