I share some of yours. My complaints about the SX are relatively minor:

1. Tilt-down side mirrors for parallel parking
2. Heated steering wheel (miss that from my BMW)
3. Make two-stage switches more resistive (sunroof and turn signal first-stage switch points are way too easy to click past)
4. Find a new location for the damn heat/cool seat buttons
5. Make the "Supervision" screen more "super" and actually use the real estate and high pixel density to show more than one piece of info at a time, without making me cycle through it all.
6. Here's a big one -- FIX THE BUG that doesn't let me place calls when I'm in bluetooth audio streaming mode. I can receive calls, but not place them. Have to switch to Sat or FM first.

 

I think my biggest gripes are:

1.) Convert the trunk hinges to the smaller, scissor design, like found on the Maxima.

2.) Design a solid exterior door handle so they won't sound so cheap and flimsy then they snap back against their bases.

3.) Provide 4 mounting holes for the rear plate

4.) Reinforce the jack points - I've NEVER seen them flex and bend as much as they do on this car.

5.) Enlarge the oil filter hole in the bottom shield. I had to remove mine last week because it filled up with oil during an oil change.

6.) Better quality leather. It's tough, but it doesn't feel very good.

7.) Work on the MP3 playback software so it doesn't get confused when you try to search through the song list. My Koup NEVER got mixed up and said "ERROR", but the Optima does it all the time.

8.) Make the lock / unlock "Beep" louder and omit that stupid little horn....I turned mine off and I suspect most other people have too. The Lexus "Beep" can be heard across a parking lot. I can barely hear mine from behind the car.

9.) Terminate your contract with Nexxen.

 

1. Better tires
2. More sound deadening material in the engine compartment
3. Side mirror tilt down when reversing
4. Motorized folding mirrors (I think the 2012s have these)
5. Louder alarm. The little 'meep meep' sound doesn't bother me as far as letting me know the alarm has been activated. In fact, I like the fact that it isn't loud - though the sound is a bit embarrassing. I wish the actual alarm, when triggered, would at least blast the real horn instead of the 'meep meep' horn. Although, if someone were trying to steal your car, they would probably be laughing too hard to drive it away.

BTW - The trunk does have a finger hold slot. It's on the inside of the trunklid.

 

So far most gripes are fairly trivial and shouldn't be to expensive for Kia to correct. Pay attention Kia. It would be nice if some of the things on our 'want list' could be sourced in the aftermarket or even the dealership. Things such as better trunk hinges and some reinforcement of jack points would cost Kia and Hyundai only pennies per unit. I might even try to retrofit better/proper trunk hinges down the road. Unfortunately, special leather would make these cars far to costly to stay in their price demographic. Curious as to how the aftermarket will respond to Kia and Hyundai's new found success. I hope they go beyond all the stick on crap that seems to sell so well.
RB

 

Replace the piece of garbage tires on my car

 

- Outside temperature should be in the center stack next to the clock (horrible spot currently)
- Power windows switches need to be moved up, too far back
- Be able to disable the compass and roof ambient lighting (annoying at night sometimes)
- Make it so you can use presets and seek to next channels via steering wheel buttons at the same time
- Make remote start standard with the keyless go system
- Put a power outlet inside the center console
- Put a power oulet on the back of the center console for the rear passengers

I would think once it's built at the U.S. plant, it will get different tires like the Sportgage and Sorento (Hankook I think?).

 

I agree with the suggestions above (but don't really care about remote start). rogersmj and I have very similar priorities, apparently.

I'll add two improvements that already exist, according to the manual:

- Rain-sensing wipers
- Tilt adjustment for the front headrests

And some new ones:
- Move iPod connectors to center console, or put a cover over that space.
- Keep iPod "Random" setting after a call/power off, etc.
- Add height and lumbar adjustment to the passenger seat
- Locking glovebox (secure out-of-sight storage when I valet park at the airport)
- Small nets or open bins on the trunk sides (Sonata has the latter)
- My Big One: Put more sport into "Sport-tuned suspension" - the shocks could really use more rebound damping, and a fatter rear sway bar for better turn in. Spring rates and ride height are fine, however.

 

The only thing I wish for especially in the SX is better side bolstered seats, the bottom feel a little too flat, and dont keep you in the seat around the corners!

 

The worst part about the trunk hinges is that my 07 optima lx had smart hydrolic lifts inside the trim of the trunk, meaning it does not extend into the trunk area at all. Very good design.

 

I agree, the design of the 06-10 Optima trunk hinges was much better, and the current design is a HUGE step back.

 

I agree with everything above and would like to add that they should move the USB/iPod plug inside the center console so that it's not in plain view. I have a dedicated iPod just for my car and I've never had to take it out of my other cars. I don't like leaving it in plain view.

 

I also think they need to move the door speakers somewhere different. When I wear shorts and drive for a long time, the speaker grille is imprinted in my leg, since that is where I like to rest it.

 

2012 will have heated steering wheel option. I've seen a trial for the trunk hinges to have plastic covers over them. Does not change the bad design but it does improve the look. Also the 2012 Sorento has the tilt down mirrors, so maybe the Optima will get this option some day.

 

I wonder if the heated wheel can be adapted to a 2011 SX? Unfortunately the smaller diameter steering wheel and paddle shifters featured on the 2011 SX kept the heated wheel out of any SX option group. Having never seen a 2011 Optima EX with the heated wheel package where is the on/off switch located for the heat funtion and where do you think the switch will be located on the 2012 SX?
RB

 

I agree with all of Rogersmi and his comments. Especially the fact that the supervision screen only shows one thing at a time. I can't imagine that is more than a little software fix. My little two cents at this point, put some tensioners in the cup holders to hold smaller diameter items. Twice I have doused my leg with soda when cornering because the can flops around, or maybe I just corner too hard. lol.

 

These are the only three annoyances I could think of that haven't been covered already (SX w/Premium & Tech):

Remove the gap between songs when playing mp3s off of USB/CD (is it that hard to implement read-ahead & buffering?).

Either a separate display for the clock, or show the clock while the GPS/Nav is booting (takes forever, and I just want to know what time it is when I get in the car without having to wait for it to boot, then push either "Agree" or some button if I left it in GPS mode when I shut the car off).

Have the car go completely off before starting again after doing an emergency stop of the engine or always require the brake pedal to be depressed before the engine will start (Note: if you come to a complete stop in Neutral, hold the Start/Stop button down to shut off the engine so you can listen to the radio, then put it in park, the next time you hit the start/stop button it will start the engine, even if your foot is not on the brake).

 

Have the car go completely off before starting again after doing an emergency stop of the engine or always require the brake pedal to be depressed before the engine will start (Note: if you come to a complete stop in Neutral, hold the Start/Stop button down to shut off the engine so you can listen to the radio, then put it in park, the next time you hit the start/stop button it will start the engine, even if your foot is not on the brake).

Sounds like a bug to me. Did you try starting it in gear too to make sure it won't start (or rather will start only in N or P)?

 

Side Vents

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but I persoanlly am not a fan of the fake outside side vents - to me it cheapens the design - which is otherwise beautiful.

So I would suggest tha KIA remove them from the 2013 model - though I doubt that will happen since it seems to be a key design element of the new optimas.

Is it just me? Do most of you like or dislike the side vents?

 

I dislike the vents as well but the rest of the car is so great-looking that I can certainly put up with them.

 

We all know that Kia needed to cut a few corners to be able to offer so much car for the money. If you were designing next years Optima what what would you change on this already remarkable car (keep it real and affordable)?

Add a trunk finger hold slot to close the trunk. An owner should not have to touch bodywork to close the trunk.

RB

Doesn't yours have the little black closing handle on the underside of the trunk on the right side>

 

Upon further review of my SX the answer is yes. To supplement that factory finger hold (which I don't use) I bought a polished stainless steel trunk close assist 'thingy' that bolts to the bottom two holes of the licence plate. It's the width of the entire licence plate (think of a licence plate width, 1" x 1" piece of angle iron, with two holes to attach it to the back side of the plate). It provides a simple one inch shelf for your fingers to grip. It simplifies closing the trunk as your hand naturally goes to it without having to rotate 90 degrees to grasp the factory finger hold inside the trunk lid. I found it on a Mercedes accessory site.

 

I believe they all do...at least the SX's do and I don't see why the LX and EX models wouldn't be the same.

 

I would add:

1. More sound deadening, especially in floor and doors and firewall - that tire roar is something else on rougher road - it can be very fatiguing. And the DI engine is really loud, quiet that son of a gun up! Cutting dbs and tire noise would go a huge way towards making this car feel more premium. In fact I have driven many cheaper cars that have a lot less noise - Subaru Legacy is one example - I had a 2010 as rental once for a job interview, and the car was great - interior design was a little different, but it was a very solid car, pleasant ride, no noises or creaks, quiet, and it handled great! No steering or shock issues. And price point was about 24-25k

2. Suspension - improve rebound a little, and stiffen it up just a bit - make the other versions family cars, make this an actual sport sedan - tune that suspension!

3. Steering - better feel, less nervousness - I have had several actual sports sedans, and they had much better handling while still being compliant friendly. Lots of lower-priced FWD cars have great handling - Civic SI, Legacy, Passat, GLI and GTI, etc., Kia can do it as well. Shoot, Hyundai has the Genesis coupe (which has great handling & steering) and the sedan, (with which they have worked out the rebound dampening issues also), so Kia, fix this please.

I don't think they can fix materials issues due to the price point, but hey, extra sound deadening can't cost that much.

4. Exhaust sound - just a slightly better note - right, acceleration & engine sound like a sewing machine.

5. UVO - fix the UVO system. Functionality is crap, and there is a bug or glitch with iPhones and many of the UVO's that affects sound quality.

 

First thing I would do is fix the automatic headlights!! That's just crazy the way they come on in the middle of the day.

Next I would adjust the distance to empty display to actual adjust up or down as the avg. MPG changes.

Put a maintenance Minder in the EX model

Admittedly all minor issues, but would add functionality

 

First thing I would do is fix the automatic headlights!! That's just crazy the way they come on in the middle of the day.

I think it must be the nature of the system. I had an Impala that did the same thing and my F-150 does the same thing. I even replaced the headlight sensor on the Impala without any improvement. It is worse in the fall and early winter due for some reason.

 

Minor:
The cup holders need tension grips, and both should be deep.
The front seat headrests are a little too forward and need the ability to adjust forward/back.
Maintenance minder needed for the EX.
Volume control from UVO.
My own EX-T gas mileage is disappointing thus far.