Optima beats Camry, Accord in CR test, Altima still favorite; Explorer lambasted
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/" rel="tag">SUV</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2011-kia-optima-2-0t-first-drive/" target="_blank"><img alt="2011 kia optima 2.0t" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/03-2011-kia-optima-20t-fd-opt.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px; width: 630px; height: 418px;" /></a><br />
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2011 Kia Optima 2.0T - Click above for high-res image gallery</div>
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The mid-size sedan battle rages on year after year. Perennial kings are dethroned while new challengers emerge boasting fresh styling and a bountiful list of standard features. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/consumer+reports"><em>Con sumer Reports</em></a> launches its June issue today, and the institute's testers have put a host of family-minded four-doors powered by four-cylinder engines through a workout to determine which is the top dog. Ten vehicles were tested but, as Christopher Lambert will tell you, there can be only one.<br />
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As it has here at Autoblog Towers, Kia's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/optima">2011 Optima</a> draws big praise from the <em>Consumer Reports</em> crew. In fact, the Korean squeezes out a higher rating than the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/accord">Honda Accord</a>. It may have only beat the Honda by one point, but this represents a significant win for <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/kia">Kia</a>. The opinions of <em>Consumer Reports</em> are highly valued by a large number of car shoppers, and this victory ought to push the Optima further onto radar of the American car buying public. Interestingly, while the Optima earned a "Very Good" rating, it wasn't the comparison's overall winner, however, as the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/altima">Nissan Altima</a> (a perennial CR favorite) claimed the test's top spot, neatly trumping the Honda and the best-selling <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/camry">Toyota Camry</a> in the process.<br />
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One vehicle not fairing so well in the June issue of <em>Consumer Reports</em>? The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/explorer">2011 Ford Explorer</a>. Nineteen mid-size sport utility vehicles were rounded up for testing, and the Explorer wound up in 17th place - well behind the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/highlander">Toyota Highlander</a> Hybrid - a dismal showing for the Blue Oval brand. If you don't have an issue of CR in your mailbox, check out the official press release <a href="/2011/05/10/optima-beats-camry-accord-in-cr-test-altima-still-favorite-ex/#continued">after the jump</a> for more details.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/optima-beats-camry-accord-in-cr-test-altima-still-favorite-ex/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Optima beats Camry, Accord in CR test, Altima still favorite; Explorer lambasted</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/optima-beats-camry-accord-in-cr-test-altima-still-favorite-ex/">Optima beats Camry, Accord in CR test, Altima still favorite; Explorer lambasted</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 10 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/optima-beats-camry-accord-in-cr-test-altima-still-favorite-ex/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19936470/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/optima-beats-camry-accord-in-cr-test-altima-still-favorite-ex/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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