Today on Extreme Makeover: Automotive Edition is a homely Korean midsize sedan best known for, well, nothing at all. Previously, the Optima has been so nondescript in both styling and attitude that you would have thought Kia designed it specifically for rental fleets or maybe even the witness protection program. But thanks to an extreme makeover, the 2011 Kia Optima has emerged from its anonymous cocoon to be a striking butterfly of a family sedan. With sleek styling, substantial power and plenty of value, the latest Optima is an instant standout among its many rivals.

The redesigned Optima is based on the same platform used for the equally made-over Hyundai Sonata. While Kia tuned the suspension and steering to its own sportier specification, the Sonata's engines have carried over into the Optima virtually unchanged. Not a problem, though. Whether you opt for the 200-horsepower four-cylinder that achieves an estimated 34 mpg on the highway or the 274-hp turbo-4 that still achieves an incredible 34 mpg highway, you're getting a best-of-both-worlds powertrain. As a bonus, we've found these engines to be a bit quieter in the Optima than in the Sonata.

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