# 2011 Mazda 6 vs. 2011 Kia Optima

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [February 10, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160 "2011-02-10T22:50:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Blwnkl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Blwnkl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Blwnkl)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160/1 "2011-02-10T22:50:39Z")

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Interested in leasing a new car. Have it narrowed down to the 2011 Mazda 6 and the 2011 Kia Optima. Any compelling reason to choose one over the other?

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**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160/2 "2011-02-10T23:24:04Z")

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Test drive them both, and pick the one you like the most.  
Since you are just leasing, it doesn’t matter for price or reliability.

BC.

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**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160/3 "2011-02-11T00:04:21Z")

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Agreed, since it’s just a long term rental, get whichever you feel the most comfortable with.

If you were looking to buy, I’d say jump on the Mazda, no question.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160/4 "2011-02-11T00:12:29Z")

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Make sure that you sit in both of these models for an extended test drive.  
Most Kia models lack lumbar support for the driver, and I suspect that the Optima is one of the Kias that provides no lumbar support.

For me, the lack of lumbar support would be an instant deal-killer, no matter how much I liked the rest of the car.

If you get a backache after driving for an hour or so, you will soon learn to HATE a car.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-mazda-6-vs-2011-kia-optima/61160/5 "2011-02-11T00:13:16Z")

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If you’re leasing, choose the car you prefer to drive. Or the one you like the looks of. Or whatever criteria means most to you. You won’t have it long enough to worry about anything else.