Choose Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima

Relative novices to the mid-size sedan section, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima have not taken long to increase to the top of the class. The pair has gone from distant finishers to highly rated competitors that now rank in sales alongside car like the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion--and for strong reason, due to excellent fuel economy, great interior styling, class-leading value and available hybrid models.

As soon as you've narrowed down your alternatives to the South Korean-designed pair, even though, how can you select between them? Here we've rated them identically, which makes the option even more hard. For the most part, it comes down to styling, though there are subtle differences in handling too that may tip the scales in one direction.

Both the Sonata and Optima have some steering fundamentals and suspension. Interior and trunk space is quite comparable, too, with plenty of front-seat leg room and head room, with head room that's fine for all but six-foot adults and those any taller as well as above-average knee room in the back seat. Each has an all-independent suspension with a very tight, borderline firm, ride quality, and electric power steering that have more heft and somewhat more realistic sense in the Optima. Both the two sedans could use comfortable seats with longer bottom cushions, particularly on base models; ventilated and heated seats are an alternative on either, as is leather trim. Trunk space and small-item storage are quite good.

In safety and features, the Sonata and Optima have been leaders for their brands and for the most recent generation of family sedans. Both have earned outstanding safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA; Bluetooth is common on both, and a rearview camera can be had on either.

The Optima and Sonata have much more in accordance than any other two mid-size family sedans--no great surprise, since Hyundai has owned Kia since the early 2000s. Both are derived by a range of four-cylinder engines, from the basic normally aspirated cars with about 200 horsepower, to the 274-horsepower turbocharged versions, with manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Our choose: either with the turbocharged four and the automatic, a good pairing that executes quick highway passes without much turbo lag, replicating V-6 power without the drain on gas. Base fours are rated at 35 mpg highway--but turbo fours still earn an EPA-pegged 32 mpg highway. We've driven both hybrids, and think they have promise, but the 40-mpg-rated sedans require more drive train refinement before we suggest them.

Eventually, we think the selection between the Kia Optima and Hyundai's Sonata comes down to looks. Actually, the big difference is exterior styling and interior styling.Would you rather have the fluidic sculpture of the Sonata, or the dynamic, almost Audi-like appeal of the Optima?