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Kia Optima Makes 2016 North American Car of the Year Shortlist

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2016 Kia Optima SXL Driving

The Kia Optima has earned a spot on the shortlist for the 2016 North American Car of the Year Award

Since its North American debut, the 2016 Kia Optima has been kicking butt and taking names. The luxurious, yet affordable sedan has quickly established itself as the car to beat in the industry, raking in awards left and right. Now, the Optima is truly establishing itself as a big player in the automotive world after being named on the shortlist for the 2016 North American Car of the Year Award.

The 2016 Optima joins the likes of bigwigs like the BMW 7-Series, Cadillac CT6, and Chevrolet Camaro. This list also includes the Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Volt, Honda Civic, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Nissan Maxima, and Toyota Prius.

To determine the shortlist for what is considered the most prestigious award in the industry, 54 of the possible 57 member journalists from the United States and Canada voted for as many as 15 cars. Vehicles are eligible for this award only if they are brand-new or substantially changed. They also must be popular in the industry, ruling out exotic brands.

The winners are determined after the member journalists drive most or all of the finalists at the Hell Creek Ranch in Hell, Michigan. A list of three finalists will be presented in December, when a final vote will take place. The winners will be announced at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 12th.

Last year’s winner was the Volkswagen Golf.

More Photos of the Kia Optima:

News Source: Motor Authority