If the automaker to watch in 2010 was Hyundai, Kia receives that honor for 2011. Not only does Kia match Hyundai's promise of value and quality products, the Koreans have quickly figured out how to share important parts like engines and platforms without creating me-too vehicles that only have different badges. The differences between a Hyundai Sonata and a Kia Optima are significant -- both the exterior design and the interior execution.