Kia Optima Hybrid: Review notes

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: This 2011 Kia Optima hybrid is one of the biggest surprises of the year for me, as to just how good it is. First, it looks really good. There's a terrific exterior design that will have people mistaking it for something from a German manufacturer. Second, the interior is very slick, with a big radio interface and a nice array of simple, straightforward gauges. You don't need to read the owner's manual to operate anything here--it's all simple and intuitive.

Third, the hybrid drivetrain is extremely smooth, with nary a hint of when the system switches between gasoline and battery drive. You have to be looking at the dash to see the revs drop to zero to know that the eco drive has kicked in. And it will do so if you back off the throttle at freeway speed, which is surprising to me.

Fourth, the back seat is ginormous. Several times, I was hauling three passengers, and everyone sitting in the back seat commented on how spacious it was.

OK, the negatives: I'd like the seats to be a bit more comfortable, with more lateral support and thigh bolsters. The tires seem rock hard, with a nod more toward fuel economy than ride comfort. Likewise, the suspension doesn't seem very well tuned for these tires. The ride could be a bit suppler. Third, something (I'm assuming the battery pack) is taking up a bunch of trunk space. Actually, all things considered, my biggest disappointment was in the lack of trunk space. And it if that's the worst comment I could come up with, well, I'd call this a ringing endorsement.

For $32,000, there is a ton of technology wrapped up in a fine-looking, relatively comfortable package. Anyone looking for hybrid propulsion needs to look at this before making a decision.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Great wrapper--especially those optional uplevel wheels, which work perfectly with the black paint job. Inside, it's more of the same, with well-upholstered seats and good ergonomics throughout. I've noted it before on the Optima, but even the turn-signal stalk is contoured to fit your finger comfortably. If you do the little things well, chances are the big things--like the whole car--will turn out well. That's the case with this Kia midsize sedan.

The hybrid powertrain does swap seamlessly from gasoline engine to EV or a combination of the two, and it is a fuel-sipper. My complaint is that sometimes the built-in bias toward fuel economy seriously hampers performance. I noted a definite lag in on-demand acceleration--enough that I found myself second-guessing whether the car had enough power to punch out of a slow lane and into a faster lane of traffic. With this kind of stated power and torque on tap, that shouldn't be an issue. 

As one might expect, the dull response is particularly noticeable in super-economy eco mode, which fights back against fuel-sucking quick launches, but I also noted it in normal operating mode. The trans also seemed to get hung up in a lower gear from time to time, as though it was expecting an upshift command that never came. I also thought the brakes were way too touchy at low speeds, making simple parking and driveway maneuvers far more of an adventure than necessary.

That aside, the car is beaut and barely used any fuel in my 80-mile roundtrip commute, and it appears to have the range to tackle most of Iowa and Nebraska without stopping for fuel. Usually, that requires something with a diesel engine, so if range is a priority, this Optima hybrid is worthy of consideration.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: I'm a big fan of the Optima lineup and have recommended these cars to numerous people over the past few months. My drive in an SX version earlier this year really won me over for its combination of style both inside and out, quality interior materials and lively drive character for the class.

For Kia's first crack at a hybrid, I'm rather impressed. As Roger and Bob mention, the system is seamless in operation, switching between the various modes of all-engine, electric propulsion from the lithium-battery pack or a combination of the two. However, I also did notice the transmission getting hung up in lower gears. 

My major gripe with all hybrid vehicles is the brake-pedal feel and response. While they've certainly come a long way in recent years, they remain abrupt, with most of them still feeling too much like on/off switches. This Optima hybrid is more or less the same, but there is a little room to modulate grab if you're careful enough. 

The chassis tuning is on the stiffer side, which I like, and steering is responsive with a decent amount of feedback available through the wheel. Unfortunately, being a hybrid with low-rolling-resistance tires, grip is lacking a bit and hampers reflexes. Then there is the extra weight from the battery pack, which is a double whammy of things that effect handling. Even so, the Optima hybrid got around fine and wasn't a snooze to drive. Compared with the Ford Fusion hybrid and the Toyota Camry hybrid, it is the most entertaining to drive midsize hybrid sedan.

Fuel-economy rating is on par with the competition. The Fusion hybrid has a 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway rating, while the latest Camry hybrid in SE form returns 43 mpg city/39 mpg highway numbers. The Kia gets 35 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, which is competitive with the more-established entries. 

If you're in the market for a midsize hybrid sedan, this Kia would be my pick.

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid 

 

Base Price: $27,250

As-Tested Price: $32,250

Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4 hybrid; FWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 166 hp @ 6,000 rpm (total system power 206 hp), 154 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm (total system power 195 lb-ft)

Curb Weight: 3,490 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 37/36.6 mpg

Options: Premium Technology package including navigation with backup camera, Sirius traffic, Infinity audio system, panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink and compass, 17-inch tires with alloy wheels, HID headlights with auto leveling, leather seat trim, driver's seat memory, heated and cooled front seats, heated outboard rear seats, heated steering wheel and power-adjustable front-passenger's seat ($5,000) 

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