Kia Optima Turbo - Impressive!

The Kia Optima is all-new for 2011, so I've taken the opportunity to drive all three flavors: "regular," Hybrid and Turbo.

I drove the Kia Optima Hybrid recently and although it was very pleasant and got great environmental scores from the EPA, the fuel economy, 27.5 mpg, seemed low for a hybrid. I just tested the Turbo this week and while it exhibits all the positives of the other two--stunning styling, apparent high quality interior, a smooth ride, near silence, this time, I had power too.

In urban life, most acceleration takes place at freeway onramps, and the Optima Turbo was happy to oblige. Even in quick corrections on the highway, or bursts during in-town traffic, this Optima gives a feeling of being in control.

All three Optimas use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. The standard car gets 186 horsepower out of it while the Turbo boasts 274. That definitely makes a difference. The Hybrid mixes a 166-horsepower version of the engine with a 40.2 horsepower electric motor.

My test Turbo Optima got 22.5 mpg, notably less than the Hybrid, but felt much more muscular on a day-to-day basis.

You make the choice. The four-cylinder feels like a six but definitely pays off at the pump. And the car's aggressive good looks grow on you. Optimas start around $20,000.

Kia Optima Hybrid--Beautiful but How Green?

I just finished up a very pleasant week with the new Kia Optima Hybrid. I'm impressed with it's overall quality, smoothness of operation, striking styling and roominess. I'm not sure I'm as excited about the fuel economy.

I earned 27.5 miles per gallon in about 400 miles of driving--much of it freeway at 65-70 mph. In my in-town driving, I did note some electric-only motoring (nice) but overall the car drives just like any other modern vehicle--nearly silent, ready to roll, neutral handling, and so on. You do feel a little of the switch from electric to gas under some circumstances, but it's not bothersome.

So what this mileage? The Optima Hybrid is comparable to the Toyota Camry Hybrid or Nissan Altima Hybrid--not the high mileage Prius. The EPA rates the Optima Hybrid at 35 City, 40 Highway. The Camry Hybrid is rated 31/35 (I got 31.5 mpg in a 2009 test car) and the Altima rates 33/33 (no real world numbers on that one yet). None of these cars claims the 50 mpg of a Prius so the Optima is sort of in the ballpark. I'd be interested to see how the numbers stack up over a longer test period.

The Greenhouse Gas scores from the EPA are all quite high--a good reason to drive a hybrid. The Optima gets 8 on both Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas (out of 10). The other two both get a virtually equivalent 9/8.

Meanwhile, Kias continue to amaze overall. I just with this one did a little better at the gas pump.

Kia Optima Hybrid Another Advance for the Brand

I got a chance tonight to drive Kia's new Optima Hybrid. Just arriving in dealerships now, it offers another choice in the green midsize sedan field. While its 35 City, 40 Highway mileage is less than, say, a Prius, it is fully competitive with cars like the Camry Hybrid or the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

And what a nice package it is. I cruised along effortlessly hearing practically nothing. Like a full-time hybrid should do, it alternates between gas engine, electric motor or both--and neither at stops.

Kia has introduced seven new cars since the sporty Soul arrived in March of 2009, essentially remaking the brand. With exciting interior and exterior styling by led by former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, and lots of standard equipment for a good price, Kia has grown each of the 17 years since opening shop in the U.S. in 1994. Kia's market share, while small, has gone up significantly, making Kia one of the big success stories of the last few troubled years for the auto industry.

Prices are quite reasonable, starting at $27,250, including shipping, for the standard hybrid. With the $5,000 Hybrid Premium Technology Package, you get a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, a navigation system and more.

I'll have more to say when I've spent a week with this car.