You
need not look hard to find a sexy, practical sedan these days. If you want the
looks of a costly Italian sedan and high fuel economy need look no farther than
the 2014 Kia Optima
Hybrid, which has few changes for 2015.
The
mid-size front-drive Optima sedan has made Kia a significant player in the
U.S. market. The gas-electric hybrid version has helped things along.
With
racy styling, high fuel economy and reasonable prices, the Optima Hybrid seems
as if you can have your cake and eat it, too.
Changes
for 2014 include front and rear fascia updates that increase aerodynamic
efficiency, front LED lighting, newly designed and more aerodynamic 16- and
17-inch alloy wheels that reduce weight and drag and a unique grille and
lighting elements. A series of additional vents in the unique front bumper
increase air flow and reduce fuel-robbing wind drag.
There’s
also prominent new Hybrid
fender badges and an upscale $400 white leather package and a $1,500
“panoramic” sunroof.
An
$1,100 Convenience Package contains an 8-way power adjustable drivers seat and
rear camera display, while a $700 Technology Package seems worth the money. It
has blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert systems, along with a
back-up warning system.
The Kia Hybrid develops a combined
gas-electric rating of 199 horsepower and a healthy 235 pound-feet of torque,
thanks partly to a sophisticated 2.4-liter four-cylinder 159-horsepower engine.
robust 47 horsepower electric traction motor, strong hybrid starter generator
and powerful 47kW lithium polymer battery. (The Optima line also contains a
turbocharged gas engine.)
Standard
is a smooth, efficient six-speed automatic transmission that causes only a
brief pause on highways when you floor the gas pedal before a fast pass–after
which the car continues to shoot forward and accelerates briskly to higher
speeds. Acceleration also
is quick off off the line in city driving.
The Kia Hybrid comes as the
well-equipped $25,995 LX model, while the higher-line $31,995 EX has items
including automatic temperature control with rear vents, heated front/rear
seats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Infinity audio system, navigation system with rear camera
display, leather seat trim and heated steering wheel.
Estimated
fuel economy of
the LX is 36 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on highways. The EX provides
an estimated 35 city and 39 highway. That’s pretty good for a swift
110-inch-wheelbase four-door that weighs 3,496 ((LX) and 3,622 (EX) pounds.
A
17.2-gallon fuel tank provides nearly an estimated 700-mile highway cruising
range for both trim levels.
This
is no sports sedan, but acts much like one with reassuringly firm, quick
electric power steering, sharp handling, supple ride and anti-lock brakes with
a brake-assist system and progressive pedal action. The EX has 17-inch wheels,
which enhance handling.
Helping
keep things stable are electronic stability, traction control and vehicle
stability management systems. There also is an array of air bags.
The
tire pressure monitoring system is a splendid idea, considering that studies
long have shown that relatively few motorists check their vehicle’s tire
pressures.
Large
door handles and wide door openings make it easy to slip into the quiet, roomy
interior, which has a new
instrument cluster, pushbutton start, a mixture of large control knobs and
clearly marked smaller controls.
Activating
the push-button ignition brings to life a 4.3-inch thin-film-transistor LCD
instrument cluster that’s easy to see even in bright sunlight and optional
high-resolution 8-inch navigation and telematics screen.
While
the backseat is roomy, the rear seats are positioned low and may make shorter
occupants feel rather closed in. The car’s styling is largely responsible for
that.
Another
downside to the racy styling is a low front end that can be damaged by, for
instance, high barriers in some parking lots and marginal driver rear vision
without use of the power-folding outside mirrors.
The
trunk has a wide opening and is generally, but not impressively, spacious.
The
2014 Kia Optima Hybrid shows
you can have a racy looking, roomy, fuel-saving, fun-to-drive sedan. Such a car
would have been considered impossible not all that long ago.
Pros: Revised styling.
Racy look. Roomy. Fuel stingy. Fast. Good handling. Supple ride. Many features.
Cons: Low front end. Low
rear seats.
Bottom Line:
One of the raciest-looking, fuel-stingy mid-size sedans.
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