2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

Every time we read Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy, we find something new. Adams was able to spin phrases that hit on
multiple levels, and his work requires repeated attention to be enjoyed in full.
We wouldn't be surprised if the folks at Kia have
been reading a bit of Adams themselves, because their latest lineup has been
commanding multiple looks.

With new models being churning out both here and abroad, Kia is offering a
range of vehicles that hit consumer needs on multiple levels. The latest member
of the family is the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid, and it's looking to speak to the
green-tinged car-shopping contingent.The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is a rather
handsome beast that looks just like its non-battery-pack-carrying siblings � at
least at first. Just as they do on their more conventionally powered cousins,
the lines on the Optima Hybrid flow rearward from the car's slyly smiling face
and into the slick greenhouse. A subtle shoulder line helps break up the Optima
when viewed in profile, and a set of distinct LED taillamps integrate those same
details neatly into the rear end.

Kia engineers have employed a variety of tweaks to help the hybrid on its
quest for better fuel economy. The non-hybrid Optima enjoys a Nissan
370Z-like 0.29 coefficient of drag, but Kia wanted to get that number
a bit lower for the hybrid. To accomplish this, engineers fitted their
gas-electric baby with grille shutters, a plastic belly pan, rear spoiler,
slightly revised rear fascia and a lower ride height. The result? The Optima
Hybrid's drag coefficient is down to just 0.26.

Further setting the Hybrid apart from the standard Optima are a set of
gas/electric-specific 16-inch alloy wheels, low rolling resistance Hankook tires
and the prerequisite "Hybrid" badge affixed to the rear end. The tires are
perfectly suited for the job and offer a fair amount of grip, yet the rubber's
still built for coasting along smoothly and comfortably. They also handle the
3,490-pound Hybrid's curb weight, an increase of 267 pounds over the 2.4-liter
gas-only Optima (3,223 pounds) and 105 pounds over the 2.0-liter turbo (3,385
pounds). Beyond badges and weight, it's inside where this Kia packs a few
surprises.

The 2011 Optima Hybrid is the first Kia vehicle to feature the company's new
UVO information, entertainment and communication system. We had a chance to sit
down with Henry Bizeh, the national manager of infotainment & connectivity,
for a walk-through of the new unit.

As impressive as UVO sounded when Kia announced the system, it's even more so
in person. The system grabs hold of our speech flawlessly, which it should, as
it's a version of the same technology that Microsoft first developed for Ford's
popular SYNC system. It's hands-free done right, and we're glad to see it
finally appear in more vehicles than just ones wearing blue ovals. UVO, however,
is just one part of the Optima's value equation.

For $26,500 (plus $750 destination and handling), buyers receive an eight-way
power adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone temperature control, push-button start
and a back-up camera. Leather is used to wrap both the steering wheel and shift
knob, and both front windows are one-touch up and down. From the driver's seat,
our backs were supported, our bottoms coddled, and the entire dash cants
slightly towards the driver's seat, a design element we're always keen
on.

This efficient four-door comes generously equipped right out of the gate. Of
course, should you desire a touch more luxury, Kia offers its Hybrid Premium
Technology Package. This big bundle of kit will cost you an extra $5,000, and
adds 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Nexen tires, a panoramic sunroof, heated
and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and HID headlamps. The package
includes a few other small upgrades, but it's the upgraded eight-speaker
Infinity sound system and navigation system that stand out as the main
attraction. Strangely, the higher-quality setup ditches the UVO system. Sure,
the screen gets larger and you have GPS on your side, but we hope Kia combines
its premium audio offerings with UVO sometime soon.

As you'd expect, this midsize isn't just an interior tech machine, it's also
a lightweight at the pump. The 2011 Optima Hybrid is rated at a fuel-sipping
pace of 35 miles per gallon city and 40 miles per gallon highway. For
comparison's sake, the gas-only 2.0-liter model is rated at 24/34, though in our
experience, the numbers it can generate are often better than that.
Unfortunately, we didn't get enough time with the car to see how the Hybrid's
fuel economy shakes out in real world driving.

The Optima Hybrid's thrifty estimated figures arrive courtesy of a 2.4-liter
four-cylinder that works in tandem with a 1.4-kWh electric motor. Together, the
duo pumps out 206 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 195 pound-feet of torque. A 34kw
lithium polymer battery system supplies current to the electric motor, and it
weighs in at 95.9 pounds. All of the that energy is routed through a six-speed
automatic transmission.

As drivers, the conventional torque converter gearbox is a welcome respite
from the CVTs that whine away in most gas-electrics, yet we didn't expect it to
turn the Optima Hybrid into a sporty green machine. Good thing, too, as this Kia
isn't very quick. It can get out of its own way, but we were grateful for the
transmission's good old-fashioned kickdown when we needed a bit more go.

Around town and in everyday driving, there's more than enough power to dole
out, although occasionally the ECU doesn't deliver the exact amount of energy
that your right foot is expecting. The throttle modulation takes some getting
used to. Of course, an extra dose of motivation is only an intermittent
requirement, and we actually found it far more fun to see how long we could keep
the car running on voltage alone. As per Kia, the 2011 Optima Hybrid is capable
of moving along at 62 miles per hour solely on the battery pack's electric
juice. Getting the car to flash the EV light in the dash is as simple as easing
off the throttle pedal. Like Deadliest Catch fisherman in between strings, all
four cylinders take a well-deserved nap until they're once again called into
service.

Once you pull away the extra features and hybrid components, this is still
the same Optima that earned positive marks in our full review, albeit one that's down on trunk space a
bit (hybrid gubbins chop stowage space to just 9.9 cubic feet, down from 15.4).
Its steering accuracy is solid, though feel is still missing. The brakes grab
the wheels and haul in speed rather nicely, and they do this regardless of
driving mode thanks to the hydraulic power brake booster.

The Kia's biggest trump card is arguably its pricing � the Optima hybrid is
feature-rich and wallet-light compared to the rest of the competition. The Ford Fusion Hybrid starts $2,100 higher. The Toyota
Camry Hybrid starts $550 more, is rated at just 31 mpg city/35 mpg highway, and
produces 187 horsepower, which is 19 less than the Optima Hybrid. It's the same
story for the $300 more expensive (and nearly gone) Nissan Altima Hybrid, which yields 33
mpg city and highway while producing 198 horsepower.

The costlier Fusion aside, the only real contender seems to be the Hyundai
Sonata Hybrid, which starts $705 less than the Kia Optima Hybrid.
Hyundai's midsize hybrid also matches the Kia in fuel economy ratings and power
figures, but the Optima Hybrid is treated to a lot more equipment to make up the
difference, including the aforementioned UVO infotainment system.

It may not be Hitchhiker's Guide-good just yet, but Kia's story has
become quite an interesting novel of its own. It may have started a bit slow for
some, but it's certainly picking up and the 2011 Optima Hybrid is its latest
chapter. It doesn't take the processing power of Deep Thought to tell you that a
well-equipped and fuel-efficient midsize sedan should be a sales hit. Now, if
Kia can just bump the highway fuel economy rating to 42...