Has Kia really brought an affordable hybrid sedan with top notch tech to America with its 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid?
Yes! This automotive journalist, green expert and professional road test reviewer says the 2011 Kia Optima has potential to be perhaps America’s most perfect hybrid sedan.
Why? The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid has it all: an affordable price, great fuel economy, good looks inside and out, fast gas-electric performance, top safety marks and the industry’s best infotainment technology platform (thanks to Microsoft and Nuance/Dragon).
But is this much-talked-about hybrid really worth the price? Again: Yes!
Remember, we are talking about Kia here and words like: stunning, stylish, comfort, luxury and performance. Plus, we are talking about value for the money when it comes to low base price for the luxury features and higher-than-average fuel efficiency even for a hybrid.
Sure, the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid has really stiff competition from Ford Fusion Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid. After my test drive, I would even pit this sexy sports car against luxury hybrids such as Lexus HS 250h and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which cost thousands of dollars more.
Pros
· A top price of $31,500 for a fully-loaded hybrid luxury/near luxury sedan.
· Exterior is a brilliant fusion of Euro sedans from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, giving Optima a sexy, sporty and sophisticated design.
· Interior is roomy, comfortable and has loads of standard luxury features and details such as saddle stitching on the leather seats.
· Gas-electric engine is mostly fast and real-world mileage tests (40 mpg hwy!) confirm EPA estimates.
· First-ever Kia to come equipped with UVO infotainment, which is the most powerful hands-free in-car system so far for digital music, navigation, traffic and weather.
· 2011 Optima (not hybrid specific) achieved the hard-to-get “Top Safety Pick” award.
Cons
· As Kia’s first-ever hybrid, the 2011 Optima Hybrid isn’t as tested as most of the other above competitors.
· Ideal for those who want luxury at a good price, but may not satisfy true status seekers.
· Kia needs to upgrade interior dash and central console materials by steering away from cheap-looking plastics and using a more upscale metal or wood finishes.
· Cargo space was surprisingly small.
Ready to hear more about the Kia Optima Hybrid’s exterior, interior, performance, trim levels and pricing? Read on here.
2011 Kia Optima Hybrid: Exterior
Like most people, it’s hard to believe the 2011 Kia Optima looks so damned good. This sophisticated, yet highly modern exterior is one of the reasons the Kia Optima Hybrid is more distinctive than some of its competition such as Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid.
Yes, the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is both sexy and sporty. So, how can it be a Kia?
Kia design engineers worked hard to make the 2011 Optima look distinctive. They did an excellent job making you question: “Is this a new Mercedes or BMW?”(Of course, both luxury car brands don’t make a production-level hybrid let alone a relatively inexpensive one.)
Plus, the Optima Hybrid model has a few more unique features, including its front grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, head lamps, fog lamps, tail lamps, heated outside mirrors, front and rear lower bumpers and Hybrid side sills. A green hybrid badge also sits next to the Optima badge.
What makes Kia different from similar sedans from luxury car brands is the face. The open-mouthed matte black and shiny chrome grille on the 2011 Kia Optima series is certainly stunning and brings sporty performance to mind.
The rest of the “face” pleases as well with its wide and sturdy stance, low front fender with fog lamps (in premium version only), sculpted hood, wide front fenders. The side view is just as pleasant and racy with its sleek windows, sculpted side lines and chrome accents. If equipped with the panoramic sun roof (only comes with “technology package” option), the all-glass roof on the 2011 Optima makes this ride look even more modern from the outside. The behind is all BMW with its cat-eye tail lamps, big trunk lid booty and beefy lower bumper and, as always, lots of chrome accents.
On a recent road test of a 2011 Kia Optima SX Turbo, I dubbed the overall exterior design: sporty elegance.
One exterior design to mention in the 2011 Kia Optima is the wheels. Using a flat five-spoke design, these wheels seem to appeal more to car enthusiasts rather those who usually buy new cars from classic luxury brands.
At first, I didn’t like the design, but then it grew on me more and more. Why not have performance wheels on my eco-friendly family sedan? As a travel editor and automotive journalist, I would be more than proud to drive this sexy sedan into any five-star resort’s valet.
So, the outside of the 2011 Kia Optima is hot, but what about the inside? And what about performance, safety, trim levels and pricing?
2011 Kia Optima Hybrid: Interior
Inside, the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid (especially if equipped with the optional “technology package”) looks and feels like a mid-sized sedan from a luxury car maker. The interior is truly roomy (even for this middle-aged road test reviewer’s too-big thighs), supremely comfortable with loads of luxury features and has an overall excellent Euro-inspired design.
Yes, the inside of the 2011 Kia Optima does look like a BMW sedan rip off. And that’s a good thing.
I believe Optima interior engineers must have explored the way Bimmers have a flat and tilted-towards-the-driver dash and central console. Deceptively simple, this minimalist dash design is highly ergonomic and just makes sense, especially when coupled with the hands-free UVO infotainment option.
Unfortunately, Kia failed to add enough texture and bling to its 2011 Optima interior design. This one design flaw may unfortunately sway otherwise luxury buyers to save some money on Kia’s near luxury brand. Still, the interior is plush and definitely upscale even if the dash could use a heavier hand on metal or wood accents.
In the Driver’s Cockpit
The driver’s cockpit of the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is cozy and I do mean luxurious. I was impressed with the very comfortable saddle-stitched leather seats, which are roomy enough even for us rather large Americans.
The steering wheel with nicely-placed controls could also use a bit more luxury, but it feels good in the hands and even better with manual tilt and telescoping column.
I was also impressed with the all-digital instrument panel. I have driven hundreds of vehicles and this eco-minded digital instrument-and-information center is top notch. The straight dash is pleasant enough, especially as it widens onto the simple, yet super sophisticated central console.
Between the steering wheel and the looking-right-at-you infotainment screen, the driver controls her world with her fingers and her voice (or his, of course). Although I am usually not a fan of so many central console buttons, I was surprised this system was easily accessed by the driver without leaning forward at all.
Below the console is a nice storing and charging station for mobile devices. Two cup holders and a large leather arm rest and clever storage unit rounds out the driver’s cockpit.
The front passenger seat is also very comfortable and has enough leg room even for very tall adults. The second row seating is pretty plush as well with in-door bottle and mobile device holders, leather magazine holders, saddle-stitched leather seats and a pull-down leather arm rest with two cup holders.
Cargo space wasn’t as big or as deep as expected although large enough for weekly trips to the grocery store and weekend road trips.
Ready to hear about Kia’s UVO infotainment technology? Click here for part two to explore UVO, hybrid performance, Optima’s safety record and a trim level summary.
Sheryll Alexander - Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer, automotive journalist and professional road test reviewer based in Costa Mesa, CA.
