    2014 Kia Optima Hybrid, tire, taillight, cabin showing sunroof. Click image to enlarge |
Like other full hybrids, the Optima Hybrid can operate on electric power alone, engine and electric power combined, or engine power alone, determined by an electronic controller that makes all the decisions for you. At startup, pressing the ignition button on the dash activates a green Ready light in the instrument cluster; the gas engine may or may not start, depending on the level of battery charge. As you pull away, you’ll hear a whining sound from the electric motor and an EV light will illuminate in the instruments if the car is running on battery power alone. A rumbling sound from the engine compartment indicates that the engine has started automatically to provide more power to the battery and electric motor for increased acceleration.
From rest, acceleration is brisk due in part to the instant torque of the electric motor which provides 150 lb-ft of torque at zero rpm. I found the Optima Hybrid has more than enough power for typical city and highway merging duties. Its 2.4L Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder, dual overhead camshafts, continuously variable valve timing and multi-port fuel injection (not direct injection) develops 159 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 154 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm. The electric motor provides 46 hp and 151 lb-ft torque from 0 to 1,630 rpm. Combined, they pump out 199 hp at 5,500 rpm, just a little more than the non-hybrid 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 192 horsepower. But the battery-less non-hybrid Optima weighs about 150 kg less, which gives it a better power to weight ratio.
Aside from its fuel economy, the Optima Hybrid is a likeable mid-size sedan with sleek styling, a well-finished interior, plenty of standard equipment, a comfortable ride, and surprisingly competent handling. A four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Brake assist, and Hill assist control to prevent it rolling back on hills, are all standard.
The Optima Hybrid’s electric power assisted rack-and-pinion steering requires very little steering effort and doesn’t offer much feedback, but it makes parallel parking easy; and the car’s 10.8 m turning diameter helps make tight turns without having to back up. A four-wheel independent suspension provides a comfortable freeway ride with good bump absorption, and handling is surprisingly flat and balanced at higher speeds. 16-inch tires are standard on base models while 17-inch tires are offered on higher trim levels. Our test car had Kumho Solus KH25 P215/55/R-17-inch all-season low rolling resistance tires which proved competent if a bit noisy on certain surfaces.
When changing lanes, visibility to the right rear is partly obscured by the high window ledge of the rear door and the c-pillar, but a blind spot warning system issues a warning sound if the driver attempts to move into a lane occupied by another vehicle. When parking, a standard wide-angle rear-view camera with coloured guide lines and rear parking sensors helps the driver back into tight spaces without scraping the bumper. There are no front parking sensors though, and from the driver’s seat it’s difficult to judge where the sloping nose ends.
Our ‘Snow White Pearl’ top-of-the-line EX Premium test car (MSRP $36,195) had all the goodies including leather upholstery with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear (outboard) seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, eight-inch centre touch-screen, voice activated audio, navigation and phone, Infinity premium audio system with eight speakers including a subwoofer, satellite radio, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, dual zone automatic climate control, and dual sunroofs.
   2014 Kia Optima Hybrid seating & trunk. Click image to enlarge |
With the Optima Hybrid’s keyless unlocking system, you can unlock and lock all the doors and trunk just by pressing a button on the driver’s door handle. Once in the driver’s seat, you just press a button on the dash to start the car – no need to take the key out of your pocket.
In the EX Premium sedan, the driver’s seat includes power height, recline, tilt, and lumbar functions and the front passenger seat is also power adjustable. Legroom and headroom in the front seats is generous while legroom at the rear is plentiful and headroom is adequate. The centre rear seat is uncomfortable because of its raised seat cushion and protruding centre console (and there’s no centre head restraint).
