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Author Topic: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid  (Read 9864 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« on: February 16, 2012, 03:02:31 am »



A cold snap in January revealed how sub-zero temperatures can affect the Optima Hybrid's fuel consumption.

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Offline nlm

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2012, 08:35:35 am »
A good candid review.
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Offline JohnM

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2012, 09:09:30 am »
A really good breakdown of the issues here.  Obviously Kia does not have the design nailed down.

It would be interesting to see if it operates closer to expectation in warm weather.

In terms of $ payback, I don't really have a problem with the 100,000 km payback period.  I'm sure most hybrid drivers keep their cars for many years. and 100k is just broken in for cars these days.  If I got less than 400k from a car these days, I'd be disappointed.

Also, gas is not going to stay at $1.10.  It is close to $1.30 on many parts of the country.

So the optima Hybrid needs work on it's cold weather tuning.  Too bad we can;t get an official comment from the factory.

Cheers,
John M.
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Offline Spec5

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2012, 12:01:32 pm »
+1 on the nice candid review. I'd like to see the same author test a Camry or Fusion Hybrid (hey why not both! :) ) and see if they're really any different once the mercury starts to drop.
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Offline Danno001

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2012, 12:05:11 pm »
Quote from: Spec5 on February 16, 2012, 12:01:32 pm
+1 on the nice candid review. I'd like to see the same author test a Camry or Fusion Hybrid (hey why not both! :) ) and see if they're really any different once the mercury starts to drop.

+1 Agreed
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Offline dragonfly

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2012, 03:47:09 pm »
 I find this review a tad bizarre...Some jokers drove this same car across country and achieved 3.9 k/L and the reviewer got 12?  Consumed over three times as much fuel? I'm thinking there's something wrong with this particular car..I have an '11 Sonata, with the 198 HP 4 banger/6 speed manual, and this winter I'm getting 24-25 MPG US...A drop from summer figures of 27-28 MPG around town...If I'm not mistaken , I'm getting BETTER mileage than the hybrid...What a revoltin' development that is...hehe
         Get a regular non-hybrid and get better mileage..Doesn't make sense...but there it is..Jack
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Offline ArticSteve

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2012, 04:59:22 pm »
A good lesson that Manufacturer's "gas estimates" are just that, estimates based on a computer simulation, but nevertheless stated as hard cold fact.  Further, that on board mileage displays are for entertainment purposes only.
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Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2012, 06:39:06 pm »
our Prius is up to 4.9 /100km, since changing to winter tires but it has been a warm winter the pass 2 winter winters we got up about 5.2 
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Offline Winterpeg

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2012, 02:29:34 pm »
Quote from: dragonfly on February 16, 2012, 03:47:09 pm
I find this review a tad bizarre...Some jokers drove this same car across country and achieved 3.9 k/L and the reviewer got 12?  Consumed over three times as much fuel? I'm thinking there's something wrong with this particular car..I have an '11 Sonata, with the 198 HP 4 banger/6 speed manual, and this winter I'm getting 24-25 MPG US...A drop from summer figures of 27-28 MPG around town...If I'm not mistaken , I'm getting BETTER mileage than the hybrid...What a revoltin' development that is...hehe
         Get a regular non-hybrid and get better mileage..Doesn't make sense...but there it is..Jack






It's not that bizarre dragonfly....
The car driven across country was in the States and not in Canada (a little difference temp wise one would guess eh. ") ) also what season was that vehicle driven?
I have to laugh when auto companies do their extreme weather testing south of 49th p....want to do REAL testing, come visit us (ie. that's spelled C-A-N-A-D-A).   ;)

Nice job Haney....how is "das auto" holding up?
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Offline macedonian

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2012, 05:55:41 pm »
my point on the fuel consumtion.
The hybrids are good in California, but not so much  in Canada at - 20 to - 25.
I'll stick to my TDI , hopefuly up to 500 to 600 thousand km.It should last up to that milege , I don't know if the hybrids can go that  far?Without batery change.
regards from WINNIPEG.
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Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 06:53:59 pm »
Quote from: macedonian on February 21, 2012, 05:55:41 pm
my point on the fuel consumtion.
The hybrids are good in California, but not so much  in Canada at - 20 to - 25.
I'll stick to my TDI , hopefuly up to 500 to 600 thousand km.It should last up to that milege , I don't know if the hybrids can go that  far?Without batery change.
regards from WINNIPEG.
::)
why do you see more hybrids as cabs in Canada compared to TDI's  ???
« Last Edit: February 22, 2012, 06:26:37 am by airbalancer »
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Offline johngenx

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2012, 09:46:28 pm »
A colleague of mine bought one of the '12 Camry Hybrids and I didn't even notice until yesterday.  Well, he's at a different school that is across the city, so I guess that might have something to do with it...   ;)

He's a math/science geek and measures his fuel consumption obsessively, and has averaged 5.2 since purchase, about 95% city driving, and all "winter" conditions.  Winter, as in spring like.  We had one week of -30C or so, but otherwise, it's been mild here.  But, cold enough that the car does run the gasoline engine frequently to keep the cabin warm.

We're averaging in the low 8's for this winter, all city driving, 90% in commutes.  (Corolla)  So, the Camry is significantly better than the 'Rolla.  If I were picking between a full-boat Corolla and a base Camry Hybrid, I'd have a tough choice today.  Nice to see Hyundai/Kia in this segment too.
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Offline macedonian

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2012, 05:27:30 pm »
Quote from: airbalancer on February 21, 2012, 06:53:59 pm
Quote from: macedonian on February 21, 2012, 05:55:41 pm
my point on the fuel consumtion.
The hybrids are good in California, but not so much  in Canada at - 20 to - 25.
I'll stick to my TDI , hopefuly up to 500 to 600 thousand km.It should last up to that milege , I don't know if the hybrids can go that  far?Without batery change.
regards from WINNIPEG.
::)
why do you see more hybrids as cabs in Canada compared to TDI's  ???
that hapens only in Canada.
Last time I went to States, it was Crown Victorias, and in Europe there are Mercedes diesel, Peugeot diesel, etc.
When you paid to be driven somewhere and you pay good money for it , you should be driven there with more confort,not cramped in the back seat.
I don't realy see to many hybrids on the roads driven by non cabies.
I do see more diesels .here in Winnipeg
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Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2012, 05:47:39 pm »
there more back seat room in  a Prius compared to  Golf wagon  ::)
please check out a car before slagging it
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Offline macedonian

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2012, 05:14:10 pm »
Quote from: airbalancer on February 22, 2012, 05:47:39 pm
there more back seat room in  a Prius compared to  Golf wagon  ::)
please check out a car before slagging it

I was talking about the 2010 jetta.
It does have more space then the prius, and I did test the prius before I got the jetta.Like a fridge.Pure apliance.
You should know, how many km you can go with the bateries?Just out of curiosity.
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Offline Ex-airbalancer

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Re: Long-term test drive: 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid
« Reply #15 on: February 23, 2012, 06:27:33 pm »
my son has a jetta, there is more rear leg room in a Prius. I got the Prius because there is more room

it can go a couple of km on a battery alone

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