This 2011 Kia Optima hybrid is a heck of a good car--period. I would argue that it's one of the best hybrids on the market because it's the total package. It looks good. It drives with some panache, and it feels like a real car. That's important in 2011. People want automobiles that drive normally and have function, and this Kia has that in spades.
The hybrid element is the most critical, but the Optima doesn't beat you over the head with being green. It simply returns solid fuel economy in sharp packaging. It's easy to slip away under electric power with almost no effort. In fact, I made no real attempt to drive this good-size sedan like a hybrid. Rather, I was hard on the throttle, merged aggressively and launched with gusto. The Optima responded in respectable fashion. It's not a fast car, but, unlike some Lexus hybrids I've driven, this doesn't feel dog slow. Revving to 5,000 rpm or 6,000 rpm is required to build momentum, but that's hardly a chore.
The brakes have a bit of a heavy feel, though they are not overwrought, and the steering feels a little overboosted at times but otherwise returns acceptable feedback. The chassis is eager and can be pushed. The driver does feel some body movement in harder cornering, but that's to be expected and is even a touch enjoyable.
I flat-out love the looks of this car. In black with chrome-colored accents, it's an attention-getter. The front fascia is sporty, the headlights present smartly and this is one well-tailored car from the haunches to the roofline and, of course, the "tiger" grille. I think the Optima looks and drives better than the Ford Fusion hybrid, for comparison's sake.
The seats of the Kia are comfortable, the interior is well-executed and my only beef is that the hybrid gauge takes up too much of the dash. Most green drivers would like this. I want to see a larger tach.
This complements the Hyundai Sonata well. They share underpinnings, but the Optima seems sporty while the Sonata has more of an elegant style. These two cars are why Hyundai and Kia should be feared. They're getting the product right.
It was intriguing to have Kia's first hybrid for a weekend. Visually, I didn't pick up much of a difference between this greener Optima and the full-gasoline models with the exception of the hybrid badges. And there's nothing wrong with that because I think the Optima possesses stand-out styling with sporty lines, which certainly adds spice to the midsize-sedan class.
In the cabin, again, there isn't much difference from the normal models, which is also good. The curvy lines of the dashboard are a far cry from previous-generation Kia models, and the materials are also a substantial upgrade from a quality standpoint.
As for the hybrid system itself, unlike Greg, I didn't find its operation as smooth as other hybrids, but I think this is a great first hybrid showing from Kia.
