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| 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
Kia Optima Hybrid is a fully loaded smooth and solid hybrid luxury sedan with an attractive price tag considering the wealth of features and extended warranty. It’s a perfect mid-size car for families looking to save money on gas costs but unwilling to compromise on the extras that they are used to.
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| Keyless entry works thanks to proximity sensors |
Despite being in the midsize vehicle class, the interior of the Kia Optima Hybrid is roomy, comfortable, and gorgeous. The attractive leather seats feature detailing such as small perforations in the center whereas the sides are solid. The contrast in leather is pleasing to the eye just as the seats a pleasure to ride in. Ergonomic cushioning provides comfortable ride. Parents of varying heights will appreciate the 2 memory buttons that allow the position of the seat to be programmed and adjusted with the touch of a button. Both driver and passenger can share the wide armrest without bumping elbows.
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| Kia Optima Hybrid has a spacious interior |
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| Gorgeous dash features bright easy to read controls |
The large touchscreen in the center console is easy to operate and nicely positioned so drivers don’t have to take their eyes away from the road to use it. I found the high quality graphics easy to read whether searching for favorite songs on AM/FM, Sirius, or the iPod I plugged in or using the navigation system to find my destination.
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| Large touch screen is easy to use for music and navigation |
Kids in the back will find that there’s plenty of legroom whether they’re growing teens with long legs or kids in booster seats with a inclination to swing their legs during rides. We tested the car with two booster seats. The kids found that it was easy to buckle and unbuckle because the base of the passenger seats was larger than in previous cars we tested. Parents of children in convertible car seats will find that there’s plenty of room for rear and front facing seats. While we didn’t test the car with infant carriers that snap into bases, I’d think they’d quite since there’s so much room between the front and back seats.
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| Oliver says “I fit perfectly between the kids!” |
Just as the Optima Hybrid is comfortable for all ages of passengers, it’s also a dream to drive. It’s is a solid car that makes passengers feel safe and will save on fuel costs. The sticker on the vehicle reports 35 MPG city (range of 29-41 MPG) and 40 highway (33-47 MPG) is highly favorable. The estimated annual fuel cost is set to be $1,500 based on 15,000 miles at $3.70/gallon. During our test drive, I found that I averaged less than the sticker’s reported averages but well within the range of both city and highway estimates. This could be due to any number of factors that affects any driver’s vehicle experience such as running the air conditioner (it was HOT during our week of drigin the Optima Hybrid) and traffic patterns causing lots of stops and starts.
The Kia Optima Hybrid’s sticker price of $32,500 for this model makes it an attractive hybrid option, especially considering that it’s fully loaded and a comfortable family car with an extended warranty. More basic models of the Optima Hybrid start at $25,700.
Geek Factor
- Large touch screen system for tunes (Siruis, radio, and MP3 players) and navigation
- Integrated cable to plug in iPhones and iPods
- Bluetooth that takes seconds to pair with your phone
- Keyless entry uses proximity sensors
- Con: iPod connection is in a visible place under the center console. You wouldn’t want to leave your iOS device plugged in all the time because it’s an open invitation to break into your car.
Kid Factor
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| Little Miss Techie gives the Kia Optima Hybrid thumbs up! |
- Comfortably seats 3 in the back with and without car seats.
- Wide back seats and positioning of the seatbelts made it easy for the kids to buckle and unbuckle when in their booster seats
- Adult can ride comfortably between two car seats.
- Safe feel of the car is backed up by safety awards including the 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick and NHTSA 5 Star Crash Safety Rating. To read more about the awards given to the Kia Optima Hybrid, visit their recognition page.
- Back windows that rolled down all the way
- Roomy back seats that allowed him to sit between the kids’ booster seats
- Small hump behind the console made it easier for him to lie down on the backseat floor.
Cool Extras
- Heated and cooling seats in the front, heated seats in the back
- Moon roof fully opens in the front and opens to reveal a large window over the back seats.
- Heated power mirrors that pull towards the body of the car with the touch of a button. A helpful feature when parking in tight spaces.
- Push button start. Those used to turning on the car with a key might need a little time to adjust to the touch button start that’s becoming more standard in new models of cars.
- Backup camera
- Side mirror LED turn signal indicators
If you’re looking for a mid-size family car, consider the Kia Optima Hybrid if you’re considering the following vehicles:
- Toyota Avalon
- Honda Accord
- Nissan Maxima
- Volkswagen Passat
I received a Kia Optima Hybrid for the week as a loan along with a full tank of gas. All opinions are based on the experience of me, my family, and our dog during the time we had the vehicle and were not influenced by Kia in any way. No compensation was received for this review.
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012
