One Sentence Review: The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid - Gas 2.0
Ten years ago, if you had asked me what I thought of Hyundai or Kia, I probably would have shuddered, chortled, and gone off on a rant regarding the wretched cheapness of this Korean car brand. My oh my, how things have changed, and no car showcases that better than the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. Performance: As Kia’s freshmen hybrid effort, the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid feels surprisingly refined in most regards. For most passing maneuvers and general driving though, the Optima Hybrid always has. I live on a hilly street, and when running in hybrid mode, the system sometimes took a second to switch over, leaving me feeling a serious lack of power. While the official EPA ratings are 34 city and 39 highway, I didn’t exactly drive the Optima Hybrid gently. All that said, two Americans did manage to set a world record for mpgs in the Kia Optima Hybrid , averaging more than 64 mpg. So it really depends on how heavy your foot is. One Sentence Review: The Kia Optima Hybrid delivers ample power and good fuel economy, especially for a mid-size sedan, but is hardly stellar in either regard. Exterior: While this is arguably the most subjective criteria for any car review, I can say in all honesty that having the Kia Optima Hybrid in my driveway made me feel like a baller. Source: gas2.org
