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First drive: Kia Optima PHEV. Image by Kia.

First drive: Kia Optima PHEV
New plug-in hybrid option for Kia's capable, if otherwise unremarkable, Optima saloon.

   



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Kia Optima PHEV

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Kia adds a plug-in hybrid powertrain to its Optima line-up, making an ordinary saloon a little bit more memorable, if only for the numbers it potentially delivers.

Test Car Specifications

Model tested: Kia Optima PHEV
Price: £31,495
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder and electric motor
Transmission: front-wheel drive, six-speed automatic
Body style: four-door saloon
CO2 emissions: 37g/km (Band A, £0 per year)
Combined economy: 176.6mpg
Top speed: 119mph
0-62mph: 9.1 seconds
Power: 204hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 375Nm at 2,330rpm

What's this?

The Kia Optima, a family saloon from a mainstream brand, which pitches it against some stiff opposition, even here in PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) form. That saloon marketplace has been decimated by the premium players such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, making it tough for regular brands to get a look-in. So Kia's big saloon, stylish as it is, already faces a struggle, while adding expense to it with a PHEV system only adds to that - even before you look at the promised economy and emissions figures.

A petrol engine and electric motor mix hybrid system does everything buyers want it to, specifically reduce the tax burden. The Optima PHEV's 37g/km means you'll pay no road tax and only seven per cent on your company car tax scheme. That alone is reason enough to buy for many, but in a maturing PHEV marketplace the Optima's not alone in offering such figures, and the case for it gets sketchier when you factor in its rivals.

How does it drive?

Kia's Optima, in its conventionally powered guise, doesn't exactly top the list of entertaining saloon cars to drive, so it's no surprise that the PHEV is ordinary, too. That's arguably less of an issue in such an economy-focused model, as the driver is more likely to be watching the fuel consumption figure than clipping apexes, but the Optima PHEV's price puts it against some talented competition from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, so it's impossible to ignore. You could be sold on the looks, and you'd be right to, as the Optima is a handsome car in regular guise and the PHEV's detailing only adds to that. It's not a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz, which just might appeal to a few, though the interior betrays its mainstream status. The material quality just isn't up there with such comparison, which wouldn't normally be an issue, as the fit and finish are fine and it all works as expected, though it just doesn't feel special enough to justify the price - even with Kia throwing its entire equipment list in as standard specification.

It's basically got two drive modes: pure EV (electric vehicle) and PHEV; it'll default to EV mode wherever possible, gliding along on battery power with quiet ease, the 2.0-litre petrol engine only cutting in when it's needed. That's commendably infrequently, as it can drive up to 33 miles on battery power alone, at speeds of up to 75mph. Useful if you've a short commute, or a plug-in point at work for a charge up during the day. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly, and the transition from pure electric drive to hybrid is smooth enough. Ask for anything approaching the quoted 9.1-second 0-62mph time and that 2.0-litre petrol engine gets a bit loud and intrusive, and while the combined output of the petrol and electric motors is a useful 204hp, it needs to work hard if you want to make brisk progress. Economy will suffer, though even the most determinedly eco-focused will do very well to get anywhere near the official 176.6mpg figure.

There's some fun to be had trying to squeeze as much out of the powertrain as possible, using momentum, gradients and judging lights and junctions to maximise economy. That might bring some interest, which is just as well as there's no real engagement elsewhere: the steering is mute, the handling unremarkable, the suspension very much erring on the side of comfort. That's fine, in isolation, but with the PHEV in the price bracket that puts it against the BMW 330e, Mercedes-Benz C 350 e and the UK's biggest-selling Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV with its SUV stance and space, that's a big problem for the Kia.

Verdict

Adding a PHEV drivetrain to the Optima adds some appeal for tax-dodging number crunchers out there, but the pricing puts it too close to premium rivals to consider the Kia over them. Handsome and well equipped, it comes with Kia's usual seven-year warranty too, but even those aren't enough reasons to convince us you'd not be better just buying an Optima diesel, or indeed one of its more talented, enjoyable and desirable rivals.

4 4 4 4 4 Exterior Design

3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 Interior Ambience

4 4 4 4 4 Passenger Space

3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 Luggage Space

4 4 4 4 4 Safety

4 4 4 4 4 Comfort

3 3 3 3 3 Driving Dynamics

4 4 4 4 4 Powertrain


Kyle Fortune - 25 Aug 2016



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2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.

2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.2016 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Image by Kia.








 

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