No compensation was received for this post. A one week loan of the vehicle was provided to facilitate this review.
Living in Southern California means my husband and I spend a lot of time in our cars. Our public transportation system is still a work in progress and the city is laid out in such a way that it’s nearly impossible to get anywhere without a car. As you can imagine, living in one of the most expensive cities in the country means we pay premium prices for fuel. As such, efficiency becomes an important deciding factor when purchasing a vehicle.
A couple of weeks ago, I spent a week driving Kia’s new 2013 Optima Hybrid. You may remember that I test drove the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid a few years back and highlighted its fuel efficiency. In just 2 years time, Kia has taken further steps to improve the Optima Hybrid’s efficiency, innovation, and luxury features.
Safety
As a parent, safety is my top priority when considering a vehicle purchase. While the entire list of safety features can be viewed on Kia’s website, I thought it would be noteworthy to point out some of the standard features of both the LX and EX Optima Hybrid models. If your children are like my children, then their Macgyver-like moves mean they can unbuckle themselves from their car seat and unlock the doors/open the windows. Both models include rear child-safety door locks, something I have in place in my own vehicle at all times. You can also safely and easily install car seats using the built-in LATCH system (just remember that after children reach a certain weight, LATCH can no longer be used). For adults, 3-point seat belts, dual front and side airbags, and an anti-lock braking system help to ensure safety in the event of a crash. The vehicle is also crafted with side-impact door beams, front and rear crumple zones, and an impact-absorbing steering column to mitigate the force of any impact.
Efficiency
Perhaps the most impressive feature of Kia’s 2013 Optima Hybrid is its efficiency. I drove to LA and back, San Diego and back, and all over Orange County and still had fuel left in the tank. One tank will allow you to drive an average of 500 miles, which is unprecedented. With gas prices nearly $4 per gallon, the Optima Hybrid’s efficiency alone is worth considering the vehicle. The LX model gets a combine fuel economy of 38 MPG and the EX model gets a combined fuel economy of 37 MPG.
Comfort
If I’m going to be spending several hours in my car each week, I might as well be comfortable. I absolutely love all the features available in the 2013 Optima Hybrid, many of which are standard. Some of my favorites include SiriusXM Radio, Navigation and Rear Camera Display (standard on EX models), Bluetooth, and steering wheel-mounted controls (to keep me hands-free and undistracted while driving). The EX model even has some awesome luxury/convenience features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel, push button start (keys are so 2012!), and smart key (which means you can unlock the door with groceries and a child in tow without pulling out your key!). The interior cabin is roomy and comfortable and we were able to seat the 4 of us (including my kids’ car seats) without difficulty. While the trunk does house the vehicle’s hybrid batteries, I still found the space to be sufficient and we were able to pack our suitcases and a stroller inside.
Handling
As part of the Optima Hybrid’s efficiency, the gasoline engine shuts off automatically when the vehicle comes to a stop for more than a few seconds. This is to conserve fuel and minimize emissions. This is noticeable, particularly if you’ve never driven a Hybrid vehicle before, but its something I quickly got accustomed to. I never found that I had difficulty accelerating from a stop and it did not negatively impact the driving experience. Overall, the Optima Hybrid handled well on both city streets and highways and provided a smooth, comfortable ride.
The 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid starts at $25,900. For more information, visit Kia.com.
Images: Rockin’ Mama
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