Rob had the Kia Optima Hybrid for awhile last year, and loved it, especially for the 40 mpg over the Pass. I got the updated version recently, and took it on a road trip to Portland, Oregon. While it didn't completely blow my mind, I found it to be a solid choice for a highway commuter. And yes, the fuel mileage was phenomenally impressive, especially for such a well-equipped and not-tiny sedan. Continue reading...

One major point in its favor was that this Optima felt more like a real car than a giant iPhone, a flaw that befalls many hybrids and electrics. It's got an actual shifter, for example, instead of a vestigal nub, and uses a real 6-speed automatic instead of the glitchy CVTs that plauge the hybrid segment. And the gauges show you the parameters you're most interested in as a driver, rather than overemphasizing a lot of battery-use boola boola. There was the accustomed "Eco" gauge indicating battery draw, yes, but there was also a tach and a speedo. One thing the car and I squabbled over a little bit was the on/off procedure. If it gets confused (or if you do), it'll sometimes make you go throuh a tedious restart process with the pushbutton start, rather than simply firing up or switching off. This is probably for the best, because it thwarts the kind of head-in-the-clouds hybrid owner who might wander off while leaving their car "running" in the parking lot without realizing it. I think a genuine keyed ignition would address this issue a lot more convincingly.

The Optima also seemed quite a bit more substantial and better equipped than the average minimalist hybrid, and my traveling companion for the Portland trip, who owns a base Prius, was suitably impressed by all the bells and whistles. Kia is indeed muscling in on Toyota's market share here, offering more for proportionately less: though its tech package ups the $26K base price by a whopping $5,400, it includes higher-end amenities that you'd never really expect on a hybrid commuter: heated and cooled front seats and even heated rear seats for your passengers, a crystal-clear backup camera, a killer sound system, dual sunrooves, heated steering wheel, illuminated door sills and a nav that doesn't suck. I don't necessarily believe in all this stuff, but if all the little extras are your thing and you don't want to shell out for an actual luxury car, it would appear that the Optima Hybrid is not a bad choice at all.

Still, there's still the issue of paying $32K for a midsize Kia, and yes, I think that'll run up against a major psychological barrier for a lot of potential buyers. But there is the unbelievable gas mileage to consider: I spent the whole week running around Seattle, then drove to Portland and back and at the end I only had to squeeze about $10 bucks worth into the tank so I wouldn't be rolling into my driveway on fumes. If you're regularly doing long-haul commuting, not having to pull up to the pump every few days is a pretty substantial trade-off for the car payments you'd be making.

However, there is definitely its general gutlessness to contend with. The electric motor with the 2.4L gas powerplant supposedly generate a collective 206 hp, but I wasn't feeling it. The Optima struggles under hard acceleration, and it's particularly problematic for highway passing. It fell on its face at least once when I pulled out to pass a right-lane slowpoke and could not get up to the speed of the travelers in the passing lane quickly enough to keep them from running up my tail. Also, leaping out into moving traffic is scary: Rob didn't find that the Optima had the typical hybrid lag like the Sonata does, but I found the acceleration balky enough that it factored into my merging decisions a lot. Nonetheless, it maintains well once it's at cruising velocity. Not like the Prius, which you really have to stay on top of to keep it from slipping below 65, then 60, according to my friend who owns one. Maybe that's why those guys are always puttering around at well under the speed limit.

And maybe, after listening to last year's review, the one thing Kia decided to fix was the rear cargo space. Battery and all, we were still able to get a decent amount of luggage in the trunk for two people, and I pack a lot of shoes. They've even got a little ski pass-through!

2013 Kia Optima

Turn Ons: Great gas mileage, lots of extras when you get the tech package.

Turn Offs: Clunky acceleration.

You Should Get This Car If: You desire a faux-luxury midsize, in gas-sipping hybrid form, with basic versions of all the critter comforts you love.