The Kia Optima Hybrid set a Guinness World Record® for fuel economy achieving an average of 3.6 liters per 100 kilometers during a drive through the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Drivers used just over 5.5 tanks of gasoline to complete the 14-day, 12,712 km trip across the United States.
The Kia Optima Hybrid can be driven in zero emissions mode and/or in blended gas-electric mode. When the car comes to a stop and the electrical load is low, the engine shuts off to completely eliminate idle fuel consumption and emissions.
The power and density of this new battery type allowed Kia engineers to create a lighter and more compact battery pack, with the 30 kilowatt battery pack weighing just 95.9 pounds (43.6 kilograms) – less than the 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid's nickel metal hydride pack – which aids fuel economy and also helps to maximize Optima's cargo space. Lithium polymer batteries will also hold their charge up to 25% longer than hybrids with nickel metal hydride batteries, and has less of the self-discharge characteristic found in most rechargeable batteries.
The Kia Optima Hybrid was one of the first full hybrid systems on the market to use a typical step-ratio automatic transmission. The electric motor is hard coupled to the input of the transmission and equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous electric traction motor that produces 40 horsepower (30 kilowatt) and 151 pound-feet of torque when in electric only, and an impressive 206 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque when in combined hybrid mode. The Optima Hybrid technology enables the vehicle to attain impressive fuel economy numbers, both during highway and city driving, achieving 4.9 and 5.6 liters per 100 kilometers, respectively.
The Kia Optima Hybrid is recognized as a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS.) Standard safety equipment includes:
Like all Kia models in Canada, the Optima Hybrid is covered by a comprehensive warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 5-year or 100,000-km limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year or 100,000-km limited comprehensive warranty, and 5-year unlimited-km anti-perforation warranty. A 5-year/100,000-km roadside assistance plan is also part of the comprehensive coverage program. In addition, the hybrid components are covered by a 96 month, 160,000-km limited warranty.
