Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June 5th

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

35/40, is it the same as Sonata?

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

"The Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), standard on the Optima Hybrid, plays a pre-recorded engine sound during electric-only operation to help notify people outside the vehicle that it is approaching ... "

If it can't be turned off then this car won't get on my list.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

Unless it sounds like this:

Funny Flash - Formula One Car Sounds

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

Yes, exactly the same.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has less interior room than the Prius. HSH has 10 cu.ft more in passenger volume but 11 cu.ft less in cargo.

I wonder about KOH.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

I never thought I'd say it, bet I really like how the Kia Optima looks.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

It's kinda Saaby

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

I'll stick with my 50 MPG city thank you very much....

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

I wonder how many of those features are "Standard" it sounds well appointed for the price. I guess Prius has just set the MPG bar so high, that I get disappointed when I hear 35/40....it's a "nicer" bigger vehicle, but that isn't much better mileage than I get with my Honda Fit.

With Japan still recovering and most Japanese automakers still facing production problems Hyundai/Kia could make inroads by simply having a product available in good quantity. If gas goes through the roof this summer (and I think it will).

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

I've noted that for many Kia/Hyundias I've seen. Guess they just take inspiration from 10+ year old European cars.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

I believe their lead designer was taken from VW/Audi or another German maker.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

Suppose its better than copying current cars.

I know there is a huge size and luxury difference but you could almost buy 2 Fiestas or other great MPG small car for the price and almost same econ.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

Kia/Hyundai have advantage of low Won these days, so they can price their product competitively and add more features for same price.

I think Won has devalued by 30% in past 4 years.

In any case, good for us customers.

Only bad thing is that it has same trunk as Camry Hybrid, so i have no clue where this space saving of lithium batteries went.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

Yes, their lead designer that does all of their cars since 2005, has been with Audi previously for 15+ years.

It shows too.... I read an interview with him and he pointed out that they needed to improve interior packaging and quality perception more, and I agree... with those two, they would easily have one of the best looking cars, no matter what the price is.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

You are right. Ford Fusion hybrid with NiMH has bigger (11.8 cu.ft) trunk.

Lithium space saving seems to be just a marketing hype. Let's see if it lives up to NiMH reliability.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

I wonder if a hybrid Elantra would get something like 45 city / 48 highway

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

Not with the automatic transmission. It locks the ICE at certain gear ratio, preventing / limiting it from tapping the sweetest efficiency spot.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

It saves a little weight and a little volume. The sonata gains IIRC about 250lbs in hybrid form versus about 400 for the FFH and TCH. The battery is just a little bit of this. The packaging is different between these may account for the apparent differences. You have to compare it to how Hyundai would have packaged nimh. The cars should be compared as a whole. Any of these trunks is small compared to our prii

The sonata provides another choice, and is close to ford for mpg leadership in this class (37versus 39). It provides a different experience and hopefully will help move midsize sedan buyers to the hybrid versions.

 

Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

HSH is 37 MPG while FFH is 39 MPG. TCH really needs a redesign.