My Honda Civic is almost six years old, so I am starting to think about a new vehicle. In a few short months, my car will be paid off and I want to upgrade to an SUV. If I was in the market for another car, however, I would seriously consider the Kia Optima Hybrid, especially after having the opportunity to review one for a week.
When the Optima Hybrid rolled into my driveway, my first thought was how gorgeous the car is! The body style has really improved since the previous versions of this car. I love the sleek look and angles of the vehicle, and the Light Graphite color is very sophisticated. I love how the headlights curve up the side of the car as well as the shape of the grill.
Inside the vehicle, I was even more shocked and awed. We received the fully loaded Kia Optima Hybrid, and man, the features this car has are awesome! Looking at the instrument panel, I quickly saw a high gas mileage average – which is great if you travel often. We were able to get up to just over 35 mpg while we had the car, the majority of that involving driving around town.
This car features a smooth ride and purrs quietly when the engine is running. When it shuts off to work on the battery, it’s so quiet you may think it’s not even running anymore!
The Kia also comes equipped with Sirius satellite radio and a navigation system. James’ car also came with navigation, but the Optima Hybrid’s feature is so much more user-friendly and accurate. Dual temperature controls are also a godsend for couples like us…usually I am freezing while James is still a little warm. That’s not a worry with this car!
Heated and cooling seats are also something I would love to have. I didn’t even realize they made cooling seats! Having both options makes this car great for year-round travel and transportation. Speaking of the seats, they were leather, but it’s a different type of leather that I have seen in most vehicles. I typically prefer cloth seats, but I enjoyed sitting on the ones in this car…and wouldn’t mind having a material like the one Kia uses in my future vehicle.
During my week with this car, I realized just how well it could be the perfect “Mom Car.” Take the handle lock/unlock feature and the push button start, for example. You can actually unlock the driver side door, enter the car, and crank it without ever removing the key from your pocket. This is great for moms that look like pack mules as they walk out to the car each morning. With my son’s “monkey bag”, my purse, cell phone, and water bottle in my hands, it’s difficult to fish out my keys too. That wasn’t a problem last week though.
The spacious back seat is also perfect for moms with one or two children. Sawyer had plenty of room in the back and we had no problem transporting a few books with them, thanks to the pockets on the back of the front seats. There is a full latch system available in the back for car seats, so no worries about the kiddo’s safety!
All in all, this was a very nice car to take for a test drive, and I admit that I was sad to see it go when my week was over. There are several features that made me fall in love with this car. To sum it all up, the Kia Optima Hybrid is just so convenient, especially for moms like me!
Disclosure: I was provided with the Kia Optima Hybrid for one week in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are 100% mine.
About Kecia
I test drove this car as well and I LOVED it! My favorite part was the air conditioned seats!
The interior is so sleek! LOVE it!!
Nice! We are in the market for buying a car. We will definitely look into this one. Thank you!
That car is so pretty and the seats look incredibly comfy!
That is seriously the coolest car I’ve seen in a long time! I love it! All the gadgets, bells and whistles! I’m in love. I need something like that, but fit 1 car seat and two boosters in the back seat. lol. We have a bigger family.
What a great looking car! I have a Kia and in the market for a new car and will have to check the Hybrid out. I love the gas display!
It looks great! I’m so excited cause I’m scheduled to review the same car next week!
Looks like a great little car. My husband really wants a hybrid for his next car.
What a great review! We will be test driving the Kia Optima Hybrid soon and after reading how much you loved it, I really can’t wait! Love the keyless entry and push button start. The roominess is so nice too and I love the dual climate control. I’m like you, always cold while my husband is roasting.