EX 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sedan
2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Optima Hybrid Photos
A Feature-Packed Family Hauler That Sips 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery Every time we read Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we find something new. Adams was able to spin phrases that hit on multiple levels, and his work requires repeated attention to be enjoyed in full. We wouldn't be surprised if the folks at Kia have been reading a bit of Adams themselves, because their latest lineup has been commanding multiple looks. With new models being churning out both here and abroad, Kia is offering a range of vehicles that hit consumer needs on multiple levels. The latest member of the family is the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid, and it's looking to speak to the green-tinged car-shopping contingent. The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is a rather handsome beast that looks just like its non-battery-pack-carrying siblings – at least at first. Just as they do on their more conventionally powered cousins, the lines on the Optima Hybrid flow rearward from the car's slyly smiling face and into the slick greenhouse. A subtle shoulder line helps break up the Optima when viewed in profile, and a set of distinct LED taillamps integrate those same details neatly into the rear end. Kia engineers have employed a variety of tweaks to help the hybrid on its quest for better fuel economy. The non-hybrid Optima enjoys a Nissan 370Z-like 0.29 coefficient of drag, but Kia wanted to get that number a bit lower for the hybrid. To accomplish this, engineers fitted their gas-electric baby with grille shutters, a plastic belly pan, rear spoiler, slightly revised rear fascia and a lower ride height. The result? The Optima Hybrid's drag coefficient is down to just 0.26. Further setting the Hybrid apart from the standard Optima are a set of gas/electric-specific 16-inch alloy wheels, low rolling resistance Hankook tires and the prerequisite "Hybrid" badge affixed to the rear end. The tires are perfectly suited for the job and offer a fair amount of grip, yet the rubber's still built for coasting along smoothly and comfortably. They also handle the 3,490-pound Hybrid's curb weight, an increase of 267 pounds over the 2.4-liter gas-only Optima (3,223 pounds) and 105 pounds over the 2.0-liter turbo (3,385 pounds). Beyond badges and weight, it's inside where this Kia packs a few surprises. The 2011 Optima Hybrid is the first Kia vehicle to feature the company's new UVO information, entertainment and communication system. We had a chance to sit down with Henry Bizeh, the national manager of infotainment & connectivity, for a walk-through of the new unit. As impressive as UVO sounded when Kia announced the system, it's even more so in person. The system grabs hold of our speech flawlessly, which it should, as it's a version of the same technology that Microsoft first developed for Ford's popular SYNC system. It's hands-free done right, and we're glad to see it finally appear in more vehicles than just ones wearing blue ovals. UVO, however, is …
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A Feature-Packed Family Hauler That Sips 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery Every time we read Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we find something new. Adams was able to spin phrases that hit on multiple levels, and his work requires repeated attention to be enjoyed in full. We wouldn't be surprised if the folks at Kia have been reading a bit of Adams themselves, because their latest lineup has been commanding multiple looks. With new models being churning out both here and abroad, Kia is offering a range of vehicles that hit consumer needs on multiple levels. The latest member of the family is the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid, and it's looking to speak to the green-tinged car-shopping contingent. The 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid is a rather handsome beast that looks just like its non-battery-pack-carrying siblings – at least at first. Just as they do on their more conventionally powered cousins, the lines on the Optima Hybrid flow rearward from the car's slyly smiling face and into the slick greenhouse. A subtle shoulder line helps break up the Optima when viewed in profile, and a set of distinct LED taillamps integrate those same details neatly into the rear end. Kia engineers have employed a variety of tweaks to help the hybrid on its quest for better fuel economy. The non-hybrid Optima enjoys a Nissan 370Z-like 0.29 coefficient of drag, but Kia wanted to get that number a bit lower for the hybrid. To accomplish this, engineers fitted their gas-electric baby with grille shutters, a plastic belly pan, rear spoiler, slightly revised rear fascia and a lower ride height. The result? The Optima Hybrid's drag coefficient is down to just 0.26. Further setting the Hybrid apart from the standard Optima are a set of gas/electric-specific 16-inch alloy wheels, low rolling resistance Hankook tires and the prerequisite "Hybrid" badge affixed to the rear end. The tires are perfectly suited for the job and offer a fair amount of grip, yet the rubber's still built for coasting along smoothly and comfortably. They also handle the 3,490-pound Hybrid's curb weight, an increase of 267 pounds over the 2.4-liter gas-only Optima (3,223 pounds) and 105 pounds over the 2.0-liter turbo (3,385 pounds). Beyond badges and weight, it's inside where this Kia packs a few surprises. The 2011 Optima Hybrid is the first Kia vehicle to feature the company's new UVO information, entertainment and communication system. We had a chance to sit down with Henry Bizeh, the national manager of infotainment & connectivity, for a walk-through of the new unit. As impressive as UVO sounded when Kia announced the system, it's even more so in person. The system grabs hold of our speech flawlessly, which it should, as it's a version of the same technology that Microsoft first developed for Ford's popular SYNC system. It's hands-free done right, and we're glad to see it finally appear in more vehicles than just ones wearing blue ovals. UVO, however, is …
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Retail Price

$26,500 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine I-4
MPG 34 City / 39 Hwy
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 6-spd w/OD
Power 166 @ 6000 rpm
Drivetrain front-wheel
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