2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Review

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kia optima review, hybrid,  kia optima, car review, family car
These new Kia vehicles are killing me. So beautiful!

Last week, the 4 Hats Crew got to test drive the new, fully loaded, 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. I was very excited to do a Kia Optima Hybrid Review. We’ve never driven, yet been in, a hybrid vehicle, and I’ve heard so many weird stories about them. Weird, in my mind, equals cool, funky and interesting, so I was hoping for a vehicle that was weird to the max. And boy was it.

We are a “sing loudly in the car” kind of family
The first characteristic that surprised me was the room. There was a good amount of legroom in that sedan! In my mind, I still view Kia vehicles as the new car line from when I was in high school, that was little on space but great on price. Boy have they changed. I was impressed with not only the leg room in the front, but the room in the back. The kids had plenty of room to stretch out their legs and car dance with a passion.
Kia Optima review, Hybrid, family car

The drive on the kia optima hybrid was incredible. It was very smooth, and due to the use of the battery and the engine simultaneously, it was incredibly fast. If you didn’t pay attention while driving on the highway, you could easily end up at 75 miles per hour without knowing it. As Michael Jackson would say, she’s a Speed Demon! The car is also VERY quiet. I mean, so quiet that you’re going to think the car has totally turned off. Don’t freak out, it’s still on. She’s just purring at you. And conserving energy. She’s a sweetheart that loves the Earth and not making too much noise. She also loves to save on gas.

At over half a tank, we still had 282 miles until empty.

Speaking of which, The Kia Optima Hybrid is a rockstar on gas! As a frugal gal, this is what impressed me the most. On one tank of gas, you can possibly get about 560 miles of highway driving. Did you read that? Over 500 miles on one tank! The car was delivered to us on a full tank, and after a whole week of driving, and two really long drives to some events that weekend, we returned it at just under 3/4 tank. I think that’s when I fell in love with this car. I immediately saw all the money we would save on just gas. A hybrid really is worth giving a go if you are a big driver.

Would the Kia Optima Hybrid work for our family? Well, even though we loved the girl, I think we’d have to upgrade to a Sorrento if we went this route. If only they offered the Kia Sorrento as a hybrid, we’d be all set! We do a lot of road trips to see the in-laws, and with Sonny starting up sports in the fall, we’d need something a little bigger to hold all of his gear. But the best part is that all Kia vehicles are affordable. If someone part of the frugal crew was in the market for a new car, the Kia Optima Hybrid would be the way to go. The 4 Hats Family gives this vehicle two thumbs up.

Here’s a detailed video review I did of the Kia Optima Hybrid:

To see the fun you can have in an Optima, check out our 30 second music video:

Disclosure: We were offered a test drive by Kia. No monetary compensation was issued. All opinions are my own.

About Amiyrah

My name is Amiyrah and I'm an an African American fashion & lifestyle blogger based in Ohio.

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12 Comments

  1. 2.28.13

    That looks like a fun but compact enough family car. (And hey, we’re a family that sings loud too. Hubs is always saying the other cars can hear us…but we still belt it out!!)

  2. 2.28.13
    Cyn said:

    This looks like a great car and I’m definitely going to be looking for a hybrid for my next one!

  3. 2.28.13
    LisaLisa said:

    I love KIA, but I will say the KIA Optima Hybrid is my favorite. Great review!

  4. 2.28.13
    Susie B. Homemaker said:

    Wow, the Kia Optima Hybrid looks really sharp! My sister drives an older Kia sedan. She’s probably had it for the last 8 years or so. I’ll have to tell her to look at this one when she’s ready to upgrade. 😉

  5. 3.1.13

    Funny LOL. That’s right, enjoy ur life and enjoy ur family. Love the car too. Thanks for sharing.

  6. 3.1.13

    Oh this car is pretty cute. I remember when Kia’s used to be small, boxy, and ugly. Great review 🙂

  7. 3.2.13
    Erin said:

    Great review! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hybrids!

  8. 3.2.13

    I wasn’t a fan of Kia’s until now. I have a daughter and this looks like a really cute, affordable option. I’m in the market to lease or buy.

    Oh, btw, that Harlem shake video was absolutely adorable! My daughter enjoyed it! Great review!

  9. 3.3.13

    My husband heard the sound of your music video, stopped in his track and came back to watch. Glad you enjoyed the Kia!

  10. 3.3.13

    We have a Kia Sedona mini van and I like it a lot. The hybrid option seems really interesting. You definitely made me want to try it out though.

  11. 3.3.13
    Sheri said:

    Your review was quite comprehensive. I loved it! And I think I like the Kia now. Bells and whistles galore! I agree that a hybrid may present a problem if you are on a strict budget because you never know how much a repair would cost. Hopefully it has a great warranty. And who knew you were one of Bobby Brown’d background singers! 😉

  12. 3.4.13
    DJrelAt7 said:

    kia”s have certainly come a long way! im sure more hybrid models will be coming out shortly.