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Comments
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/13/wayne-gerdes-hypermiles-2011-kia-optima-hyb- rid-to-guinness-recor/
To Genen - no it's not my driving style that is the difference between 28/29 and 60 mpg. I drive friends' Prius cars all the time and maintain mpg in the high 40's and 50's. However, no matter how careful I am to use the energy wisely and avoid needing the brakes, I generally get 28 or 29 in my Optima. That's driving mostly around town (mildly hilly) with some limited highway use (5 to 10 miles a pop, with just a few 30 mile trips). Around town only, I'm lucky to get 25. That said, I know another Optima Hybrid owner who has gotten 35 with mostly hwy, and 39.5 on a long trip. As for the hypermilers, I have to wonder whether they avoided all traffic on their journey, and stayed on flat ground or downhills, since those seem to be the biggest factors affecting my mileage.
Though I wouldn't have thought so when I was shopping, I find that 29 mpg is a sufficient improvement, and I'm looking forward to better when I travel. I feel quite liberated from the gas pump, and love the car itself - always get compliments, and it feels good and sturdy behind the wheel. It's even nimble, with a great turning radius. I like the dash and the trunk. It feels like a luxury car, and overall, I still think it's better than any others in its class.
2012 Optima EX EPA 24/35 --> I get 27.0 average
About a thousand miles on the Optima and I tracked 10k on the Accord. ECO is always on, I drive very economically. It could be the new engine, but so far, I am very disappointed.
I would have never tried to do that gas experiment with me previous 07 Acura TL Type-S, that thing was a gas gustler. I just love that this car has such great MPG and it does not look so boring as Prius or Camry hybrids. I think I will be a KIA man for life if they keep bringing out machines like this. Imagine if they built a 4Wheel drive KIA optimas jajaja, that will be the ultimate
In short, I freaking love this car, it has exceded my expectations in more ways than one; looks, finish, attention to detail, and of course most importantly the so far great MPG. They really threw this one out of the ballpark, this is one fine car, I highly recommend it.
I love this car...
Still seems very tight after 8,000 miles.
Ed
I've been reading these forums for a few days and want to know if anyone has gotten any results from KIA based on your complaint of the gas.
My disappointment is really based on the above premise
I average 29mpg to 33mpg much like many of the Hybrid owners on this post. For the people getting less than that, I would be over the top upset - and trust me I am upset. The Prius does what it says it will - 50mpg and you dont have to baby it. The Dodge charger 8speed gets 38 frekin mpg on the FWY and is way more car and you can go fast ( I just rented one )
I think that if KIA does not make this right - there should be a Class Action.
If there are people getting 40mpg then there is something wrong with our cars as we all drive in the Green and keep the ECO on - I dont know if it is the battery or something else but it needs to get fixed.
If the car had been advertised this way 29 -33 I probably would not have purchased it but if I had -- overall I would be ok with the car.
I test drove this car with the 8 speed auto transmission and am thinking of buying one. It is rated at 31mpg hwy. How sure are you about the 38mpg?
John
Which in the end is why I went with the Hybrid - while I am disappointed with advertised mileage vs. real world I still average over 30mpg with the KIA, its supposed to be 36-37 --- The charger would probably be closer to 21 -22
If I didnt care about the price of gas and have to shuttle kids for sports all of the time, I would have bought the Charger.
No disrespect - but who cares what the hyper milers get - we need real world mileage - and the dealer and KIA keep saying "oh no everyone gets 40hwy, bull. MotorTrend, Edmunds, and Cars.com all had the same reviews - I dont mind the car so much, but based on the advertised mileage, the car sucks.
Can you show us the math that makes this car "free" for you?
Thanks.
John
I commute 380 miles per week (38 miles one way). The beginning and end of the commute is city. The middle is highway or non-stop. 2/3 non-stop and 1/3 stop and go.
The reason I chose this car is because it had the horsepower, midsize, and it did well on the highway mpg. Most hybrids tend to focus on city only. I think I have a commute that makes this car work well. I traded in my sportscar, so I gave up the desire for fast acceleration (although at 200 HP, this car does really well but drains the gas). I was ready to put the lead foot away. I am not gunning but instead I just relax. We have enough stoplights to equalize the race anyway.
I notice that it takes about 5-10 minutes of the gas engine running to get the battery charged and for the system to work for you. That might explain some of the poorer gas mileage in some of these posts. Once it gets going, the remainder of my trip is 35-50 MPG (according to the console).
I agree with another poster in here...compared to my old car and my long commute, I am saving at least $200 in gas per month. I am not driving free, but half way there!
I think it depends how carefully you drive. The ECO button blunts too much power for me, but if others like it, good for them! The trip computer is optimistic by about 1.5 mpg by the way.
This is a very good car and I'm pleased with it. The only thing I don't like is no spare wheel and the blessed touchscreen. The 'short' version of the touchscreen manual is 56 pages long. Next door's 6 year old is currently teaching me how to use it.
From a rapidly aging English rocker!
With a lead foot? Wow. Good for you. I barely broke 17 until 2300 miles.
I know she will get those numbers, but it's been my experience that this engine needs to break in. -C
Looking forward to my first 3-hour-freeway-drive road trip in a couple weeks, hopefully will see the MPG go up a little. I did hear it takes a while to get the MPG as advertised, need to wait for the engine to break in a little.
I am now getting 22 to 24.8mpg after driving this route (395 into Wash DC from Burke VA) for the past 2 months.
It took 4000 miles to break 20mpg. I now have 6,600, and I have also noticed that the transmission has "learned" my driving style. The car is just a pleasure to drive at cruising speeds, with great pickup between 50 and 80mph for passing...if I can get around the thousands of Prius' during the morning grind. Still no problems at all with the car.
and cruise, eco on 30.7. We started with 875 mile on the car. What a pleasure to drive, we hit some heavy rain and wind for about 30 miles near the end on the return trip..handled flawlessly.
By far the best vehilcle we have ever owned. We are in our 50's and have owned well over 100
cars and trucks.
Go to www.optimaforums.com for more feedback on this issue.
My commute is from West Springfield, VA to 23rd St NW Washington DC. It is 18 miles each way. 4 miles of it is suburban stop and go, then higher speed driving on 395 for 14 miles.
I never use the econ button. It slows up throttle response, and I need to be on my toes during this commute. It is dense, fast, and just plain dangerous at 6 am. (I went in and right back home this morning, just had to get my cell). I work from home on Fridays
I have 10,200 miles on the car, purchased last December 28th. My fuel economy has steadily improved from horrible; to as-advertised. Folks with brand new Optima's should be just a little patient.
There have been no problems or issues with my EX 2.4. Great car.
I drive a mix of hwy/city to work and get about 19 mpg, my wife drives the car on the weekends to her job, 30 miles one way at a steady 65 mph and has yet to get over 29 mpg. That is at least 5-6 MPG off of Kia's stock 2013 EX MPG ratings of 24/35. We are getting 18/27 to be precise.
We always have Eco on, and after the first week of the driving the car, we have both been coasting to lights, and driving economically to see if we can boost the MPG on our ends...no luck. This is really frustrating, especially since we budgeted for decent MPG out of this car and actually went with the Optima over other competitors because of it's solid MPG rating....now we are getting hosed on the road!
I have a '12 EX; and I drive hwy/city too. Traffic is thick all the time here in the DC area. My average speed struggles to get above 26 mph.
On a recent road trip I got 31 mpg (89 miles). I was happy with that.
one serious rd trip of 400 miles I avg 33mpg.
I took it to KIA dealer and they told me to be patient because of break in period. I thought those were things of the past.
I am a conservative driver basically less than 10k per year and this MPG is frustrating and disheartening.
Lane
You really have to drive like grandma to get that 24 mpg city, and most of us can't; due to clogged suburban streets. There is a stoplight every 1/2 mile here in Northern VA.
I usually get from 20 to 21.5 mpg. It is just too densely populated and all of the fun back roads are clogged with cars. Stop and go = bad MPG.
Maybe a hybrid would have been better for your needs.
I try and drive 60 - 65 mph and am in lite to moderate highway traffic most of the way.
Any ideas on how to get closer to 40 mpg?
Under those conditions I've been able to get low-40s mpg in my 2010 Sentra which is rated 34 highway, just under the Optima's 35. I've noticed on my wife's 2013 Sonata that at 65-70, the rpms are about where they are on my Sentra. So I think 40 mpg on the Optima is possible... but not easily obtainable.
In the end it depends on gearing, weight, aerodynamics, and driving as if in early stage of a coma.
miller time (post 202) seems to confirm the range. I can't drive anywhere west without going through the mountains, so 40 mpg is never going to happen. Also, I didn't buy my car for it's MPG figures. I bought it because it is beautiful. Everything else came 2nd. It is a fantastic consolation prize though to get a consistent 24.5 mpg here in the city, and even with my lead foot.
Happy holidays. -Chris
This is a real contender and you are the first to own the new model! Awesome.
Hope u r happy w/ it!