Kia Optima Real World MPG
2006.5+ actually.
Didn't have a pen or calculator with me but it looks like I got about 27 mpg when I filled up. Short mileage, mixed driving but better than I thought given Hyundai's reputation for being a tight engine up until 5K or so.
Pleasantly pleased by the car so far.
Didn't have a pen or calculator with me but it looks like I got about 27 mpg when I filled up. Short mileage, mixed driving but better than I thought given Hyundai's reputation for being a tight engine up until 5K or so.
Pleasantly pleased by the car so far.
0
Comments
I have a 2.4 engine with the 5 speed auto.
I live in the mountains so I use the auto-stick feature consistently. BTW - the transmission is unbelievably smooth in either mode but in auto mode doesn't downshift when I attack the mountain inclines in a sporty fashion (LOL).
The dealership has treated me like "family" so far without being pesky. This is not what I expected from a South Korean manufacturer with a comparatively new dealer network.
Best deal on the market for $20K but you should shop the Hyundai products as well!
90% highway: 30 mpg
Not bad given Hyundai's reputation for a stiff engine. Still no better than my Maxx V6.
link NHTSA
Did you ever take it to another dealer or complain to the zone rep? (I know we've covered this before, sorry my memory is bad).
I bought a Kia because of the quality of my Hyundai dealer, but both brands have some bad dealerships (but no worse than some Japanese makes).
BTW I sure hope you are right about the MPG improving.Thats been a big disappointment. :lemon:
Mike :lemon:
If the dealer plays dumb,call KIA on the phone.You can find the number on their site www.kia.com.Reflashing seemed to solve the problem, although it took 3 months to get it done.Dont let them beat you down.Like you I feel very disappointed in the gas mileage on my 4 cyl Optima.On a long trip,it actually managed 31 MPG,but on mixed driving,some 80% highway had a low of 16.5, and usually in the very low 20s.I have a feeling that this car is not long for my garage.I have right now 3500 miles on it.
BTW, keep your receipts,after three attempted repairs if a serious problem persists ,you are eligible for the lemon law.Look it up,Im not kidding.It might be a hassle and Im sure that they will resist mightily,but the law is on your side. :lemon:
If they deny the malfunction,take a video camcorder when you are traveling with a passenger,and videotape this occurrence ,making sure that the date shows on the video.
This KIA owner seriously wishes I had bought a Hyundai Sonata which is a far superior car.On my 2006 Sonata,After 10000 miles I averaged over 28MPG.Thats for the 10000 miles,not just a tank.For my first 3000miles on the KIA I averaged 25.5.Thats 3 MPG less,although EPA says 34 hwy for Optima vs 33 MPG hwy for the Sonata. :sick: :lemon:
I'm averaging about 23 mixed with my 'Bu Maxx. Note that the EPA for the Optima V-6 is just about the same but the experiences in the real world are probably worse. I stated going in that if I got the mileage in the Optima 4 a mpg or two higher than the Maxx I'd be a happy camper.
I haven't taken my Kia back to the dealer yet, but my Hyundai experience indicated that was the weak link in the occasion. The sales experience was worse than the service experience, however. The sales experience deteriorated from my Elantra purchase in 2001 to my looking at a Sonata at the same dealer in 2006.
PS Did you get your "re flashing" done?If you have,did it solve your problem.Mine has been perfect since,so if the MPG improves I will just sigh in relief and move on.Looked into trading it.Not possible.In 4 month the car has dropped 50% of it's actual selling price,more than that if you consider MSRP.That means,its mine to keep,like a bad marriage.
My buMaxx has constant termperature display, flashes things like warnings about ice, has a slightly optimistic mpg indicator and an oil life monitor. I think (and mickeyrom can confirm) that the Sonata shows mpg's, so why not Kia?
1. An attempt to cripple the car's amenities to less than that of the Sonata.
2. People will be reminded of sub-standard mileage (I'm still not convinced that it's worse than the Sonata although individual models may vary).
Certainly all the smarts are in the computer to do that since it gives you miles to empty.
When I was a kid, my small town hardware store had two identical Shakespeare casting reels. One had a plastic spool, held half the line and cost $10, the other had a stainless steel spool, held twice as much line and cost $15. Being cheap, I took the plastic one. Within an hour the plastic spool had fallen off and the more expensive reel lay underneath. They'd actually spent more in order to make it crappy. Sometimes it's all about marketing.
BTW,I want to compliment you on your always interesting posts.
How are y'all doin'? I am waiting for my local(local meaning 90 miles away)Mitsu dealer to get '08 Lancers in still.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Do you think the new Lancer will turn it around? The new Lancer is certainly better than the last model. Don't know if I'd put it ahead of the Optima though.
It's almost not a valid comparison in my mind...the '08 Lancer is a sportier car and the Optima is more conservative yet still sporty. I think Kia did a great job with it. I've just fallen for that aggressive front end of the Lancer and it's stealthy bold stance.
I would like to forge ahead this time and trade our Sportage 4x4 for an '08 Lancer but I know my wife will oppose the idea.
It's just that we're getting too deep past the '01 Sportage's Long-Haul coverage(our Sportage 4x4 just passed 127,000 miles but is running like a top). KBB pegs the Sportage to be worth about $3,800. We owe about $900 still on the Sportage so we're just about there for paying it off. It would be nice to not have a car payment, too, indeed.
I think we're at a little bit of a fork in the road. I see an Electric Blue import humming along coming straight at me and really beckoning to me for at least a harmless little test drive.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Yes, we do. We bought the LX-V6 (Bright Silver) on 6/23/06 from Crown Kia. The mileage is just over 6K, with no real trouble at all. The only thing that did happen was the TPMS light came on due to, we were told, a sensor out of calibration. They re-set the light, no further problem.
Our MPG, with two different drivers, mostly urban interstate, runs a consistent 23.4. And, at least when I drive, all six of the cylinders get used...
I like the car. I like the Dealer. We will almost certainly buy another Kia.
As far as the dealer is concerned,I bought my Hyundai Sonata and the KIA Optima from a giant multi-brand complex,Lujack motors in Davenport Iowa.The service dept.for Hyundai was A+,but I had a less positive relationship with the KIA.Maybe it was just me,but I started taking my car to a different dealer,so things are looking up.BTW,your mileage...has it increased dramatically once you passed 5000K?
Right now this car shows 4012 miles on the odometer.
Mickeyrom, your reported mileage with the Hyundai was exceptional.
BTW Im currently doing a full tank on strictly city driving,and its not so cold any more.When I do a fill up I will do a report on that.I'm hoping that this time it at least matches the Sonata's 14-15 MPG.
My Maxx shows an averaged mpg reading. It obviously changes rapidly when the tank's filled then levels out. It's presently showing 23.5 mpg (probably 1.5 mpg optimistic), at about half a tank. If I went on a two hundred mile trip it might increase to 25 or 26. If I continue driving mostly around town it will average somewhere around 22-24 when I fill it up.
I've had rental cars (Chrysler vans) that showed the actual second by second computations. This could go from 3 mpg to 50 mpg depending on what you were doing at the moment.
What's the 14/37? A computation of mostly around town and mostly on the highway or some kind of second-by-second computation?
Your suggestion that you "burned" a number of 07 Camry V6`s is really difficult to fathom - you obviously know that the Camry V6 puts out something like 268 hp. I assume your Optoma is the 2.7 V6 - but wow, that would be something !!
Best MPG, 28+ hwy( EPA says 27). May have hit 29, but... may have went faster than need be, at times.
Worst? 19MPG, mainly city,when newer.
I avg mainly(mixed, 60hwy-40 % city)... 24-25MPG. If I have new tires, 25-26.
This is nearly as good as my in-laws 2007 Suzuki SX4,with 143HP, I-4.
They get 27-28MPG hwy.
25-26 city... avg 27.
Last few tanks were 25+ MPG, 28+ MPG, and around 24 MPG, in 40 degree weather.
Tires do need replaced soon, also.
I have read, IIRC, on MotorWeek, and here on Edmunds, 34MPG for the I-4 Optima, hwy, on their testing!
A lot depends on how one drives, also.
If you try to do 0-60 in 3 seconds after every stop, then of course, you get less MPG.
I know Many people drive like it's the Indy 500, or a drag race!
I did drive the Prius, and it is nice, but it handles no better than the Optima, IMHO. Better than my Sonata, yes, a little, just like the Optima handles a little better.
Neither is a sports car. Our Scion tC out handles either, very readily.
If you're looking for MPG.... go Prius, or even a normal gasloline engine(only) powered Civic or Corolla.
If you need a larger car, get the Optima!
The I-4 is not as "smooth" as my lower(170HP) powered V6, but close enough.
The V6 in the Optima made the car feel no faster than my Sonata, though.
Too bad there is not a car that does 0-60 in 8 seconds, the size of Optima, handles like a tC, and gets 40 hwy, 30 city!
take care/not offense
No complaints there,thats for sure.Now if my city economy approaches the EPA estimate of 24 .....I will be as happy as a clam.
2006.5 EX 2.4,auto.
First fill-up. Bucking slight headwind, considerable strip travel behind 80 year olds. Only averaged a bit over 21 mpg. Not good at all.
Second fill-up. Noticed a LOT of shifting into third and fourth with the smallest grade. Decided to put it into manual mode to keep it in fifth as much as possible. No real lugging of the engine, could easily go up and down hills at 70 mpg. Got 34 mpg plus. Typical Hyundai stiff-enginitis, maybe it's finally breaking in.
Third fill-up. Some two lane roads but averaged a pretty good clip. No stop and go driving. Only averaged 23 mpg. Second tank must have been underfilled.
Other than bad mileage, the car drove well and had good room. Think I would have averaged considerably higher in my Malibu Maxx, but maybe it's still breaking in. I'd think I'd be averaging about 28 mpg mixed, maybe slightly better with two aboard. I think the Maxx would have beaten it by 3-4 mpg.