Kia Optima PHEV (2016) review (Month 6)

Having completed the sixth and final month behind the wheel of our long term Kia Optima PHEV, it’s time to reflect on what it has been like to live with a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid.

As previously reported it takes a little while to get used to and this is where dealers will play a vital role in educating customers and managing their expectations. We had a first class handover at Kia Coulsdon which included an informal but informative briefing on how to get the most out of the car.

The key lessons learnt were to regularly re-charge the battery to get the best fuel economy and to think in terms of harvesting energy when you’re on the move. Both tips have enabled us to get the most out of the car.

Home recharging, on a driveway, was a hassle, but was often overcome by a little forward planning especially prior to long journeys. Recharging took around five hours and added 30 miles to the range which was usefully deployed in urban driving.

The concept of harvesting energy was practiced from the start and proved to be easy to execute, thanks to a clear dashboard display which immediately pointed to the green when keeping motorway speeds steady and decelerating. Our best tank delivered 590 miles.

Furthermore it’s satisfying to drive. There’s no getting away from just how rewarding driving under electric power is thanks to the immediate delivery of torque. With the plug-in battery fully charged there’s a range of around 30 pure electric miles but the trick is to keep this in reserve for when it’s needed around town, while utilising harvested electric power through throttle control on open roads.

With the plug-in hybrid technology being the PHEV’s main selling point, it’s easy to overlook what a good job Kia has done in delivering a desirable flagship car. The Optima is extremely well-appointed with plenty of top-end touches from the door mirrors that unfold when they sense the key to the driver’s seat which automatically slides back, Lexus style, at the beginning and end of journeys.

There’s also the high quality Harman Kardon sound system, complete with sub-woofer, wireless phone charger, energy-efficient driver-only heating function and premium car levels of space for rear passengers. However, the workmanlike interior design is more functional than luxurious and boot space is compromised by the battery pack.

Ultimately the Kia Optima PHEV delivered an engaging hybrid driving experience. We averaged a diesel challenging 51mpg which dealers should find appealing to local business company car drivers, who will also benefit from the tax-friendly emissions rating of just 37g/km. They will also appreciate what is a well specified and attractive looking saloon which delivers on comfort although the recently launched sportswagon version, with more useable boot space, could be the better executive PHEV all-rounder.

Click here for Month 1 review
Click here for Month 2 review
Click here for Month 3 review
Click here for Month 4 review
Click here for Month 5 video review