Kia rolls out new ergonomics and safety features for its midsize 2015 Optima Hybrid sedan. For safety, an acoustic-laminated, sound-dampening windshield becomes standard for all trims except the LX, for which it's optional. This windshield filters harmful UV rays to protect the interior and passengers, and would-be thieves will also not like its durability.
With driver ergonomics in mind, cruise-control buttons have been relocated to the right steering-wheel spoke. This makes the feature much easier to operate, because you never have to take your hands off the steering wheel to use it. Drivers will be able to learn to use the system without having to look down to find the controls, helping minimize the already numerous distractions on the road.
For even more safety, the UVO2 telematics system will receive additional software updates for the coming year as well. Parents will be glad to know the car now offers curfew reminders and speed alerts for their teen drivers, helping to keep them safe. A handy and especially sneaky Geo-Fencing feature has also been added, which sets virtual boundaries via GPS and sends alerts if the vehicle goes beyond those points.
Sitting right at the heart of this hybrid is a dependable 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine, along with a 47-kilowatt battery. Well suited for everyday excursions and road trips, and getting a very modestly green 36 mpg city/40 highway, you’ll save time and money at the pump. The 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive transaxle perform brilliantly to deliver acceleration of 0-60 mph in a very competitive 8.8 seconds. Unfortunately, though, no all-wheel-drive trim is currently available for the Hybrid.
Amenities abound for both the EX and LX trims inside the 5-passenger Optima, and style, too, as long as you don’t mind a few cheap plastics here and there. Nevertheless, found throughout are quality materials and plenty of welcoming space. Up front, even tall drivers will feel comfortable with an ample 40 inches of headroom and 45.5 inches of legroom. In the back, due to the low roofline, rear passengers may find headroom and getting in and out of the vehicle challenging. Trunk space is a bit tight also, but still reasonably accommodating at 15.4 cubes of hauling capacity.
Last face-lifted in 2014, the Optima still rests atop the same front strut and multi-link rear suspension. It still effortlessly navigates wide-open highways or tough urban thoroughfares, however the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 200 are still a tad more nimble. With a complete redesign on the horizon, next year’s model may be able to catch up.
It may have an aged design, but when something’s good, you usually don’t change it. A family sedan at heart, the Kia Optima Hybrid has been leading the pack in many of the categories that are most important, such as safety, reliability, efficiency, and resale value. With so many other well-balanced, 4-door midsizes in the market, it’s hard to make the right choice, but Kia is vying for your attention and doing it well with the updated Optima.
Driving down the road today. Coming to a stop. Car basically shuts down. Light comes on and it says our car in park and start. After doing so nothing happens. Gas pedal just pushes to the floor. Phone and electronics still work. Car just will not drive.
Driving last night and my 15 Optima Hybrid lit up a "hybrid drive warning" and demanded I pull over immediately. Once pulled over, the car would not start after turned off, it kept saying "shift to park to start," and almost every warning light was lit. I had it towed, this morning, it fired right up with only the engine light on, has this happened to anyone else?
I have a 2015 Kia Optima hybrid with push start I was driving my car to work after once I was ready to leave my car was completely dead no light came on push start would start the car nothing the car is completely dead shows no lights I didn’t leave no light on everything was turned off I’m thinking the battery but not really sure
Current tires are 215/55/17. I would like to change to the 225/55/17 Thanks
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.32
Engine
Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium polymer · Electric Motor HP: 47 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 35 · Electric Motor Torque: 151 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 159 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5500 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 154 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4500
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low oil level
Lights
Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · Pandora internet radio · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Infinity · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 7
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: leatherette · Dash Trim: Leatherette · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: 2 driver · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): two 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.32
Engine
Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium polymer · Electric Motor HP: 47 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 35 · Electric Motor Torque: 151 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 159 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5500 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 154 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4500
Exterior Features
Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: UVO · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low oil level
Lights
Front fog lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power folding
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: leather
Steering
Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic