PHEV stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle and is simply pronounced as it’s written, by pronouncing the individual letters P-H-E-V.
The new Optima PHEV is designed to help Kia in its mission to lower the average CO2 emissions of its range by 25% before the end of 2020, along with other EVs and hybrid vehicles from the manufacturer.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle uses an electric motor or a petrol engine for power, the electric motor is plugged into mains electricity to charge. Once the 33-mile, electric-only range is exceeded you can avoid range anxiety by relying on the petrol engine to continue your journey.
This new Hybrid release comes soon after the launch of the Niro, Kia’s first dedicated hybrid platform and joins the Soul EV as the third alternative powertrain vehicle in the UK. Each model is attractive to various audiences; the Niro’s sizes means it’s ideal for families, the Soul EV is perfect for city drivers and the Optima is suitable for business use thanks to its low running costs and benefit in kind rating.
The Optima PHEV has a 33-mile range in all-electric mode and driven in hybrid mode it emits just 37g/km of CO2.
Exterior design
Subtle styling differences make it stand out from other Optimas in the range, with distinguishing features such as blue tinted LED headlights that wrap around towards the wheel arches, and metallic blue finishes on the ‘tiger-nose’ grille and side sills, as well as the distinctive ‘ECO plug-in’ badges on the front wings.
An active air flap grille goes towards helping with the aerodynamic improvements by only opening when engine cooling is needed. This reduces the drag coefficient (Cd) to 0.25, as opposed to the 0.29 of the other Optima models.
The five-seat, five-door saloon features aerodynamic styling, particularly from the front and rear bumper design to further reduce air turbulence. The chassis is made up of weight-saving, advanced high-strength steel to improve efficiency.
Bespoke interior
The battery is situated underneath the rear seats and in the spare wheel well so a tyre repair kit is supplied as standard. Boot space is still generous at 307 litres despite holding the battery.
As standard this model is fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, a central 8-inch touchscreen with menus showing the EV range, nearby charging stations and energy usage based on driving style. The touchscreen controls a number of functions thereby streamlining the minimalist dashboard.
Luxury materials have been used within the interior such as black cloth, black leather, satin chrome and black faux-leather. The energy saving heating system ensures driver comfort is maintained without compromising on efficiency. The HVAC system, also used in the Soul EV, implements a ‘driver only’ ventilation option to save energy consumption when the driver is the only person in the vehicle.
Technology and safety
A customised 8-inch touchscreen with menus to show the electric range, nearby charging stations and energy usage sits on the dashboard angled towards the driver. The touchscreen also operates the sat nav with European mapping and Kia Connected Services, including traffic and speed camera alerts, local search information and weather updates.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (not currently available) connectivity features, for those with Android operating system 5.0 (Lollipop) and higher and later on in the year Apple CarPlay will be available for those with iPhone 5 or newer. A wireless phone charger is optional, while DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and 590-watt Harman/Kardon premium sound system with ten speakers are included.
Electronic stability control and vehicle stability management ensure that the Optima PHEV’s stability is enhanced and hill-start assist control helps when starting off on an incline.
The Optima was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating with 89% for adult occupants and 86% for child occupants thanks to its high strength steel body, seven airbags, front and rear crumple zones and side impact protection.
Drive
The Optima PHEV is driven by a 154bhp, 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine combined with a 50kw (67bhp) electric motor situated in a six-speed automatic gearbox that is powered by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery. It’s the first Optima in the UK with a petrol engine and the first Kia plug-in hybrid.
The Kia Optima PHEV can reach a top speed of 119mph (75mph in all-electric mode) and reaches 0–60 in 9.1 seconds in hybrid mode.
The driver can choose from Eco and Normal drive mode settings to switch between driving optimised for performance or energy efficiency.
Charging
The charging point is situated in the front passenger side wing and a type 2 recharging cable (or Mennekes – 7 pin) is supplied with the car, it’s the most commonly used charger type in Europe and will fully charge the battery from flat in three hours.
The third generation regenerative braking system harvests kinetic energy from the brakes to charge the battery on the move.
The Kia Optima PHEV is available now from your nearest Arnold Clark Kia branch on Personal Contract Hire.