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Kia Optima Real World MPG

211 messages,  Last post on Dec 31, 2012 at 8:05 PM

You are in the Kia Optima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Optima, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

Messages Page 19 of 22

#172 of 211 Optima Hybrid MPG poor gas mileage by gq637

Feb 18, 2012 (2:24 pm)

I have had my Optima Hybrid for about 2 months and have about 4k miles on it. City driving at best I get around 28-30 MPG and highway at best I get around 32 MPG. I live in California and do not have many hills, my usual commute is flat driving, some city, mostly highway. I try to ease on the gas pedal while I drive to maximize fuel economy but that does not help. I am very dissapointed in this hybrid. For the price I could of bought a different cheaper vehicle and get the same gas mileage. I will probably not purchase another KIA based solely on mileage. The vehicle itself is great and runs wells, but the main reason I bought this car was for the MPG's and I am very very dissapointed, it is nowhere close to what they advertise. If I decide to do regular driving without easing on to the gas pedal my MPG's drop to around 26 MPG's, and this is by no means driving fast. Has anyone contacted KIA about this, and do they have a solution???

#173 of 211 Hybrid NOT as Advertised - poor mileage by smed35

Mar 22, 2012 (5:31 pm)

2011 Kia Hybrid - Dealer (Renton Kia) promised it would get the 35 - 40, I double checked and asked again about the mileage - just be real. They said they have all kinds of people driving the car normally and getting 40 on the FWY. I asked again - So driving from Seattle to Portland, I can dirve the speed limit (70mph) and get this mileage? They said yes.
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.

#174 of 211 Re: Optima Hybrid MPG poor gas mileage [gq637] by lakerfan24

Mar 22, 2012 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: gq637 (Feb 18, 2012 2:24 pm)
Wow, that really sucks man. I can avg 26 in my 2012 SX easily with econ on. I've yet to drive a full tank with a lead foot though. I'm thinking i would prolly get about 23-24 mpg.

#175 of 211 Re: Hybrid NOT as Advertised - poor mileage [smed35] by johnjj

Mar 23, 2012 (1:08 am)

Replying to: smed35 (Mar 22, 2012 5:31 pm)
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 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

#176 of 211 Re: Hybrid NOT as Advertised - poor mileage [johnjj] by smed35

Mar 23, 2012 (12:53 pm)

Replying to: johnjj (Mar 23, 2012 1:08 am)
I have rented both Chargers and really like them both. I am talking strictly HWY Mileage here. The car tends to take a mileage dump in city driving. But Gas station to Gas station 180 miles in the 6speed I got almost 30, and in the 8 speed just last week Seattle to Portland, ( flat ) just under 38 with an average speed of about 76 mph. It all goes away however with adding in some City driving.
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.

#177 of 211 Re: Hybrid wins Guiness Record [genen] by smed35

Mar 23, 2012 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: genen (Sep 28, 2011 2:50 pm)
Trust me - no one wants my car to get the mileage it is supposed to more than me. I have tried babying this thing on flat country roads liket the Hypermilers - the mileage over time just keeps going down down down until it rests at around 33mpg. Mind you this is going like 35- 40mph the whole way.
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.

#178 of 211 Almost 7000 Miles Still not losing money by mx2live

Apr 10, 2012 (9:06 pm)

I've almost reached the 7k mile mark and I am still averaging around 34 miles per gallon for my hybrid, it is still paying for itself. I did some simple mathematics before I purchased the car. I figured that all the Hybrid numbers for EPA are off anyhow as are the rest of Kia's cars. So I figured that over 31 mpg at only 700 miles per week, than the car is free over driving my last vehicle.

#179 of 211 Re: Almost 7000 Miles Still not losing money [mx2live] by johnjj

Apr 11, 2012 (5:17 am)

Replying to: mx2live (Apr 10, 2012 9:06 pm)
What percentage of drivers drive 700 miles/week?
 
Can you show us the math that makes this car "free" for you?
 
Thanks.
John

#180 of 211 2012 Optima Hybrid MPG by ennui5000

Apr 11, 2012 (5:44 am)

I have had my car for about 600 miles and recently filled up. I averaged 37.6 mpg. I use ECO mode.
 
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!

#181 of 211 Optima EX 2.4 2012 MPG by ijennings1

Apr 13, 2012 (6:26 pm)

I picked up my Optima Ex 2.4 on Feb 28. Have done about 1500 miles in and around Kansas City - Mixed driving - Lead footed as I'm a Brit and we drive faster than you guys over here, be it wrong or right! On the freeway at the limit, I get around 33. Around town with lots of stops and starts, about 23. So mixed is around 26-27. Will be good for a long road trip. My wife drives more sedately than I do. She will get about 3 more mpg than me.
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!

Messages Page 19 of 22

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