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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

#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!

#182 of 211 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid by fenderbass

Apr 16, 2012 (7:14 pm)

I've read with interest the postings about this car. I took delivery of my new 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid last Saturday afternoon. I traded a 2009 Chrysler 300 Touring. I've only driven 135 km, playing with the eco button and still at the bottom of the learning curve as to how to properly and economically drive this spaceship. At this point next to good BBQ, this is the best car I've ever owned. It's unbelievable how it performs visa vis handling, comfortability, roominess and best of all I can see it'll be cheap to operate. The gas gauge has not moved, to the point where I stopped to put gas in to see if it was working and it immediately overflowed all down my nice shiny black fender. The six cylinder Chrysler would have used a half a tank over the weekend with the same mileage. I have all the confidence in the world that this will be an amazing car moving forward, even if the gas mileage drops to the same as the moaners' and groaners' who have written their comments on this page. My Korean Cadillac rocks!

#183 of 211 Re: Optima EX 2.4 2012 MPG [ijennings1] by cski

Apr 17, 2012 (5:17 pm)

Replying to: ijennings1 (Apr 13, 2012 6:26 pm)
If you are getting 33mpg with 1500 miles on it then you have the best built Hyundai 2.4 engine I have ever seen.
 
With a lead foot? Wow. Good for you. I barely broke 17 until 2300 miles.
 
I know she will get those numbers, but it's been my experience that this engine needs to break in. -C

#184 of 211 Trip to FL by rick2456

May 11, 2012 (5:39 am)

I finally got a chance to take my new 2012 Optima EX on a long trip to FL from Atlanta. On the highway, I average 32 mpg at ~77 mph with the AC on. I did note that the steering seems to be a bit over assisted, thus I wonder just how variable, the variable assist power steering really is. As the car still has less than 2000 miles on it, I expect the mileage to be a bit better as the engine gets broken in. All in all, not bad.

Messages Page 19 of 22

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