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Kia Optima Hybrid: Independence at Forty | Hybrid Cars

Does life begin at 40? Well, if you’re referring to automotive life and 40 as in miles per gallon, until recently that probably wasn’t the case. Cars designed for sipping fuel were generally about as exciting as hanging wallpaper.

But, as automakers feel increasing pressure to deliver more fuel-thrifty cars – ones that don’t sacrifice driving excitement – the notion of Fun at 40 is something that’s becoming more and more a reality.

And in an effort to find out just how fun it could be, this April we found ourselves trading glum North Eastern skies for the sunny, balmy climes of South Florida on a road trip from Miami to the southernmost point in the Lower 48, namely Key West.

In order to get there we needed a car and although we could have opted for a flashy convertible, this being HybridCars.com ; a more appropriate mode of transportation was Kia’s Optima Hybrid sedan.

We drove this car a few months back and came away suitably impressed with its combination of build quality, driving dynamics and good fuel economy.

However, a short stint only provides so much time to get a really clear picture of the vehicle, so we figured an extended drive was in order. Although South Florida doesn’t provide a lot in the way of elevation changes, miles of two-lane roads would give us the chance to evaluate the car under the kind of conditions most owners of such a vehicle would frequently find themselves in.

Rough Stop and Go

After a drama-packed air journey we finally arrive in Miami, much in need of some chill time. Having picked up the Optima, getting out of the city proves to be a bit of challenge, with a few wrong turns here and there. And it’s during stop and go driving, that we once again reaffirm one of the car’s not so favorable qualities – notably, its sluggish low-speed acceleration and rather harsh jolt when the gasoline engine kicks in.

That said, the steering is very nice and linear, with crisp on-center action at lower speeds. On city streets, the Optima Hybrid delivers a fairly firm ride, though good seat comfort helps negate the worst effects of bumps and expansion joints.