2020 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid Review
Price Estimate: $19,335 - $21,899

2020 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What's new
- Wireless device charging and some features from last year's Technology package are now standard
- Part of the fourth Kia Optima generation introduced in 2016
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.10 per gallon for regular unleaded and $0.15 per kWh for electricity in Colorado.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Colorado
$75/mo for Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX
Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX
vs
$155/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(60%)
4(27%)
3(6%)
2(0%)
1(7%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Manufacturer buyback - know what you are getting
4 out of 5 starsKia Shopper, 11/10/2018
2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
What other Shoppers should know before buying this car? That all you have to do is call Kia with the VIN number and ask them to tell you all of the maintenance warranty and repairs done on the vehicle. You can even sign up for the owner portal just by having a VIN however the information on the vehicle I was shopping for was woefully incomplete. The customer service representative on the … phone provided me with the full list of items repaired and replaced on the vehicle. I did not opt to buy it due to having 3 wire assembly replacements in 2018. Lemon Law requires repairs to be completed before the vehicle can be resold but since they were completing the same repair for the third and the vehicle had multiple other issues that it had been in for repeatedly I dared not take a chance on it even for the lower price. Buyer beware!
Great plug-in Hybrid!
5 out of 5 starsGrant Calkins, 02/25/2017
2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
This car is everything you could want in a plug-in hybrid, with a few (relatively) minor exceptions such as no programmable garage door opener buttons, charging door tricky to close after charging. It's pretty much a grown-up Chevy Volt (which I also own and love!), but one thing Kia should have done differently: for smoothness in EV mode, have the electric motor directly power the … wheels (ie eliminate the 6 speed auto trans in EV mode). Also take note that KIA sells cars in non-traditional ways - apparently they do not allow their dealers to order any specific vehicles; they only sell what arrives on the car hauler truck. This makes it difficult (sometimes impossible) to connect with the vehicle and dealer you like. That said, the dealers apparently can ATTEMPT to identify and divert vehicles immediately after manufacture. Also, Kia's web site makes it very convenient to view all dealer's inventories for specific vehicles. All said and done, I would definitely buy another Kia. Grant Calkins, Bend, OR
I made the right choice
5 out of 5 starsVolo R, 06/24/2017
2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
I made the right choice, enjoy every ride. My daily commute is around 30 milrs, I've been driving just one thousand miles and still have a quarter of fuel tank! Electric drive is quiet and yet quite powerful!
best plug in out there
5 out of 5 starssamson, 06/06/2017
2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
KIA OPTIMA PLUG IN HYBRID 2017
With so many cars on the market, one has to compare the many choices of the cars they are wanting to purchase. I had a Nissan Leaf for the last few years and loved that car, except I had to have another car to go out of town. That changed when I met this plug in Optima Kia in 2017. First, I got the Consumer Reports April 2017 Car issue in order to … make the right decision as well as read, articles in Green Car Reports.
I chose the 2017 Kia Optima plug in EX hybrid, based on many factors. First, the Kia warranty on their cars are the best in the industry, 5 year 60,000 miles bumper to bumper. Next, according to Consumer Reports the new car prediction and reliability is much better than average, this car is recommended as a car to purchase. Further, the price given to me from Kia was great and well below sticker price and also I am able to get a tax rebate for the 9.8 KWH battery of $4919 on my tax for 2017. Lastly, this Kia has an interior that is made of good quality and design. This mid sided sedan has plenty of room for the family.
I have been performing tests on the cars performance. The main test was how many miles could I get out of a full charge of electricity. There are several modes of operation, HEV, EV, and CHG and eco mode. Driving in EV mode and (eco) for economical I was able to drive between 34 and 37 miles on electric only, and it did not seen to make a difference driving slow or a bit faster, however with this EV mode once you floor the gas pedal or accelerate a bit too fast the EV mode goes off to the HEV mode and then returns to EV mode. If you drive normally the EV mode remains on electric until the battery is about 14% charge, then the car switches to HEV hybrid electric vehicle. In HEV mode the car goes back and forth from gas engine to electric as all hybrids do. The interesting mode of operation is the charge mode CHG which charges your battery to full just by driving your car. This charge mode takes anywhere from an hour to two hours to charge the battery full. The kia Optima is probably the only car that has this great benefit. The CHG mode barely affects the gas mileage. I have not tested the car in the non- ECO mode but the acceleration in ECO mode is fast enough for anyone. The car also has a 6 speed manual transmission if your a real racer.
In summary, as of year end 2017 the Kia Optima plug in EX hybrid is the best car for the price, quality and reliability.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Optima Plug-In Hybrid since its last redesign.
2020 Optima Plug-In Hybrid Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $36,090 |
---|---|
EV Tax Credits & Rebates | $9,400 |
Engine Type | Plug-in hybrid |
EPA Electric Range | 28 miles |
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas) | 101 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe. |
Cost to Drive | $75/month |
Total Charging Time (240V) | 2.7 hours |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 9.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Optima Plug-In Hybrid models:
- Lane Departure Warning System
- Monitors the vehicle position within your lane and warns if you deviate, or begin to deviate, from it.
- Blind-Spot Detection
- Warns you of vehicles that might be in your blind spots with audio and visual signals, including side-mirror indicators.
- Forward Collision Warning
- Warns of a potential collision with the car in front of you. Bundled with autonomous emergency braking.
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