2011 Kia Optima Hybrid, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid priced from $25,195, $27,195 respectively?

[Mazda 3s]

I was just doing some browsing on Edmunds site looking for pricing information on the Kia Optima when I saw they had pricing up for the hybrid versions of the Optima and Sonata. I don't know if this has been stated before (or if it's even accurate), but seems like pretty competitive pricing:

Kia Optima Hybrid $25,195
http://www.edmunds.com/kia/opt....html

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid $27,195
http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai....html

209 hp
37/39 mpg

No pics of the Kia Optima Hybrid yet, so here's the SX model

And of course, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

[Saintor]

The Optima looks like a beauty. The sonata looks like a turd.

[EQVN01]

To be fair, that is the regular Optima vs. the Sonata hybrid. But yeah that Sonata front end has a lot going on, I could do without the unibrow and that giant mouth...

Looking forward to seeing pics of the Optima hybrid, thanks for the pricing info!

[Mazda 3s]

I'm just wondering how Edmunds was able to get the pricing info so early.

[Sir UNBANNED_GERBIL M.B.]

Quote, originally posted by Saintor »

The Optima looks like a beauty. The sonata looks like a turd.

This. The Optima is hot.

[Señor Peligro]

Holy sweet jesus that Sonata is ugly.

[Galbi]

Optima >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sonata.

I think Edmunds is just guesstimating the price. I doubt anything has been reported yet.


Modified by Galbi at 8:48 AM 5-2-2010

[BLK9GEN]

Considering we have no clue how the Optima Hybrid will look I think it's too soon to talk about styling...but I guess that's never stopped TCL before. If it's anything like the Sonata, it will have unique bumpers, head/tail lights, and grille.

The Sonata Hybrid looks a bit better in the 'real world' shots IMO: http://forums.thecarlounge.com...70844

[Lwize]

But does the Optima Hybrid also have a fishy nose?

The Sonata Hybrid fascia looks like something wacky from the Chinese.

[Mazda 3s]

Quote, originally posted by Saintor »

The Optima looks like a beauty. The sonata looks like a turd.

The Optima's interior looks better too IMHO:

[Pool Runner]

That Optima interior is Looks very Saab like, not a bad thing.

[Wilhelm0075]

I love the Optima interior. Sooooooo many buttons. Do love!

[Mazda 3s]

Quote, originally posted by Wilhelm R32 »

I love the Optima interior. Sooooooo many buttons. Do love!

Quote, originally posted by Pool Runner »

That Optima interior is Looks very Saab like, not a bad thing.

[S4cabriofox]

The Sonata looks really good inside and out (yes even the hybrid, aside from that Mazda mouth), but the Optima looks even better. The interior looks like something out of an early-2000s Euro luxury sedan, but it also somehow looks contemporary. From the outside it looks very European as well... Italian, or French maybe. Mind-blowing for the price. Looks better than anything in the 3 Series/A4/G class in my opinion.

[Impeccable]

The optima dash remins me a little of the Audi R8s dash never a bad thing

[rcigti02]

That sonata looks like ass, but I love the Optima

[tampaSi]

Press photos of dust FTW.

Quote, originally posted by Mazda 3s »

[Buzzkill]

I wonder what the lower trim level interiors will look like, and if the hybrid's interior will look close to what is shown in those pictures (I know the gauge cluster would look different for sure).

Under $26,000 for the hybrid with interior like what is shown (minus the navigation of course) in those pictures would be a great deal, in my opinion.

[JMBII]

Does the Optima have adjustable pedals?

[Galbi]

Quote, originally posted by JMBII »

Does the Optima have adjustable pedals?

Doubt it. Judging from the picture the accelerator is an accordion type with the leverage point on the bottom. Its different from the ones that hangs off of the dashboard.

[Obin Robinson]

just some math for you:

Hyundai Sonata GLS Manual (the most fuel efficent non-Hybrid version)
198 HP
cost: $19,195
fuel economy: 24/35 (and as high as 40mpg highway during tests)

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:
209 HP
cost: $27,195
fuel economy: 37/39

calculation time:
http://www.money-zine.com/Calc...lator/

assuming 8 years of ownership with mostly highway driving and not including government incentives:

Quote »

Calculator Results: Excess Cost of Hybrid Vehicle ($) $8000.00 Annual Fuel Savings ($ / Year) $133.27 Difference in Car Value ($) $1,974.75 Differential Cost of Hybrid Engine ($) $4,959.05

best case scenario involves city driving, owning car for 8 years, and $3,000 in government incentives to own the Hybrid:

Differential Cost of Hybrid Engine ($) $-2,301.24

the bottom line is that the fuel economy of the normal Hyundai Sonata isn't worth spending the additional money on the Hybrid. the only situation in which you win is if you get government incentives and you do ALL of your driving around a city.

obin

[surefooted]

Quote, originally posted by Obin Robinson »

the bottom line is that the fuel economy of the normal Hyundai Sonata isn't worth spending the additional money on the Hybrid. the only situation in which you win is if you get government incentives and you do ALL of your driving around a city. obin

Which goes back to the notion that it's stupid to buy a hybrid for gas mileage. You buy it for environmental reasons only.

[Obin Robinson]

Quote, originally posted by surefooted »

Which goes back to the notion that it's stupid to buy a hybrid for gas mileage. You buy it for environmental reasons only.

you could say that. the point i was more trying to make was that Hyundai makes great cars that already get excellent fuel economy. for you to save a few bucks a month isn't worth it considering the premium cost of the Hybrid. the base model Hyundai is truly the better deal if you want to save gas AND money.

obin

[Mazda 3s]

Quote, originally posted by Obin Robinson »

just some math for you: Hyundai Sonata GLS Manual (the most fuel efficent non-Hybrid version) 198 HP cost: $19,195 fuel economy: 24/35 (and as high as 40mpg highway during tests) Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: 209 HP cost: $27,195 fuel economy: 37/39 calculation time: http://www.money-zine.com/Calc...lator/ assuming 8 years of ownership with mostly highway driving and not including government incentives: best case scenario involves city driving, owning car for 8 years, and $3,000 in government incentives to own the Hybrid: Differential Cost of Hybrid Engine ($) $-2,301.24 the bottom line is that the fuel economy of the normal Hyundai Sonata isn't worth spending the additional money on the Hybrid. the only situation in which you win is if you get government incentives and you do ALL of your driving around a city. obin

Normally, I'd say:

But considering that even the turbo gets 34 mpg highway, I'd much rather have the turbo than the hybrid

[Obin Robinson]

Quote, originally posted by Mazda 3s »

But considering that even the turbo gets 34 mpg highway, I'd much rather have the turbo than the hybrid

same here.

obin

[ElixXxeR]

I'm struggling to think of a car in this class that has a better overall aesthetic package than the Optima. Stunning inside and out. I've always said it would be Mazda 6 or Ford Fusion for me out of the choices in this class, but if the Optima drives well, it would probably be my pick.

[wolverinejoe80]

to be fair, Optima Hybrid won't look like that. I'm sure it will have a different front treatment.

Optima - sporty look
Sonata - premium look

People double take like crazy whenever they see Sonatas. both look great IMO.

[Mazda 3s]

Quote, originally posted by ElixXxeR »

I'm struggling to think of a car in this class that has a better overall aesthetic package than the Optima. Stunning inside and out. I've always said it would be Mazda 6 or Ford Fusion for me out of the choices in this class, but if the Optima drives well, it would probably be my pick.

Yeah, I'm seriously thinking about the Optima myself, which is why I was looking at it on Edmunds in the first place, and is why I posted a thread yesterday asking if a midsize sedan would be suitable for a family of three