2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid (Base MSRP: $25,700) outdoes its hybrid rivals on several fronts, experts say: Flawless crash scores, a hefty warranty and more features for the money (especially when fully loaded).

But its hybrid powertrain lets the Kia down. It hesitates and shudders in tests, where others are smooth and seamless. The Optima Hybrid also gets 4 mpg less overall than the top-rated 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Base MSRP: $25,990 to $27,500) in EPA tests -- and less than that in the real world, critics say.

The 'Miss Venezuela' of hybrid sedans

Critics love the Kia Optima Hybrid's looks -- even more than its mechanical twin, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (Base MSRP: $25,850) and the handsome 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid (Base MSRP: $28,775).

"The Optima is the Miss Venezuela" of mid- to full-size sedans, The Wall Street Journal's Dan Neil says. "The best-looking car in its class: uncommonly lithe and handsomely proportioned for a front-wheel-drive sedan."

TheTruthAboutCars.com's Alex Dykes calls the Optima Hybrid "by far the looker of the mid-size hybrid segment  ... from the aggressive front grille and headlamps to the kinky C-pillar."

Inside, the Optima "has a distinct European flair," Edmunds.com says -- unlike other family sedans that "fall somewhere between sedate and bland." Dykes calls particular attention to the optional imitation-leather stitched dash trim, which "makes the Optima's dash fairly upscale in comparison with the Camry and Fusion competition."

'Staggering' features for its price

People will be plenty comfortable in the Kia Optima Hybrid, which has plenty of legroom in front and back -- although the sloping roofline cuts into headroom for tall people in the backseat, testers say.

Cargo's a different story. The Optima Hybrid's battery pack eats up all but 9.9 cubic feet of the trunk. That's small, even for a hybrid sedan (the Toyota Camry Hybrid offers 13.1 cubic feet). The Optima Hybrid's rear seats fold, but not flat.

But the Optima Hybrid has a trump card: features. It's "such a staggering amount of car for the money" that The Wall Street Journal's Neil declares it the best commuting sedan under $35,000. Even fully loaded, TheTruthAboutCars.com's Dykes says the Optima Hybrid "still undercuts the loaded competition and delivers features like ventilated seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and panorama roof not available on the other hybrids."

Every Optima Hybrid gets a rearview camera, cooled glovebox, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control and rear air vents, automatic headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels and a CD stereo with auxiliary jack, iPod/USB audio interface and satellite radio, among other features. There are two options packages. The $700 Convenience Package adds eight-way power driver's seat and Uvo electronics interface (with voice command for cell phones and MP3 players, turn-by-turn navigation and more). The $5,350 Premium Technology Package replaces Uvo with a different system and adds a panoramic sunroof, leather seats (heated front and back, and cooled in front), heated steering wheel, upgraded sound system and more.

Hybrid powertrain needs some work

Unlike Toyota -- which has spent a decade refining its 2012 Toyota Prius (Base MSRP: $24,000 to $29,805) -- Kia/Hyundai just developed its first hybrid powertrain. Unfortunately, testers say, it shows.

From a dead stop, or at highway speeds, everything's fine. But "in low-speed driving or quickly changing traffic conditions, the hybrid shudders and lurches while deciding which gear it wants," Edmunds.com says. Dykes posts a video on TheTruthAboutCars.com showing the Optima Hybrid hesitating when switching between its 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine and electric motor. The Wall Street Journal's Neil blames part of the "strangely moody" performance on the Optima Hybrid's six-speed automatic transmission, which "tends to fret between gears," unlike the continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) most hybrids use.

Brake feel isn't quite up to snuff, either, Edmunds.com says. They're more "unpredictable" than other hybrids' regenerative brakes, which manage to feel more consistent while recycling power back to the battery. Cars.com's David Thomas disagrees with other testers: He says the Optima Hybrid's brakes feel "nice and linear" and its hybrid system "works seamlessly and almost imperceptibly."  He is clearly outnumbered.

Acceleration is "reasonably quick for a hybrid," Edmunds.com says -- zero to 60 in 8.4 seconds.

Fuel economy falls short

At an estimated 37 mpg, the Optima Hybrid is fuel-efficient -- but not quite as fuel-efficient as the 41-mpg Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan or 50-mpg Toyota Prius.

Neither Edmunds.com nor TheTruthAboutCars.com manage the full 37 mpg in their testing, either. Edmunds.com's 33 mpg city/35 mpg highway "doesn't match its lofty EPA estimates"  and

Dykes averages 35.5 mpg in a week-long test -- "notably short of the EPA combined figure."

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates

• City: 35 mpg

• Highway: 40 mpg

• Combined: 37 mpg

Flawless crash scores and a long warranty

Cars rarely earn perfect scores in both government and independent crash tests -- but the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid does. It includes the usual standard safety equipment: electronic stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, and front, front-side and curtain airbags.

We found no reliability ratings for the fairly new Kia Optima Hybrid, but it does carry a much longer warranty than most hybrids: 5 years/60,000 miles basic and 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain, including the hybrid system. Only the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid boasts a better warranty, with its new-for-2012 lifetime hybrid battery coverage (for the original owner).

NHTSA Safety Ratings

• Front Impact: 5 stars

• Side Impact: 5 stars

• Rollover Resistance: 5 stars

• Overall: 5 stars

IIHS Safety Ratings

• Front Offset Impact: Good

• Side Impact: Good

• Rear Impact: Good

• Roof Strength: Good

• Named 2012 Top Safety Pick