2nd Kia Optima PHEV

Refined and good value, the Optima isn’t quite as well rounded as its Volkswagen rival

KIA’S plug-in hybrid estate comprises a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine up front, producing 154bhp. It’s joined by a 67bhp electric motor that can run on its own or with the combustion unit to deliver a total of 202bhp and 375Nm of torque. This is 13bhp and 25Nm down on the Passat, and with a heavier 1,815kg kerbweight as well, the Kia trailed its rival.

It sprinted from 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds, which was 1.5 seconds down on the VW. The Optima’s conventional six-speed auto doesn’t shift as quickly as the Passat’s six-speed dualclutch unit, either, which contributed towards the deficit, but it is much smoother at low speed.

The Kia still offers acceptable acceleration, but you feel the car’s mass, because even with the boost from the electric motor to fill the gaps in the petrol unit’s torque, it’s more sluggish.

Despite a retuned chassis set-up to cope with the extra bulk, the light steering means it’s all too easy to upset the car’s balance turning into a corner. The damping is definitely softer than the VW’S, and it lacks some of that car’s control, too. But given how it’ll be used, the Optima Sportswagon PHEV delivers enough comfort.

There are various driving modes to pick from; Eco and Normal give a choice between maximum efficiency and regular driving, while HEV mode manages the two power sources and the switch between them intelligently.

You can also force the car to run in EV mode, and with the 11.3kwh lithium-ion battery (bigger than in the 9.8kwh Optima saloon, because this estate is likely to carry heavier loads) fully charged, Kia claims the model will travel up to 38 miles – seven miles more than the VW. But both should be enough for most commutes.

Performance is more than adequate in EV mode for around-town driving, and the quiet it brings reinforces the Optima’s relaxed feel on the move as long as the tarmac isn’t too rippled.

The PHEV is a trim level in its own right at the top of the Optima Sportswagon range and gets lots of equipment as standard. This includes LED lights, heated seats, climate and cruise control, keyless entry and go, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The design and material quality inside isn’t up to the VW’S standards, but the Kia feels well built and the disparity isn’t huge – especially with the Optima undercutting the Passat by £3,885 after the £2,500 plug-in grant for which both cars qualify has been removed from the price.

What options can you add?

THE Optima Sportswagon PHEV represents a trim level in its own right, so there’s only this one option if you want a more practical plug-in hybrid Optima estate.

Put down a relatively modest £3,250 deposit and Kia will contribute £1,000 towards the car as well. This means that on a 36-month PCP deal, limited to 10,000 miles per annum, you’ll pay £597 per month.

This might sound pricey – especially compared with the Passat – but given your lower fuel bills and the standard kit on offer here, there’s more to the equation than it might seem at face value.

Premium paint is the only option at £565, so your monthly cost isn’t likely to rise too much from here. It means you’ll spend a total of £27,742 over the course of the deal, which is £4,500 more than buying the Passat GTE on PCP. Our choice: Optima Sportswagon PHEV