First Drive: Kia Optima Hybrid

The Kia Optima has been serving as Kia's mid-size since 2000. In its third generation, the Kia added a hybrid drivetrain to the Optima. In September 2011, the Kia Optima Hybrid set a Guinness world record for "lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid gasoline vehicle" while driving across the continental United States for 14 days. The Kia Optima traveled through 48 states and 7,899 miles while averaging 64.55 miles per gallon. It took five and a half tanks for gasoline to travel the 7,899 miles. For the first day of the 2013 Houston Auto Show, Kia and Toyota had cars available for test drives. The first car I took on a test drive was the Kia Optima Hybrid.

They Optima Hybrid has the same styling as the standard Optimas. Kia and Hyundai have greatly improved their overall. Previous Kias had either bland styling or were eye sores. In 2006, Peter Schreyer, who previously was a designer for Audi, became the head designer for Kia. Compared to previous Optimas, the current Optimas have improved design. Previous Optimas had a bland grill, normal headlights, a bland side profile, and just overall bland. The current Optima and Optima Hybrid have a more aggressive grill, a sleek side profile, and well integrated headlights. The fog lights are integrated well on the front bumper. I like the new direction for Kia styling.

I was part of the first group of test drives for Kia. While the traffic on the route was not an issue, the road condition was a problem. There were potholes on the right line. I ran over a pot hole and the Optima Hybrid handled it well. There was not aftermath vibrations. The route was very bumpy, yet the Optima Hybrid drove smoothly. As part of Kia's Ride and Drives event, Kia had a small test track where visitors can test out the acceleration, braking, turning radius, and handling. The Optima Hybrid had a solid performance on the slalom, demonstrating is good handling. The car was very responsive when I turned the steering wheel. Turning radius was fine. I did not hit any cones. The car also braked well.

The Optima Hybrid has a good interior. I was driving the top of the line, fully loaded Optima Hybrid and it was nice inside. The driver seat was comfortable. I had plenty of head room and leg room. I did not feel cramped.

The Optima Hybrid has a parallel hybrid drivetrain. Powering the Optima Hybrid is a 2.4L I4 gas engine that produces 166 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque as well as an interior-permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 40 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque. The combined output for the Optima Hybrid of 206 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. When I tested out the acceleration, I was pleasantly surprised by the acceleration. It goes when I step on the acceleration pedal, unlike some other hybrids. The Optima Hybrid goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds, but it felt quicker than that. The Optima Hybrid also has a top speed of 123 mph, which is not bad for a hybrid.

The Optima Hybrid is one the better hybrids I have driven. I prefer it over the Prius line and the Volt. The Optima Hybrid felt quicker than the other two as well being more comfortable to drive in. The Optima Hybrid has the same styling as the other current Optimas, which is a good thing. It looks like a normal car. Prices for the Kia Optima Hybrid start at $25,700. A fully load Optima Hybrid goes for around $33,000, which is not bad compared to the $41,000 price tag for the Chevrolet Volt. While the Toyota Prius is cheaper with a base price of $23,215, the Optima Hybrid is the better choice. If you are in the market for a hybrid, give the Kia OptimavHybrid as test drive. It is a better overall driving experience than the Prius or the Volt.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713.

First Drive: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

The Ford C-Max has been around since 2003, serving as Ford's entry in the European compact MPV market. The first generation, which was in production from 2003 to 2010, used the Ford C1 platform, which was also used for the Ford Focus Mk II and the Mazda 5. Production for the second generation C-Max started in 2010. In 2012, the C-Max made its way to North America. While the European market C-Max has various different engines to pick from, the North American C-Max comes only with a hybrid drivetrain. I have seen a few C-Maxes on the Houston roads, but I only got a distant glimpse at them. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, there were two C-Maxes available for test drives. The only difference between the two was the color. For the ride and drive event, Ford had several cars to choose from. The popular Ford was the Mustang 5.0. Since there were only four representatives rode along on the test drives, participants were restricted to driving in the parking lot. Out of the 70 vehicles I test drove over the five day period, the C-Max was the only vehicle I drove twice. The first time was Friday night in the parking lot. For the second time out in the C-Max, I was able to drive on the streets. The C-Max was the last car I drove on Sunday. The C-Max is a front engine, front-wheel drive five-door compact MPV.

As far as styling goes, there are a few things that stand out. The C-Max has a double grill. The upper grill is from a Ford Focus and the lower grill is from the Ford Fusion. The styling is similar to the Ford Escape. Other than that, nothing real special about the styling. The C-Max has a nice sized interior. There is plenty room for five. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of head room and leg room. The seat was comfortable. The gauges are nice. On the right, there is a screen that uses leaves to show the driver how efficiently the person is driving.

The C-Max is powered by a both an Atkinson cycle 2.0L I4 engine that produces 141 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque and a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor that produces 118 hp and 117 lb-ft of torque. The C-Max comes with a 1.4 kWh lithium ion battery pack. The combined hybrid powertrain produces 188 hp. The C-Max uses a CVT transmission. The C-Max goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and has at top speed of 115 mph. The C-Max can reach 62 mph will only using electric mode. The C-Max has good acceleration for a hybrid. The C-Max also has smooth acceleration. I felt no jerks will accelerating. The C-Max has a smooth, quiet ride.  Prices for the C-Max Hybrid SE starts at $25,995. Prices for the C-Max Hybrid SEL starts at $28,995. That is a fair price for a hybrid. The C-Max performs very well compared to the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Prius V, and the Chevrolet Volt.

The Ford C-Max Hybrid was featured in Motorweek.

Overall, the Ford C-Max Hybrid is a good hybrid. The ride is smooth. It has good acceleration. The interior is nice and roomy. The styling is nothing special, but it is better than the Volt, Prius, Prius C, and Insight. If you are in the market for a hybrid, give the C-Max a test drive. If you are in the market for a five seat MPV, give the C-Max a test drive. Compared to the competition, the C-Max is the best value for a hybrid.


CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713.

First Drive: 2013 Toyota Prius C

The Toyota Prius has been around since 1997. The Prius is a front engine, front-wheel drive, four door sedan that comes only with a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain. The thrid-generation Prius came out in 2010. In 2011, Toyota came out with an extended hatchback wagon version of the Prius, called the Prius V. In 2012, Toyota released the Prius C, a subcompact version of the Prius. In Japan, the Prius C is known as the Toyota Aqua. The Prius C is a front engine, front-wheel drive, five door subcompact hatchback. I first saw the Prius C as the 2012 Houston Auto Show. On day one of the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to test drive one.

The Toyota Prius was never a pretty car. The original Prius was a four-door sedan featuring a bland exterior.  The Prius got a redesign in 2004 and a styling refinement in 2010. The best way to describe is unique. The Prius C is nothing special. I really do not like the front end of the Prius C. It looks like the face of a fish. The Prius C also lacks sleek side lines. It instead has a subpar side profile. The Prius C has one of the worst stylings I have seen on modern cars. In my book, the Prius C is an eye sore. The interior of the Prius C is not much better. I felt cramped in the Prius C. I did not have much leg room or head room behind the wheel. The seat was adequate in comfort. It did not try to kill my back. I have sat in more comfortable seats in other cars. The interior itself is nothing special. Upper trim levels feature Toyota's infotainment system, Entune, which is used with a compatible smart phone. I did not test this feature out on the test drive. Overall, the Prius C is not easy on the eye and the interior is bland and cramped.

The Toyota Prius C is powered by a 1.5L I4 engine that produces 73 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque as well as an electric motor that produces 60 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. The combined output is 99 hp and mated to a CVT automatic transmission. The Prius C also has a 0.9 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The Prius C goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 105 mph. The Prius C has a smooth ride, but it was very noisy inside the Prius C. I drove the standard Prius in 2012 and it was quiet inside. Why Toyota decision not to add sound dampening material to the Prius C is a mistake. Also, the Prius C is just slow. I drove the standard Prius on the highway and I was worried that I was going to get hit by another car since I could not accelerate properly to change lanes or even get on the highway. Since the test drive was done at the Houston Auto Show, there was no highway driving, which is a good thing since the Prius C is even slower than the standard Prius. Prices for the Prius C start at $19,710. The Prius C is a cheap car with underwhelming performance.

Overall, the Prius C is one of the most disappointing cars I have driven. I named it my worst car to come out in 2012, and I stand by my decision. The Prius C has poor styling plus an interior that is nothing special. The Prius C has low engine output and poor performance. This was not a fun car to drive, especially since it was noisy inside. This is one of the worst cars I have driven. I did not drive anything this bad in 2012 and there were maybe few other cars that were just as bad or worse that I drove at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. Avoid test driving this car at all costs. The Prius C sucks. Yet, Toyota Prius fans might look into the Prius C if they want a smaller version of the standard Prius.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713

First Drive: 2013 Toyota Prius V

The Toyota Prius came out in 1997 and is the face of hybrid vehicles. The Prius is so popular that Toyota has created a Prius Family. There is the standard Prius, a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius, the Prius C, and the Prius V. The Prius V is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, compact MPV with a hybrid drivetrain. I first saw a Prius V in a movie theater parking garage in early 2012 and at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive.

The Toyota Prius is not easy on the eye. The Prius V looks like a Prius with a larger rear end. There are no sleek body lines on the Prius V. The lights on the bottom corners of the front bumper hurt the styling of the Prius V. The Prius V is an eye sore. One advantage of the larger hatchback is more headroom for rear passengers. I hit my head on the roof when I sat in the back of the standard Prius. The Prius V has the same interior as the standard Prius. I still do not like that the gear changer is on the dashboard, and not between the driver and passenger seats. Behind the wheel, I had a good amount of headroom and legroom. Plus the seat was comfortable. But Toyota should have given the Prius V its own interior instead of putting the interior from the Prius in the Prius V.

The Prius V is powered by a 1.8L I4 engine that produces 98 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque and an electric motor that produces 80 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque. The combined output is 134 hp and includes a 1.3 kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The Prius V goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 103 mph. I have driven the Prius and the Prius V and the Prius V felt quicker than the Prius. Both have the same drivetrain and the Prius V is heavier than the Prius, but the Prius V just seemed faster. The Prius V drove smoothly on Houston roads. If I did a second test drive, I would do highway driving to see if it can handle highway speeds, something that the standard Prius could not do. Also, it was quiet in the Prius V. It was quite noisy inside the baby Prius C. Still, this was not a fun car to drive. Prices for the Prius V start at $26,650.

Overall, the Prius V is subpar. I have driven its competitor, the Ford C-Max, and I had more fun in the C-Max. But, I had more fun in the Prius V than I did in the Prius. Toyota needs to greatly improve the styling of the Prius familly. The Prius family line of cars is hard on the eyes. I understand that Toyota designed the Prius family with a low air drag coefficient, 0.25, but the exterior styling suffers greatly for it. The interior is nothing special for the Prius V, especially since the interior is the same as the interior in the Prius. The Prius V has the same drivetrain as the Prius, but it is slightly heavier. Car companies need to realize that if you are going to add weight to a car, you have to up the power output of the engine or the performance suffers. The Prius V somehow felt quicker than the standard Prius. It might have been that I was driving the Prius in Eco mode and the Prius V in standard mode. I am not a fan of the Prius family. I think the Prius cars are boring to drive. If excitement and fun have to be sacrificed in order to get a car with an EPA estimated 45+ mpg, then it is not worth it. I cannot recommend the Prius V over the Ford C-Max. The Prius V is not as bad as the Prius C, but it is still a subpar car. Yet, fans of the Prius who want a slightly larger car would go for the Prius V. If you are looking for a fuel efficient car and want to have some fun while driving, look elsewhere. Plus, there are much better cars than the Prius V four around the same price. For its bland interior, horrendous exterior, and underwhelming power and performance, the Toyota Prius is a pass.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713

First Impression: Porsche 918 Spyder

Ferdinand Porsche developed the first hybrid vehicle, the Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid, in 1898, The car was produced from 1900 to 1905. He founded his own automotive company, Porsche AG in 1931. The Porsche Panamera and the Porsche Cayenne both have hybrid drivetrain options. It is only fitting that Porsche would come out with a supercar powered by a hybrid drivetrain. At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Porsche revealed a concept hybrid powered supercar, the 918 Spyder. The production version of the 918 Spyder was revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 918 is a two door, rear-mid engine, all wheel drive supercar. The Porsche 918 Spyder will be a limited edition car, with 918 units being built for the 2014 model year.

The Porsche 918 Spyder was present at the December 2014 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. The 918 shares some styling with the Porsche Carrera GT. Both the Carrera GT and the 918 have the retractable rear wing, targa tops, and similar engine bay covers. The  Plus the front fascia reminds me of the Ferrari 458 Speciale. It looks aggressive and fast.

The 918 is powered by a 608 hp 4.6L V8 gas engine and two electric motors that produce an additional 279 hp. The total power outcome is 887 hp and 940 lb-ft of torque. The 6.8 kW-h lithium ion battery pack allows the 918 to have an all-electric range on 12 miles. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual clutch automated manual transmission. The 918 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 211 mph. This is one high performing hybrid, but it comes at a steep starting price tag of $845,000. That is a lot of car for a lot of money.

The 918 Spyder has been featured on Top Gear, Jay Leno's Garage, RTL Autowereld, and Auto Esporte. The 918 Spider is playable in Need For Speed: The Run, Real Racing 3, Shift 2: Unleashed, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Need For Speed: Rivals, and Gangster: Vegas.

Final Thoughts: This is the hybrid we need along with the McLaren P1 and the LaFerrari. When people think of hybrids, they first think of the Toyota Prius. When people think of full electric cars, they think of Tesla Model S, not the Nissan Leaf. The 918 Spyder is a great car. It has supercar looks, supercar power, supercar performance, but it has a hybrid drivetrain. Cars like the 918 Spider, the P1, and the LaFerrari shows what potential performance hybrid vehicles can have. The 918 Spyder was worth the four year wait. For those who have one are truly lucky.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713

First Impression: McLaren P1

McLaren set the standard for performance vehicles with the McLaren F1 in the 1990s with a top speed of 240 mph. It was the first hypercar. Now, McLaren has produced a plug-in hybrid supercar. At the 2012 Paris Motor Show, McLaren debuted the pre-production concept of the P1. McLaren unveiled the production version of the F1 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. 375 P1s would be made with production starting in October 2013. The McLaren P1 is a rear-mid engine, rear-wheel drive two-door supercar powered by a hybrid drivetrain.

I have seen the P1 at a few car events in the greater Houston area. The P1 does not look like anything on the road. It has a more aggressive look than the McLaren MP4-12C. Like its predecessors, it does have the scissor doors. It also has retractable rear spoiler. The P1 has a very aggressive exterior and an interior that is a big improvement over the MP4-12C. But the selling point of the P1 is its drivetrain and performance.

The McLaren P1 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8L V8 that produces 727 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. The McLaren developed electric motor that produces 176 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. The total output is 903 hp and 722 lb-ft of torque. The P1 uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and has a top speed of 217 mph. But it can also go up to an EPA estimated 19 miles in EV mode. Prices for the P1 start at $1.15 million, but all 375 are spoken for. That is supercar performance from a hybrid drivetrain.

The P1 has been featured on Top Gear, where it was compared to the Porsche 918 and the LaFerrari. It has also made a stop at Jay Leno's Garage. It has also been featured in the Need For Speed, Fifth Gear, and Motorweek. The P1 is playable in Need More Speed, Driveclub, Forza Motorsport 5, Project CARS, Forza Horizon 2, Grid: Autosport, Race Team Manager, Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast and Furious, Need For Speed: Rivals, Real Racing 3, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Assetto Corsa, Asphalt Nitro, and CSR Racing.

Final Thoughts; Electric cars have the Tesla Roadster and Tesla Model S to set the standard for what an electric car can do. Hybrids had the Toyota Prius as its standard, which got impressive gas mileage at the cost of excitement. It is great to see McLaren make a hybrid, one that is has styling and performance. McLaren pushed the performance limits with the F1 and now McLaren pushes the limits of what one can do with a hybrid drivetrain.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713