Buying a fuel-efficient electronic vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), or plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) is more important than ever before for two reasons. First, it helps you save money at the gas pump, and second, these vehicles also help preserve the Earth for future generations. Kia offers an entire lineup of hybrid and electric vehicles to choose from. Here’s a look at three of them.
Optima Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid
The popular Kia Optima is now available as either a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. For the 2018 model year, it features a six-speed automatic transmission as part of its updated powertrain. A 2-liter gas direct-injected engine pairs with an electric engine to produce 192 horsepower and an impressive 271 pound-feet of torque. Optima’s Plug-In uses the same 2.0-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission as its hybrid brother but puts out 202 horsepower and 276 pound-feet of torque.
In addition to the engine and transmission, both hybrid models use an active air flap system to make the car more efficient and cut down on wind and air noise at the same time. Plus, the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery uses slowing down and braking as a way to recharge itself using kinetic energy.
Soul EV
The 2018 Soul is a fun vehicle in Kia’s lineup that’s also available as an electric vehicle. Charging is the main concern with any electric vehicle, but Kia makes doing so at home, the office, or at rapidly expanding public charge stations easy, thanks to its standard DC fast-charging option.
Soul EV has a 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger and an ultra-dense battery that gives you more room in the cabin and increased driving range. The Soul EV has a 30-kilowatt-hour battery under the floor to give you more miles between charges — up to 111 miles. The Soul is equipped with a 360-volt permanent magnet AC synchronous electric engine that puts out a maximum 109 horsepower and an instant 210 pound-feet of torque.
Niro Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid
Nothing says crossover like Niro, and Kia offers it in both a hybrid and plug-in hybrid version, too. The 2018 Niro PHEV features a 1.56-kilowatt energy-dense battery paired with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and full parallel hybrid system that produce a combined 104 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque — and it goes fully electric with just the push of a button.
In electric mode, it offers a range of 0 to 26 miles. After the electricity depletes, it switches over to hybrid mode to allow for further driving between charges. And when Niro PHEV does need charging, Kia has it set to charge at either 120 volts (level one) or 240 volts (level two) — the latter being the same as a household appliance and making it easier to charge at home with a regular outlet.
The 2018 Niro Hybrid is equipped with the same engine and electric motor as the PHEV but creates a combined 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. And Niro sets itself apart in the hybrid class even further by using a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) instead of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) like others do, allowing Niro to shift gears more smoothly and quickly, which makes for a fun drive.
Kia makes it easy to save at the pump and help the planet with its range of hybrid vehicles. Get in on the revolution and discover which one best suits your style. Visit Gay Family Kia to see our inventory and schedule a test drive.
Image via Flickr by mariordo59
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.