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> Optima Sportswagon gallery below

Kia’s Optima range is growing with the addition of a plug-in hybrid offering 37g/km CO2 emissions and a Sportswagon with a minimum of 552-litres of load space.

The hybrid is introduced to the Optima range today, with prices from £31,495 after taking into account the Government's £2,500 plug-in car grant, with the Sportswagon on sale from September 15, with prices from £22,295.

Plug-in Hybrid

Kia’s target of lowering the average CO2 emissions of its range by 25% before the end of the decade is given a boost by the addition of the Optima PHEV, which is capable of travelling 33 miles on electric power and claims combined fuel economy of 176.6mpg.

Its CO2 figure of 37g/km means company car users pay just 7% benefit-in-kind taxation in 2016-17.

Combined power output of 202bhp and 277lb-ft of torque is delivered by a 154bhp two-litre petrol engine and 50kW (67bhp) electric motor powered by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack.

That is enough power to get the D-segment saloon to 62mph in 9.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 119mph.

Featuring a standalone specification with the Optima line-up, the PHEV features an eight-inch touchscreen navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (available later in the production run), Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom®, a wireless mobile phone charger, a 270-degree around-view monitor and a 10-speaker harman/kardon Premium Sound audio system. 

The Optima PHEV also features 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 215/55 R17 tyres, LED daytime running lights, follow-me-home lighting, black cloth and faux leather seats, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and dual-zone climate control among its specification highlights.

Sportswagon

Kia’s first D-segment estate, the Optimas Sportswagon, features a minimum 552-litre boot capacity, fuel economy of as low as 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions from 113g/km.

The brand said that the Sportswagon’s stylish exterior remains faithful to the highly praised SPORTSPACE concept revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show with “style not at the expense of practicality and versatility”.

The Optima Sportswagon is the same length  and width as its saloon sibling (4,855mm and 1,860mm), but 5mm taller at 1,470mm because of a set of integrated roof rails.

Powered by the same 139bhp 1.7-litre turbodiesel as the saloon, the Sportswagon will reach 62mph in 9.8 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox or 10.8 seconds with the optional dual-clutch automatic option.

Three trim lines are available from launch – 2, 3 and GT-Line S – echoing those available for the Optima saloon. A high-performance GT version will be added in early 2017.

Standard equipment also matches what is available on the corresponding saloon.

The entry-level 2 grade comes as standard with a seven-inch satnav system with a reversing camera, steering wheel-mounted controls, front and rear USB ports, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, cruise control with a speed limiter and a six-speaker DAB radio with MP3 compatibility and Bluetooth with music streaming.

Grade 3 upgrades the navigation screen to eight inches, adds heated front seats and dual projection headlights and a harman/kardon Premium Sound system among its standard highlights.

GT-Line S supplements all this with different design 18-inch alloy wheels, a wireless mobile phone charger, 360-degree Around View Monitor, a Smart Park Assist System, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Smart Cruise Control, High Beam Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and a Smart Powered Tailgate.

A sliding panoramic sunroof, LED headlights with automatic levelling, dynamic cornering lights, black leather upholstery are also among the top-grade perks.