- Kia Optima Hybrid awarded ‘Plus X’ innovation award
- Kia’s popular sedan honored for its quality, design, ergonomics and environmental impact
The Kia Optima Hybrid has won a series of ‘Plus X’ innovation awards, reserved only for the highest-quality, best-designed and most forward-thinking products.
Judged by an independent jury, consisting of trade journalists and experts from 25 different industries, the Kia Optima Hybrid has this year won four Plus X awards, in the High Quality, Ease of Use, Design and Ecology categories. The selection process for the Plus X Awards is supported by the respected TÜV SÜD Product Service testing institute.
The 177 PS (131 kW) D-segment sedan scored top marks in all four categories, with the jury highlighting its modern parallel hybrid system and low 119 g/km CO2 emissions, a stylish, dynamic exterior design, the comfortable ergonomic cabin, its exceptional workmanship and its reliability (depending on market, the Kia Optima Hybrid is underscored by Kia’s unique 7-Year / 150,000 km warranty).
Kia has recently upgraded the sporty, elegant hybrid sedan for the 2015 model year. The Optima Hybrid now features an even more head-turning design, optimized aerodynamics (with a drag coefficient value of just 0.26), new comfort and infotainment features, and Kia’s very latest safety technology – including a radar-based lane change assist system, lane departure warning system with corrective steer control, and an intelligent parking system with rear cross traffic alert, depending on market.
These technologies are just as much part of the standard equipment as the luxurious comfort features which contribute to the Kia Optima Hybrid’s exceptional value for money and convenience. Depending on market, these features include 8-inch map navigation, an Infinity Premium sound system, smart key and engine start button, an electronically-controlled driver’s seat with memory function, an electric passenger seat, front seat ventilation, heated front and rear seats, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, reversing camera, xenon headlights, LED fog lights, daytime running lights and rear lights, and power-folding door mirrors.
The ‘Plus X’ factor: rewarding added value
The aim of the Plus X Award is to distinguish outstanding, innovative, high-quality products and to shine a spotlight on them. The cross-industry competition, which took place in 2014 for the 11th time, is the world’s leading innovation award for technology, sport and lifestyle products.
The award honors products that have at least one ‘Plus X Factor’, a quality advantage that deserves to receive a prize. Entrants are awarded Plus X Factors across seven categories: Innovation, High Quality, Design, Ease of Use, Functionality, Ergonomics and Ecology. The award winners are chosen by an international panel of judges consisting of industry-neutral trade journalists and personalities from 25 sectors. These experts are supported in the selection process by the respected testing institute TÜV SÜD Product Service.
Editor’s note: The vehicle specifications, features, performance figures and warranty coverage in this press release are for the Optima Hybrid sold in Western Europe and may differ according to region.
