Hybrid Kia Optima: MOT pass rate
89.4% of hybrid Kia Optimas pass the MOT first time, measured across 870 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 82,264.
Hybrid against the other Kia Optima versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 81.6% | 10,322 |
| Hybrid | 89.4% | 870 |
| All Kia Optima | 82.2% | 11,284 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Hybrids sidestep most emissions failures and tend to do lighter urban miles, though the extra weight tells on tyres and brakes.
On the Kia Optima specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 89.4%, and this hybrid version sits 7.2 points above the 82.2% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The hybrid Kia Optima is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average hybrid Kia Optima had covered 82,264 miles at test, against 77,762 for the diesel. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Kia Optima page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Kia Optima fuel types
- Diesel Kia Optima - 81.6%