Economical driving

Fuel consumption depends on how you drive, where you drive and when you drive.

Each of these factors affects the mileage (miles per gallon) obtained per liter (gallon) of fuel.

To use the vehicle as economically as possible, here are some suggestions to help you save money on fuel and repairs:

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate moderately. Do not take off quickly, do not shift at high engine speed, and maintain a steady cruising speed. Do not race between traffic lights. Adjust your speed to the flow of traffic so that it stays as steady as possible. Avoid congestion as much as possible.

Always keep a safe distance from other vehicles to avoid braking unnecessarily. This also reduces brake wear.

Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Driving at a moderate speed, especially on the highway, is one of the most effective ways to reduce fuel consumption.

Do not "ride" the brake pedal. This increases fuel consumption and wear on these parts. Also, resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving can overheat the brakes, which reduces their effectiveness and can lead to serious consequences.

Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure.

Tires that are improperly inflated, either too soft or too hard, will wear out prematurely. Check the tire pressure at least once a month.

Keep the wheel alignment in good condition. Poor alignment can result from hitting a curb or from driving too fast over rough surfaces. Poor alignment wears tires faster, can cause other mechanical problems, and increases fuel consumption.

Keep your vehicle in good condition.

To maintain good fuel economy and reduce maintenance costs, follow the maintenance schedule suggested in Section 7. If you drive under severe conditions, more frequent intervals are required (see Section 7 for details).

Keep your vehicle clean. For maximum service life, the vehicle should be kept clean and free of corrosive materials. It is especially important not to let mud, dirt, ice, etc. accumulate on the underbody.

This additional weight can increase fuel consumption and contribute to corrosion.

Travel light. Do not carry unnecessary weight in the vehicle. Weight increases fuel consumption.

Do not let the engine idle longer than necessary.

If you will be stopped for a while (other than in traffic), turn off the engine and restart it only when you are ready to move.

Remember: your vehicle does not need a long warm-up time. Once the engine starts, let it run for 10 to 20 seconds before driving off. In cold weather, let it warm up a little longer.

Do not lug or over-rev the engine. Lugging means running the engine slowly in a high gear, to the point of risking stalling. If this happens, downshift. Over-revving means maintaining an engine speed beyond the safe limit. Avoid this by shifting at the recommended engine speed.

Use the air conditioner only when absolutely necessary. The air conditioner uses engine power, and using it increases fuel consumption.

Lowering the windows while driving at high speed can increase fuel consumption.

You will experience higher fuel consumption with headwinds and crosswinds. To counteract this effect, drive more slowly.

Keeping your vehicle in good operating condition is important for fuel economy and safety. Therefore, have regular maintenance performed at an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING - Coasting with engine off

Never turn off the engine to coast down a hill or at any time while the vehicle is moving. The power steering and power brakes do not work when the engine is off.

Instead, keep the engine running and downshift to use engine braking. Also, turning off the ignition while driving may engage the steering wheel lock, resulting in loss of steering control and a risk of serious injury or death.