Economical Driving

Your vehicle's fuel economy depends mainly on your driving style, where you drive and when you drive. Each of these factors affects how many kilometers (miles) you can get from a liter (gallon) of fuel. To make your vehicle operate as economically as possible, use the following driving tips to help save money on both fuel and repairs:

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moderate rate. Do not make jackrabbit starts or shift at full throttle, and maintain a steady cruising speed. Do not race between traffic lights. Try to adjust your speed to the traffic so that you do not need to change speed unnecessarily. Avoid heavy traffic as much as possible. Always keep a safe distance from other vehicles so that you can avoid unnecessary braking. This also reduces brake wear.
• Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your vehicle uses. 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 may increase fuel consumption and also increases wear on these components. In addition, resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may cause the brakes to overheat, reducing their effectiveness and possibly leading to more serious consequences.
• Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure. Incorrect inflation, either too much or too little, causes unnecessary tire wear. Check the tire pressure at least once a month.
• Make sure the wheels are aligned correctly. Incorrect alignment may result from hitting curbs or driving quickly over rough surfaces. Poor wheel alignment causes faster tire wear and may also lead to other problems and increased fuel consumption.
• Keep your vehicle in good condition. For better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs, service your vehicle according to the maintenance schedule in the "Maintenance" section on page 8-09. If you drive your vehicle under severe conditions, more frequent maintenance is required (see "Maintenance" on page 8-09 for details).
• Keep your vehicle clean. For maximum service life, your vehicle should be kept clean and free of corrosive materials. It is especially important that dirt, mud, ice, etc. do not accumulate on the underbody of the vehicle. This additional weight may increase fuel consumption and also promote corrosion.
• Travel light. Do not carry unnecessary weight in your vehicle. Weight reduction improves fuel economy.
• Do not let the engine idle longer than necessary. If you are waiting (not in traffic), turn off the engine and restart it only when you are ready to drive.
• Remember that your vehicle does not require extended warm-up. After the engine starts, let it idle for 10-20 seconds before putting the vehicle in gear. In very cold weather, however, allow the engine a somewhat longer warm-up period.
• Do not "lug" or "over-rev" the engine. Lugging the engine at too low a speed in too high a gear causes engine knocking. If this occurs, shift to a lower gear. Over-revving drives the engine beyond its safe limit. This can be avoided by shifting to the recommended speeds.
• Use the air conditioner economically. The air conditioning system draws power from the engine, so fuel economy decreases when you use it.
• Driving with the windows open at high speeds may reduce fuel economy.
• Fuel economy is reduced by crosswinds and headwinds. To compensate for some of this loss, reduce your speed when driving in these conditions.

Keeping the vehicle in proper operating condition is important for both economy and safety. Therefore, have the system serviced by a professional workshop.

Kia recommends visiting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.

WARNING

Engine Off While Driving

Never turn off the engine to coast downhill or at any time when the vehicle is moving. The power steering and power brakes will not work properly without the engine running. Instead, leave the engine running and shift into an appropriate gear to use engine braking. Also, turning the ignition off while driving may lock the steering wheel, resulting in loss of vehicle control, which may lead to serious injury or death.