Economical driving

Vehicle fuel consumption is closely related to driving style, type of route and driving conditions.

Each of these factors affects the distance travelled per litre of fuel. To use the vehicle as economically as possible, follow the advice below, which will save money on both fuel and repairs:

• Drive smoothly.

Accelerate moderately. Do not make rapid starts or gear changes at full acceleration, and maintain a steady cruising speed. Do not accelerate unnecessarily between traffic lights. Try to match your vehicle speed to the flow of traffic to avoid unnecessary speed changes. Avoid heavily congested roads whenever possible.

Always keep a safe distance from other vehicles to avoid unnecessary braking and reduce brake wear.

Drive at moderate speeds. The higher the driving speed, the higher the fuel consumption. Driving at moderate speeds, especially on motorways, is one of the most effective ways to reduce fuel consumption.

Do not use the brakes or clutch pedal excessively. This can increase fuel consumption and wear on the related components. In addition, driving with your foot resting on the brake pedal can cause the brakes to overheat, reducing their efficiency and leading to much more serious consequences.

Keep the tyres in perfect condition. Always inflate them to the specified pressure. Incorrect inflation, whether excessive or insufficient, causes unnecessary tyre wear. Check the tyre pressures at least once a month.

Make sure the wheels are correctly aligned. Incorrect alignment can result from hitting kerbs or driving at excessive speed over uneven surfaces. Incorrect alignment causes faster wear and can also lead to other problems, such as higher fuel consumption.

Keep the vehicle in perfect condition.

To limit fuel consumption and maintenance costs, carry out the maintenance operations in the schedule shown in chapter 7.

Driving the vehicle under severe conditions results in more frequent servicing of these items (for detailed information, refer to chapter 7).

Wash the vehicle regularly. For maximum efficiency, keep the vehicle clean and remove any corrosive materials. It is particularly important to avoid the build-up of mud, dirt, ice, etc. on the underbody of the vehicle. The additional weight can increase fuel consumption and promote corrosion.

Keep the weight of the vehicle to a minimum. Do not carry unnecessary weight in the vehicle. Weight affects fuel consumption.

Do not let the engine idle longer than necessary. If you are stationary (and not in traffic), switch off the engine and restart it only when you are ready to move off.

Remember that the vehicle does not need prolonged warming up. After starting the engine, let it run for 10 - 20 seconds before engaging a gear. In particularly cold weather, allow a slightly longer warm-up period.

Avoid "lugging" or "over-revving" the engine. Lugging occurs when driving at too low a speed for the gear engaged, causing the engine to judder. In this case, downshift. Over-revving occurs when engine speed exceeds the safe limit. This can be avoided by changing gear at the recommended speeds.

Use the air conditioning sparingly. The air conditioning system is driven by the engine, so fuel consumption increases when it is in operation.

Opening the windows at high speed can increase fuel consumption.

Crosswinds or headwinds increase fuel consumption. To reduce this increase, slow down when driving in such conditions.

Keeping the vehicle in good operating condition is important for both economy and safety.

Therefore, have the prescribed maintenance and checks carried out by an authorised Kia dealer.

WARNING - Switching off the engine while driving Never switch off the engine when going downhill or whenever the vehicle is moving. With the engine off, the power steering and power brake will not work properly. Instead, keep the engine running and shift to an appropriate gear to make use of engine braking.

In addition, switching off the engine while driving could engage the steering lock which, by preventing steering control, could cause serious or even fatal accidents.