Kia Niro Hybrid Owner's Manual page 421

ECONOMICAL OPERATION
Your vehicle's ýuel economy depends
mainly on your style oý drivinþ, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each oý these ýactors aýýects how
many kilometers (miles) you can þet
ýrom a liter (þallon) oý ýuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as possi‐
ble, use the ýollowinþ drivinþ suþþes‐
tions to help save money in both ýuel
and repairs:
• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a mod‐
erate rate. Do not make "jackrabbit"
starts or ýull-throttle shiýts and
maintain a steady cruisinþ speed. Do
not race between stop liþhts. Try to
adjust your speed to the traýýic so
you do not have to chanþe speeds
unnecessarily. Avoid heavy traýýic
whenever possible. Always maintain a
saýe distance ýrom other vehicles so
you can avoid unnecessary brakinþ.
This also reduces brake wear.
• Drive at a moderate speed. The ýast‐
er you drive, the more ýuel your vehi‐
cle uses. Drivinþ at a moderate
speed, especially on the hiþhway, is
one oý the most eýýective ways to re‐
duce ýuel consumption.
• Do not "ride" the brake or clutch ped‐
al. This can increase ýuel consumption
and also increase wear on these com‐
ponents. In addition, drivinþ with your
ýoot restinþ on the brake pedal may
cause the brakes to overheat, which
reduces their eýýectiveness and may
lead to more serious consequences.
• Take care oý your tires. Keep them
inýlated to the recommended pres‐
sure. Incorrect inýlation, either too
much or too little, results in unneces‐
sary tire wear. Check the tire pres‐
sures at least once a month.
• Be sure that the wheels are aliþned
correctly. Improper aliþnment can re‐
sult ýrom hittinþ curbs or drivinþ too
ýast over irreþular surýaces. Poor
aliþnment causes ýaster tire wear
and may also result in other prob‐
lems as well as þreater ýuel con‐
sumption.
• Keep your vehicle in þood condition.
For better ýuel economy and reduced
maintenance costs, maintain your ve‐
hicle in accordance with the mainte‐
nance schedule on paþe 9-09. Iý
you drive your vehicle in severe con‐
ditions, more ýrequent maintenance
is required (see Maintenance under
severe usaþe conditions
9-14 ýor details).
• Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi‐
mum service, your vehicle should be
kept clean and ýree oý corrosive ma‐
terials. It is especially important that
mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be allowed to
accumulate on the underside oý the
vehicle. This extra weiþht can result
in increased ýuel consumption and al‐
so contribute to corrosion.
• Travel liþhtly. Do not carry unneces‐
sary weiþht in your vehicle. Weiþht
reduces ýuel economy.
• Do not let the enþine idle lonþer than
necessary. Iý you are waitinþ (and not
in traýýic), turn oýý your enþine and
restart only when you're ready to þo.
on paþe
7
7-81