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The powertrain engineers at Kia have been working hard to give shoppers higher performance and better fuel mileage than ever. By fitting their product lineup with some of the market’s latest and greatest fuel-saving and performance-enhancing technologies, the Korean brand’s latest model range is the cleanest, greenest and most efficient yet.
Interested in an affordable, efficient and stylish new ride that offers exceptional value? Ask your sales representative which features are on board the model you’re considering.
Drive By Wire Throttle
By replacing the age-old throttle cable with a sensor and computer system, Kia’s engineers are able to “smooth out” the driver’s gas pedal inputs, saving fuel and enhancing smoothness and refinement in the process. The technology is virtually seamless and imperceptible to the driver, though it works in the background to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
ECO-Minder Indicator
When Kia’s ECO light pops up in the instrument cluster, drivers know they’re operating their vehicle in the most fuel-efficient manner possible for the current conditions. By aiming to drive with the ECO light on, drivers can cut fuel bills and help do their part for the environment. Think of the little green ECO light as your personal fuel-saving coach.
Six-speed Automatic Transmission
The more gears the merrier! Many Kia models get a six-speed transmission to optimize both fuel efficiency and performance. As an added bonus, six-speed transmissions deliver smoother shifting, better passing power and lower cruising revs. With more gears to choose from, the engine can spend less time at higher revs when accelerating moderately, and more time at low revs during cruising.
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The Sportage Turbo is among Kia’s new lineup of vehicles that offer drivers a bit of a reprieve at the pumps. Photo by Justin Pritchard
With a six-speed automatic on board, owners simultaneously get enhanced power delivery and lower fuel consumption. Look for a six-speed automatic in many of Kia’s latest models. And remember: if the model from another automaker you’re considering uses a four- or five-speed transmission, it’ll likely burn more fuel.
Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT)
Valve timing regulates an engine’s breathing and fuel requirements, and has direct effects on power delivery and fuel mileage. By continuously monitoring driving conditions and adjusting the engine’s valve timing, CVVT-equipped Kia engines can deliver plenty of on-demand power when it’s needed, and better fuel mileage when it isn’t. The switching between “fuel efficient” and “high-performance” engine breathing is seamless and instant — and the end result to the driver is a potent performance punch alongside reduced visits to the gas station.
Turbocharging
A turbocharger instantly boosts engine power in an on-demand fashion, but it can also help owners to save fuel, too. By using a small, turbocharged engine as opposed to a large-displacement one, drivers only pay the fuel penalty on the power they use, rather than simply fueling a bigger engine all the time. Look for turbocharged powerplants available in the new Optima and Sportage Turbo. These torque-monster engines deliver nearly startling acceleration for passing, while offering cruising mileage comparable to a four-cylinder engine.
Direct Injection
Direct injection technology is proving its worth in models from various automakers, and Kia is capitalizing on the trend. By injecting gasoline directly into the combustion chamber under very high pressure, engineers can maximize precision and ensure maximum power is extracted from every molecule of gas.
The technology improves performance and emissions, and uses less fuel to do it.
