KIA RIO 2021 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: KIA, Model Year: 2021, Model line: RIO, Model: KIA RIO 2021Pages: 534, PDF Size: 13.49 MB
Page 251 of 534

Driving your vehicle
14
5
Starting the engine
1. Carry the smart key or place it
inside the vehicle.
2. Make sure the parking brake is firmly applied.
3. Manual Transmission - Depress
the clutch pedal fully and shift the
transmission into Neutral. Keep the
clutch pedal and brake pedal
depressed while starting the
engine.
Intelligent Variable Transmission
- Place the transmission shift lever
in P (Park). Depress the brake
pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when the shift lever is in the N(Neutral) position.
4. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button.
It should be started without depress-ing the accelerator pedal.
5. Do not wait for the engine to warm
up while the vehicle remains sta-
tionary. Start driving at moderate
engine speeds. (Extreme and/or
excessive accelerating and decel-
erating should be avoided.)
Starting and stopping the engine
for turbocharger intercooler
1. Do not race or accelerate the engine immediately after starting.
If the engine is cold, idle for sever-
al seconds to ensure sufficient
lubrication in the turbocharger
unit.
2. After high speed or extended driv- ing, requiring a heavy engine load,
idle the engine about 1 minute
before turning it off.
This idle time will allow the tur- bocharger to cool prior to shutting
the engine off.
Starting the engine with smart key
Even if the smart key is in the vehi- cle, if it is far away from you, the
engine may not start.
When the ENGINE START/STOP button is in the ACC position or
above, if any door is opened, the
system checks for the smart key. If
the smart key is not in the vehicle,
the “ ” indicator and a message
“Key is not in the vehicle” will appear
on the instrument cluster and LCD
Display. And if all doors are closed,
the chime will sound for 5 seconds.
The indicator or warning will turn off
while the vehicle is moving. Always
have the smart key with you.
CAUTION
Do not turn the engine off imme-diately after it has been subject-ed to a heavy load. Doing somay cause severe damage tothe engine or turbocharger unit.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 14
Page 252 of 534

515
Driving your vehicle
✽ ✽
NOTICE
If the engine stalls while the vehicle
is in motion, do not attempt to move
the shift lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion. If the traffic and road condi-
tions permit, you may put the shift
lever in the N (Neutral) position
while the vehicle is still moving and
press the ENGINE START/STOP
button in an attempt to restart the
engine.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
• If the battery is weak or the smart
key does not work correctly, you
can start the engine by pressing
the ENGINE START/STOP but-
ton with the smart key.
The side with the lock button
should contact the ENGINE
START/STOP button directly.
When you press the ENGINE
START/STOP button directly with
the smart key, the smart key
should contact the button at a
right angle. (Continued)
OSC050005N
WARNING
The engine will start only when
the smart key is in the vehicle.
Never allow children or any per-
son who is unfamiliar with the
vehicle touch the ENGINE
START/STOP button or related
parts. Pushing the ENGINE
START/STOP button while the
smart key is in the vehicle may
result in unintended engine
activation and/or unintended
vehicle movement.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 15
Page 253 of 534

Driving your vehicle
16
5
(Continued)
• When the stop lamp fuse is blown,
you cannot start the engine nor-
mally.
Replace the fuse with a new one. If
it is not possible, you can start the
engine by pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP button for 10 sec-
onds while it is in the ACC posi-
tion. The engine can start without
depressing the brake pedal. But
for your safety, always depress the
brake pedal and clutch pedal
before starting the engine.Stopping the engine
(Manual Transmission)
1. Make sure the vehicle is complete-
ly stopped and keep the clutch
pedal and brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift the transmission into Neutral while depressing the clutch pedal
and brake pedal.
3. Engage the parking brake while depressing the brake pedal.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position and remove it.
CAUTION
Do not press the ENGINESTART/STOP button for morethan 10 seconds except whenthe stop lamp fuse is blown.
Do not turn the ignition switch to the START position with theengine running. It may dam-age the starter.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 16
Page 254 of 534

517
Driving your vehicle
Manual transmission opera-
tion
The manual transmission has 6 for-
ward gears.
This shift pattern is imprinted on the
shift knob. The transmission is fully
synchronized in all forward gears so
shifting to either a higher or a lower
gear is easily accomplished.
Depress the clutch pedal down fully
while shifting, then release it slowly.
If your vehicle is equipped with an
ignition lock switch, the engine will
not start when starting the engine
without depressing the clutch pedal.
The shift lever must be returned to
the neutral position before shifting
into R (Reverse). The button (1)
located below the shift knob must be
pulled upward while moving the shift
lever to the R (Reverse) position.
Make sure the vehicle is completelystopped before shifting into R(Reverse).
Never operate the engine with thetachometer (rpm) in the red zone.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (IF EQUIPPED)
CAUTION - Downshifting
When downshifting from fifth gear to fourth gear, cautionshould be taken not to inad-vertently press the shift leversideways in such a mannerthat the second gear isengaged. Such a drasticdownshift may cause theengine speed to increase tothe point that the tachometerwill enter the red-zone. Suchover-revving of the engine andtransmission may possiblycause engine damage.
Do not downshift more than 2 gears or downshift the gearwhen the engine is running athigh speed (5,000 RPM orhigher). Such a downshiftingmay damage the engine,clutch and the transmission.
OYB056058
The shift lever can be moved without-
pressing the button.
The button (1) should be pressed when
moving the shift lever into reverse.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 17
Page 255 of 534

Driving your vehicle
18
5
During cold weather, shifting may
be difficult until the transmission
lubricant is warmed up. This is nor-
mal and not harmful to the trans-
mission.
If you've come to a complete stop and it's hard to shift into 1st or R
(Reverse), leave the shift lever at
the N (Neutral) position and
release the clutch. Depress the
clutch pedal and then shift into 1st
or R (Reverse) gear position.
CAUTION - Premature
wear
Do not use the shift lever as ahandrest during driving, as thiscan result in premature wear ofthe transmission shift forks.
CAUTION
To prevent possible damage to the clutch system, do notstart with the 2nd (second)gear engaged except whenyou start on a slippery road.
If the clutch pedal is released rapidly after shifting into 1stor R(Reverse), it could causethe engine to stall and lead toan accident.
The clutch pedal should be fully depressed. When thepedal is released, make surenot to depress the pedal againbefore it returns to the normalposition. Failure to do sorepeatedly may cause damageto the clutch system.
Do not overload the vehicle. Driving with the vehicle over-loaded could cause abnormalfriction heat to the clutch diskand damage the clutch coverand disk.
WARNING- Shift lever
position
Before leaving the driver’s seat, always set the parking
brake fully and shut the
engine off. Then make sure
the transmission is shifted
into 1st gear when the vehicle
is parked on a level or uphill
grade, and shifted into R
(Reverse) on a downhill
grade. Unexpected and sud-
den vehicle movement can
occur if these precautions are
not followed in the order iden-
tified.
Do not use the engine brake (shifting from a high gear to
lower gear) rapidly on slip-
pery roads. The vehicle may
slip, causing an accident.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 18
Page 256 of 534

519
Driving your vehicle
Using the clutch
The clutch should be depressed all
the way to the floor before shifting,
then released slowly. The clutch
pedal should always be fully
released while driving. Do not rest
your foot on the clutch pedal while
driving. This can cause unnecessary
wear. Do not partially engage the
clutch to hold the vehicle on an
incline. This causes unnecessary
wear. Use the foot brake or parking
brake to hold the vehicle on an
incline. Do not operate the clutch
pedal rapidly and repeatedly.
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or while driving up steep hills,
downshift before the engine starts to
labor. Downshifting reduces the
chance of stalling and gives better
acceleration when you need to
increase your speed again. When the
vehicle is traveling down steep hills,
downshifting helps maintain safe
speed and prolongs brake life.WARNING- Using theclutch
Depress the clutch pedal as far
as possible. Be aware not to
apply the pedal again before it
returns to the normal position.
If the pedal is repeatedly
depressed before returning to
its normal position, the clutch
system might be damaged.
Do not overload the vehicle.
Starting or driving a vehicle in
this situation generates too
much frictional heat to the
clutch disk which might cause
damage to the clutch cover and
disk.
When starting the vehicle or
driving backwards, releasing the
clutch pedal too soon after shift-
ing the lever might turn off the
engine and lead to an accident.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 19
Page 257 of 534

Driving your vehicle
20
5
Good driving practices
Never take the vehicle out of gear
and coast down a hill. This is
extremely hazardous. Always leave
the vehicle in gear.
Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause them to overheat and mal-
function. Instead, when you are
driving down a long hill, shift to a
lower gear. When you do this,
engine braking will help slow down
the vehicle.
Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. This will help avoid
over-revving the engine, which can
cause damage.
Slow down when you encounter cross winds. This gives you much
better control of your vehicle.
Be sure the vehicle is completely stopped before you attempt to shift
into R (Reverse). The transmission
can be damaged if you do not.WARNING
Exercise extreme cautionwhen driving on a slippery
surface. Be especially careful
when braking, accelerating or
shifting gears. On a slippery
surface, an abrupt change in
vehicle speed can cause the
drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle to lose con-
trol.
Always buckle-up! In a colli- sion, an unbelted occupant is
significantly more likely to be
seriously injured or killed
than a properly belted occu-
pant.
Never exceed posted speed limits.
Avoid high speeds when cor- nering or turning. High speed
cornering and turning
increases the risk of vehicle
rollover due to loss of vehicle
control. Rollover accidents
are extremely violent and
unpredictable.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:49 PM Page 20
Page 258 of 534

521
Driving your vehicle
Intelligent Variable Transmission
(IVT) operation
The Intelligent Variable Transmission
(IVT) automatically shifts depending
on speed and accelerator pedal posi-
tion. The individual speeds are
selected automatically, depending on
the position of the shift lever.
INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (IVT) (IF EQUIPPED)
OYB056071
+ (UP)
- (DOWN)
The shift lever can be shifted freely. Press the lock release button when shifting.
Depress the brake pedal and the lock release button when shifting.
Manual Mode
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:50 PM Page 21
Page 259 of 534

Driving your vehicle
22
5
CAUTION
The transmission may be dam-
aged if you shift into P (Park)while the vehicle is in motion.
For smooth operation, depress thebrake pedal when shifting from N(Neutral) to a forward or reverse gear.
Transmission ranges
The indicator in the instrument clus-
ter displays the shift lever position
when the ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button is in the ON
position.P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park). This
position locks the transmission and
prevents the front wheels from rotat-
ing.
WARNING
- Intelligent Variable
Transmission (IVT)
Always check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for
people, especially children,
before shifting a car into D
(Drive) or R (Reverse).
Before leaving the driver’s seat, always make sure the
shift lever is in the P (Park)
position; then set the parking
brake fully and shut the engine
off. Unexpected and sudden
vehicle movement can occur if
these precautions are not fol-
lowed in the order identified.
Do not use the engine brake (shifting from a high gear to
lower gear) rapidly on slip-
pery roads.
The vehicle may slip, causing
an accident.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to your transmission, do not acceler-ate the engine in R (Reverse)or any forward gear positionwith the brakes on.
When stopped on an incline, do not hold the vehicle sta-tionary with engine power.Use the service brake or theparking brake.
Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R(Reverse) when the engine isabove idle speed.
WARNING
Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion will cause
the drive wheels to lock which
will cause you to lose control
of the vehicle.
Do not use the P (Park) posi- tion in place of the parking
brake. Always make sure the
shift lever is latched in the P
(Park) position and set the
parking brake fully.
Never leave a child unattend- ed in a vehicle.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:50 PM Page 22
Page 260 of 534

523
Driving your vehicle
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.
N (Neutral)
The wheels and transmission are not
engaged. The vehicle will roll freely
even on the slightest incline unless
the parking brake or service brakes
are applied.-Parking in N (Neutral) gear
Follow the steps below when parking
if you want the vehicle to move when
pushed.
1.After parking your vehicle, step on
the brake pedal and move the shift
lever to “P” with the ignition switch or
ENGINE START/STOP button in
“ON” or while the engine is running.
2.If the parking brake is applied unlock the parking brake.
3.While pressing the brake pedal, turn the ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button “OFF”.
- For smart key equipped vehicles,the ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button can be
moved to “OFF” only when the
shift lever is in “P”.
4.Change the gear shift lever to “N” (Neutral) while pressing the brake
pedal and pushing “SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE” button or inserting, a
tool (e.g. flathead screw-driver) into
the “SHIFT LOCK RELEASE”
access hole at the same time. Then,
the vehicle will move when external
force is applied.
CAUTION
Always come to a complete stopbefore shifting into or out of R(Reverse); you may damage thetransmission if you shift into Rwhile the vehicle is in motion,except as explained in “Rockingthe vehicle” in this chapter.
WARNING
Do not drive with the shift lever
in N (Neutral).
The engine brake may not work,
which may lead to an accident.
WARNING
With the exception of parking in neutral gear, always park
the vehicle in “P” (Park) for
safety and engage the parking
brake.
Before parking in “N” (Neutral) gear, first make sure the park-
ing ground is level and flat. Do
not park in “N” gear on any
slopes or gradients.
If parked and left in “N”, the
vehicle may move and cause
serious damage and injury.
SC PE USA 5.QXP 10/23/2020 5:50 PM Page 23