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Kia Magentis to help drivers save fuel with Eco Minder indicator

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Khatir Soltani
You no longer need to drive a high-tech hybrid to take advantage of an efficiency-coaching display system at the wheel. Kia Canada has just announced that they'll be incorporating an "Eco Minder" indicator light as standard on their Magentis sedan to help owners cut down on visits to the gas station.

On all models fitted with automatic transmissions, the green "ECO" light will illuminate within the speedometer display when the driver has reached an optimum level of fuel efficiency. Kia says that the feature is intended to help Magentis drivers burn even less fuel in an already fuel-efficient car.

2009 Kia Magentis

"Fuel efficiency is of paramount concern to our customers. By providing this simple technology to all our Magentis vehicles, we are doing what we can to help provide an extra measure of fuel savings to our already economical mid-size sedan," said Brian Kim, Kia's National Manager of Product Planning.

The light is attached to sensors that watch over engine and vehicle speed as well as driver input. It illuminates when peak fuel efficiency is being met for the specific conditions at hand.

According to Kia, the Eco Minder system can help drivers reduce their fuel bill by as much as 13 percent on the highway and as much as 6.9 percent during city driving.
photo:Kia
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada