Home/Kia/November 2, 2012

Hyundai and KIA to adjust fuel economy figures in the US, KMA's CEO apologizes

Hyundai and KIA are lowering the fuel economy rates on most 2011-2013 models due to a exaggerate declared mileage that affects to a vast majority of both makers lineup.

Today, KIA Motors America (KMA)’s CEO Byung Mo Ahn reported a corporative message apologizing to customers and dealers for the procedural misinterpretations and errors that led into this action. In this open letter, Mo Ahn declared that thay will start relabeling the fuel consumption on dealers and media, and more importantly, KMA will compensate current and former owners covering the added fuels costs derivated from the MPG adjustments.

The major models affected by this campaign are the 2012 Hyundai Accent, 2012/13 Elantra and 2012/13 Veloster (all rated at EPA estimated 40 MPG highway, to be underrated to 36-38 MPG depending on models) and nearly the full KIA lineup, including the Optima Hybrid, Rio, Soul, Sportage and certain Sorento models equipped with GDi engines.

However, new EPA estimated ratings for those KIA models are unknown yet. Stay tuned for further details.

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Comments

8 comments
  1. Ash Guest

    I think we need new and better ways of talking about mileage. I get that the official figures are highly synthetic - the problem is that they don't *sound* synthetic. They sound like claims of expected mileage, which they definitely aren't.

    1. Staceycarverd Guest

      I agree. There are far too many variables to effect mileage. To state claims as they do actually leads to many people experiencing lower results than expected. Providing something that will equated to more accurate results that most people can likely achieve would be difficult, but should be worked towards.

  2. Staceycarverd Guest

    Too bad they have to do this; the cars speak for themselves, even if the mileage isn't quite what is claimed. I've never seen too many cars which did return the EPA estimates anyway. After all, unless you are operating the vehicle in the same conditions in which it is originally tested, you're not too likely to see that mileage anyway.

    1. JesseDonaldson Guest

      I usually get better than the EPA estimates bu as much as 10 percent, I also deal with a lot of traffic backed up behind me and getting honked at when the light turns(for not taking off like in a drag race)

  3. Staceycarverd Guest

    Too bad they have to do this; the cars speak for themselves, even if the mileage isn't quite what is claimed. I've never seen too many cars which did return the EPA estimates anyway. After all, unless you are operating the vehicle in the same conditions in which it is originally tested, you're not too likely to see that mileage anyway.

    1. $30040638 Guest

      I usually get better than the EPA estimates bu as much as 10 percent, I also deal with a lot of traffic backed up behind me and getting honked at when the light turns(for not taking off like in a drag race)

  4. Ash Guest

    I think we need new and better ways of talking about mileage. I get that the official figures are highly synthetic - the problem is that they don't *sound* synthetic. They sound like claims of expected mileage, which they definitely aren't.

    1. Staceycarverd Guest

      I agree. There are far too many variables to effect mileage. To state claims as they do actually leads to many people experiencing lower results than expected. Providing something that will equated to more accurate results that most people can likely achieve would be difficult, but should be worked towards.