How does Kia Sportmatic Shifting feature work?
They say true enthusiasts prefer manuals, but we say it’s really that feeling of control you miss when you drive an automatic. It’s hard to argue that automatic transmissions aren’t easier, and they’re basically foolproof, which is nice for new drivers. At the same time, you miss that feeling of control when you can’t switch gears in an automatic. That is, unless you have a Kia with Sportmatic Shifting. How does the Kia Sportmatic Shifting feature work? Let’s dive into it.
Which 2017 Kia models have Sportmatic Shifting?
First thing’s first: which cars even have Sportmatic Shifting? You’ll find that most of your non-hybrid or EV vehicles will have Sportmatic as a feature for their automatic transmission options. Obviously, you would use a clutch for a manual transmission. That said, all of the following vehicle have an available automatic with Sportmatic:
- Optima
- Cadenza
- Soul
- Sportage
- Sorento
- Sedona
- Forte
- Forte5
- Rio
What is Kia Sportmatic driving and how does it work?
Essentially, the Kia Sportmatic feature is the brand’s name for its automated manual driving mode. If you look at the transmission gear shifter, you’ll see that there’s a sort of “gate” next to Drive. Push the shifter in toward you and you’ll enter Sportmatic driving mode. Now, when you’re driving and wish to go up a gear, you push forward to the + sign. When you want to downshift, you pull back toward the – sign.
It’s really easy to operate, and your engine has safety features to ensure you won’t burn anything out by driving in the wrong gear. On certain models, you won’t easily see the Sportmatic gate, but if you move the shifter to the left, you’ll still feel it kick in.
So go ahead, try out that Sportmatic mode and tell us what you think with a comment below. If you aren’t already driving a Kia, stop by our dealership to take one for a test drive. Otherwise, be sure to check back here at the Garden Grove Kia Blog for more on specific features.
