If you aren't sure how to configure Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, what each of the driving modes are for, or how to adjust the layouts shown on your KIA Cockpit display, then look no further as you are in the right place.
Let's dive in.
Table of Contents
KIA Cockpit
The new KIA cockpit display has a 12 inch screen, which is a full digital display.
What gets shown here can be adjusted by the controls on the right hand side of the steering wheel.
To change the layout shown firstly you need to press the 2 paper icon on the steering wheel. Then immediately below this, there are up and down buttons. Pressing these will then rotate through the available screens on the Cockpit display that will show up on the cockpit display screen.
The KIA cockpit screens include the following layouts:
- Driver information - which displays information such as lane assist
- Satellite navigation information - which will display in the digital cockpit for how far you have to go to your destination, what direction you need to turn and how far you are from the turning, and what what is your expected ETA
- Energy flow - which will show you the state of the electricity status of your KIA
- Drive information - which tells you lots of information around fuel consumption, how long until the battery needs to be reached etc.
- Accumulate info - which gives you metrics such as how far the car has travelled
- Attention level - this page shows you what the car believes is your current level of attention, from how long since you had your last driving break
- Speed limit - this page shows you what your speed is set to
- Tyre pressure - which displays the PSI tyre pressure of all 4 wheels
- Drive Mode - This screen displays what drive mode you have and information around this
- Traction - This screen displays the traction on each wheel, exceptionally helpful if the car is stuck on the side of the road to help to get you out of a tight fix
Drive Modes
The Drive Modes allows you to set the car to have certain configurations based on the road condition. These can include:
- Eco
- Sport
- Smart
- Mud
- Sand
- Snow
With modern KIAs you can control these via the centre console in between the 2 front seats. There should be a circular button which has the wording: Drive and Terrain.
By pressing Drive this will enable you to select the following modes: Eco, Sport, and Smart. You can then navigate to these by turning the outer wheel on the dial. If you then press the black section of the Drive button, you will then select the Terrain options on the right hand side. These include: Sand, Mud, and Snow.
Cockpit display
When you choose a Display mode, the Cockpit Display will then change colour depending on the Drive mode you have selected.
For instance:
| Drive mode |
Cockpit design |
| Eco mode |
Blue |
| Sport mode |
Red and grey |
| Smart mode |
Green and grey |
| Snow mode |
Green and grey |
| Mud mode |
Green and grey |
| Sand mode |
Green and grey |
What do each of the KIA Driving modes do?
Eco Driving Mode
What Eco Driving Mode does, is it has been designed to tweak the car’s settings to reduce fuel consumption. It can do this in a number of ways such as lowering the speed when shifting gears, and turning off the engine entirely when the car has stopped.
Sport Driving Mode
When it comes to Sport Driving Mode, the car can give you a tighter steer, to improve handling and control, and increased power output from the car - at a cost to fuel efficiency of course.
Smart Driving Mode
With the KIA Smart driving mode, you get a mix between the driving modes. When you need more power, the power is there. When you are driving at a more steady speed, the car becomes more fuel efficient as a result.
Mud Driving Mode
When it comes to the Mud driving mode, the car applies slightly different shift patterns to help to give you momentum when you need it on slippery surfaces.
Sand Driving Mode
With the Sand Driving Mode, the car will lower the gears automatically and hold them for longer at the same time to help to keep giving you that extra traction to pull off.
Snow Driving Mode
Snowy conditions as we all know can be slippery. That is why in this Snow Mode the car will optimise the power and traction control system to give you as much grip as possible.
This can vary depending on the age and which model you have. However, we will go through the new media system - from 2021 - which comes with most modern KIA touch screen displays at the time of writing, you should see the following shortcut menu icons:
| Menu icon |
Side |
Function |
| Map |
Left |
This has a dual screen display where it shows the map on the left. On the right hand side you can change this to give you varying information such as the the weather, sounds to give you a calming driving experience |
| Nav |
Left |
The navigation tab comes with a huge array of options. These include:
Search for a location
Point of Interest Category - such as nearest coffee shops, banks, restaurants and more
Previous Destinations
Address Book
Kia Service options
KIA Live
Cancel route
Route overview
Plan tour
Route options
Along with the ability to add 3 favourites, such as home and work locations, which are all accessible via one touch button
|
| Radio |
Left |
Gives you lots of customizable options around the DAB such as to change station |
| Media |
Left |
Allows you to change options such as your input device - Bluetooth radio, USB music, Sounds of Nature, USB video, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you wanting to connect either Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, then this is the place you can set those up. |
| Setup |
Right |
The setup tab allows you to configure lots of areas about the car. Such as:
Vehicle settings - which contains the Driver assistance, speed limit, warning timing, warning volume, Drive terrain mode, heads up display and lots more
Profile
Voice recognition
Display
General car settings
Sound settings
Phone connection settings
Navigation settings
Data and network, and buttons. |
| Seek |
Right |
This button allows you to quickly change the radio station you are listening to |
| Track |
Right |
This tab gives you information on the current music you are listening to |
Kia and Hyundai share the same infotainment system, so this may also be of use to Hyundai drivers.
How to connect your Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless to your KIA?
Step 1
Firstly you need to check that the KIA has the option to connect to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The easiest way to see this is when you turn on your infotainment system, you should see on the right hand side an icon which says: "To start connecting Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Press the widget"
Step 2
Next go to your phone and make sure your Bluetooth and data are turned on.
Step 4
On the KIA touchscreen widget, you next need to touch the message showing above.
You will now see a screen saying: "Phone Projection - No device paired. To pair a new device which supports phone projection (Android Auto or Apple CarPlay), press the (Add new) button below.". Please press the Add new button to continue.
Step 4
The KIA will now start searching for nearby phones. Now go back to your phone, and a pop up should have appeared saying "Pairing request - KIA Motors would like to pair with your phone".
Click the pair / allow button on your phone to continue.
Step 5
Back on the infotainment system you should now see a notification that "Your phone is now connecting".
When this completes another popup will appear saying: While Apple CarPlay / Android Auto is running, some user and vehicle information will be provided to your phone:
- Bluetooth Device Address
- GPS location information
- Vehicle speed, shift lever position etc...
With 2 buttons, cancel and next.
If you are happy with the information that will be shared, please press next to pair your phone to the car.
Step 6
You're done. Android Auto, or Apple CarPlay is now connected with both your phone and the car and is now ready to use.