The Fuel Economy Debacle

For over a year since the new Picanto's debut, there have been debates on the Internet about its fuel economy. Some people have opted not to buy one due to claims of it not being as fuel efficient as advertised. After over a month, I can tell you that the Kia Picanto 1.2 is very fuel efficient under regular traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

From late-August to late-September, my regular commute through Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong City, Greenhills and Quezon City has given me an average of 11.4 km/liter. In comparison, my former car - a 2007 Hyundai Getz 1.4 - did a monthly average of 9.3 km/liter under the same conditions. Should I take the Picanto on highways such as the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) or South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), I predict a rating of at least 13 km/l.

So how does one calculate the fuel economy of their Picanto? There are two ways to get the numbers. Be sure to have a notebook and a calculator handy while refueling.

1. The Picanto has a fuel economy gauge on the trip computer that measures liters per 100 kilometers. Simply divide 100 by the given amount of liters to get the numbers in km/liter. The smaller the number of liters, the more fuel you save. For example, if the gauge reads "8.4 l/100km", you'll have 11.9 km/l.

2. There's the old-fashioned way by calculating the mileage from your trip meter and dividing it by the amount of gasoline filled up to a full tank.

Remember to always reset trip meter A (trip meter B is optional), fuel economy gauge and time log on your trip computer to 0 after every refuel.

Some helpful hints on saving fuel in a Picanto:

1. On manual transmission models, set ECO Mode to "On" and always follow the shift indicator.

2. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Follow the recommended tire pressure rating found on the frame of the driver's side door. Never drive with the tires underinflated - not only does this hurt fuel economy, it increases the risk of a blowout.

3. Do not leave your car idle for five or more minutes. If you're stuck in heavy traffic or in a long queue at the carpark that has not moved for at least five minutes, turn off your engine. Simply turn on your engine when traffic begins to move again. (In some countries, the Picanto comes with the ecoDynamics system, which automatically does this job for you through its stop-start mechanism).