How to Prepare Your Kia for Winter: A Simple Checklist for Every Model

Cold mornings, slushy roads and short days all put extra demands on a vehicle. A little preparation in the fall makes winter driving calmer and helps your Kia start, steer and stop the way it should once the temperature drops.

This guide walks through the basics every Kia owner can handle, plus the built-in features that make cold-weather ownership easier. Most tips apply to every model, from gas and hybrid Kias to plug-in hybrids and EVs, and one section covers extra steps for electric Kia owners. Features vary by model and trim, so your owner's manual has the details for your vehicle.

Start With the Right Tires

Tires are the only part of your Kia that touches the road, so they matter more than anything else in winter. Kia's owner documentation recommends snow tires for driving on snow-covered or icy roads. When you switch over, fit all four tires with the same size, type, tread, brand and load-carrying capacity. Mixing tire types can affect how your vehicle steers and brakes.

Cold air also lowers tire pressure, so check it more often once the weather turns. Kia recommends checking each tire monthly while the tires are cold, and inflating them to the pressure listed on your vehicle's placard or tire inflation pressure label. Rotating your tires keeps the tread wearing evenly through the season.

• Fit four matching winter tires of the same size, type, tread and brand
• Check tire pressure monthly when the tires are cold
• Rotate your tires every 10,000 km

Check the Basics Under the Hood and Around the Car

A few quick checks before the first snowfall help you avoid surprises on a cold morning. Start with your wiper blades. Worn blades leave streaks, and streaks are much harder to see through when road salt and slush hit the windshield. Fill the washer reservoir with a fluid rated for freezing temperatures so it keeps spraying on the coldest days.

Your 12-volt battery works harder in the cold, so ask for a battery test at your next service visit. The same visit is a good time to have the coolant level and condition checked. Walk around the vehicle and make sure every headlight, tail light and turn signal works.

Last, pack a small winter kit for the trunk or cargo area. A snow brush, ice scraper, small shovel, warm blanket, gloves and a phone charging cable cover most roadside situations.

Warm Up the Cabin From Your Phone

Kia Connect makes cold mornings much easier. With remote start and climate control, you can start your Kia from the app and set the cabin temperature before you head outside. On equipped vehicles, you can also turn on the heated seats and heated steering wheel remotely, so they are warm when you sit down. These remote features ask for a PIN, or you can use fingerprint or facial recognition in the app.

Kia Connect is free for the first three years. If you haven't enrolled yet, you can sign up through the Kia Connect app or at kiaconnect.ca.

Use SNOW Mode on Equipped AWD Models

Many Kia all-wheel-drive models include a SNOW drive mode. On equipped models such as the EV9, SNOW mode sends driving power to all four wheels automatically to increase stability. It also limits regenerative braking to its lowest levels, which helps the tires keep their grip on slippery roads. Select it with the drive mode button, and a SNOW indicator appears on the instrument cluster.

Extra Winter Steps for Kia EV Owners

Electric Kias have their own cold-weather tools, and a few habits help you get the most from them. Battery conditioning mode raises the high-voltage battery's temperature when it is cold, which improves driving and DC fast charging performance in winter. If you set a DC fast charger as your navigation destination with this mode on, the battery warms up on the way so charging goes faster when you arrive. Warming the battery uses energy, so expect some reduction in driving distance while it runs.

Keep your EV plugged in at home whenever you can. Kia's battery warmer system works while the charging connector is attached, though it stops operating if the battery temperature drops below -35°C. With the charger connected, you can also schedule the cabin to reach a target temperature by your departure time without lowering the battery's charge level. If your Kia shows a message that power is limited due to low battery temperature, charging before you drive warms the battery and restores power.

Many Kia EV trims also include a heat pump, which Kia describes as EV range-enhancing climate control. It heats the cabin more efficiently than a standard heater, so more of your battery goes toward driving.

• Turn on battery conditioning mode for better winter driving and DC charging
• Keep the vehicle plugged in so the battery warmer can work
• Schedule cabin heating while plugged in to save battery charge

Drive Smoothly on Snow and Ice

Even with the right tires and features, winter roads call for a gentle touch. Start off slowly and press the accelerator gently. Leave extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead, and avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden braking and sharp turns, since these are what cause skids.

In an EV, avoid the highest regenerative braking level on snowy downhill roads. Before every drive, clear snow and ice from the roof, windows, lights and mirrors so you can see clearly and other drivers can see you.

Key Takeaways

Get Your Kia Winter-Ready at Owen Sound Kia

A few simple steps now mean fewer worries once the snow arrives. Book a winter service visit with the team at Owen Sound Kia in Owen Sound, and ask them to look over your tires, battery, wipers and fluids. They are happy to answer your questions and help you set up features like Kia Connect remote start, so you head into the season feeling prepared.

To learn more about Kia Scheduled Maintenance, visit Kia.ca