Kia Optima: Automatic transmission / Good driving practices

Kia Optima DL3 2019-2025 Owner's Manual / Driving your vehicle / Automatic transmission / Good driving practices

Never move the gear shift lever from P (Park) to any other position with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Never move the gear shift lever into P (Park) when the vehicle is in motion.
Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. Otherwise, the lower gear may not be engaged.
Always use the parking brake. Do not depend on placing the transmission in P (Park) to keep the vehicle from moving.
Optimum vehicle performance and economy is obtained by smoothly depressing and releasing the accelerator pedal.

Moving up a steep grade from a standing start

To move up a steep grade from a standing start, depress the brake pedal, shift the shift lever to D (Drive). Select the appropriate gear depending on load weight and steepness of the grade, and release the parking brake. Depress the accelerator gradually while releasing the service brakes.

When accelerating from a stop on a steep hill, the vehicle may have a tendency to roll backwards. Shifting the shift lever into 2 (Second Gear) will help prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards.

Shift lock system

For your safety, the automatic transmission has a shift lock system which prevents shifting the transmission from P (Park) into R (Reverse) unless the brake pedal is depressed. To shift the trans ...

Brake system

Power brakes Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes that adjust automatically through normal usage. In the event that the power-assisted brakes lose power because of a stalled engine or some oth ...

Other information:

Kia Optima DL3 2019-2025 Owner's Manual: Smart key function

To remove the mechanical key, press and hold the release button(1) and remove the mechanical key (2). To reinstall the mechanical key, put the key into the hole and push it until a click sound is heard. With a smart key, you can lock or unlock a door (and trunk) and start the engine. Refer ...

Kia Optima DL3 2019-2025 Owner's Manual: Brake fluid

Checking the brake fluid level Check the fluid level in the reservoir periodically. The fluid level should be between MAX (Maximum) and MIN (Minimum) marks on the side of the reservoir. Before removing the reservoir cap and adding brake fluid, clean the area around the reservoir cap thorough ...