Frugal Driver’s initial review of the thrifty little Kia Rio (a 2012 model) was very favorable. We recently had time to put a 2013 Rio 5-Door through its paces and that initial attraction hasn’t faded. This time around, however, the temperatures were considerably colder and we had a chance to drive the Rio in true winter road conditions. Typically, most vehicles experience a noticeable reduction in fuel economy in the cold, especially on snow and ice covered roads. The Kia Rio on the other hand READ MORE »
2013 KIA RIO — All-Season Economy Champ
Volkswagen Promotes Frugal Smiles Per Gallon
Being a frugal driver doesn’t mean driving can’t be fun. Volkswagen owners already know this and now they have another way to up the fun factor with the introduction of Smileage.
Volkswagen of America and Google just announced their partnership on “Volkswagen Smileage,” a new social media application built using a suite of Google products and platforms. READ MORE »
Winter Driving Tip – Clear Wheelwells
Winter driving presents new fuel economy challenges. Colder temperatures generally reduce mpg by a significant amount and snow and ice can add gas mileage robbing conditions. In addition to the potential for wheel spin and added rolling resistance, snowy roads will allow a slushy mix to build up in the vehicles wheelwells. READ MORE »
KIA Optima Hybrid from a Female Perspective
Guest post by Wendy Gregory
For 30 years I’ve driven test vehicles and given my driving impressions in my role as copy editor and corporate officer in our family business, Kaho Media, Inc. As a college student, as I taught cooking and art classes in the community and then as a mom hauling Girls Scouts and groceries I put hundreds of test vehicles through their paces in my daily life. If the hatch dripped rain down my back as I loaded groceries in a downpour, it was noted. If I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the air conditioning without reaching for the owner’s manual, it was passed on in my list of impressions. READ MORE »
2014 VW Golf Goes Lean And Frugal
Two of the four best selling cars of all time are produced by Volkswagen. Yes, the VW Beetle is one of them, ranking number four in the all-time hit parade. While not a big player in the United States, the Volkswagen Golf is a huge hit globally, currently ranked number 3 in the automotive best seller list with nearly 30-million served. The Golf was first introduced in 1974 as a platform to grow the small car legacy started by the air-cooled Beetle, and is certainly a car right for these frugal times. READ MORE »
