Can You Change the Speedometer from Kilometers to Miles in Kia?

Car manufacturers really hate the idea that people in different countries use different measuring units. Like they use miles in the US and the UK but they use kilometers all over Europe and in Canada and in tons of other countries.

Dashboard software problems highlights

• Howcommon:notreallycommon
• Mainreasons:voltage anomalies, software glitch, initially wrong software
• DIY diagnosis:impossible
• DIYrepair:impossible
• Solutions:if settingsdon'thelp, have software updated in dealership
• Can you drive?yes
• Price in dealership:$200 - $450

Kilometers to miles in any modern Kia

Almost all Kia vehicles made after 2022 will have the common process of setting your speedometer units and gas mileage parameters.

Here's how you can do that:

• turn on the ignition or the accessory mode (press the start button without pressing the brake);
• then locate the SETUP button on your central console and press it;
• alternatively, you can use your infotainment screen and go to Settings;
• then, you need to choose the tab General so that you could set the needed units;
• on the left side of the screen, you see the menu and you can scroll it using the touchscreen;
• choose "Units" in that menu just by tapping on it with your finger;
• then, you have the unit changing monitor that offers kilometers or miles;
• also, on this screen, you may choose British MPG or American MPG;
• and this screen also offers you to choose the temperature units - F or C.

This will work for your Kia if you have a modern infotainment system with a big touchscreen. Also, you will most likely have the digital dash in your modern Kia car, so the units will automatically change and you will not see both kilometers and miles on the speedometer which is very comfortable.

Actually, I like modern digital dashes offered in Kia and Hyundai cars. They are very laconic, give the needed amount of information and allow you to set almost anything just like you want it to be shown.

Now you know how to set kilometers or miles and even choose British or American MPG in your Kia vehicle. But what if you have an older car?

Setting miles or kilometers in an older Kia

If your Kia doesn't have the super-modern infotainment system, you can still change the units from miles to kilometers and back if you need this. All vehicles made within the nearest decade allow you to do this using the simple settings on your dash without any complicated actions like using a scanner or something.

Here's what you may try:

• first of all, understand how you can navigate the menu in your vehicle - usually, you just press arrows to navigate between different screens;
• press the arrow several times and stop on the screen where you have the long menu with different parameters and settings;
• in that menu, choose the parameter called "Units";
• here you will have several units you can change like temperature units and speed;
• choose the speed and then press the KM/H or MPH depending on what you want to see;
• your gas mileage and overall car mileage will automatically turn to miles if you choose MPH and to kilometers if you choose KM/H.

Also, you may use a short hot-key option to switch between miles per hour and kilometers per hour. For this, follow this simple instruction:

• use the arrow on your steering wheel to navigate between different screens of the dash;
• stop on the digital speedometer screen where you see the speed of your Kia;
• you may also see the short hint saying "Press OK MPH" or "Press OK KM/H";
• press and hold the OK button and in 3 seconds the units will change from km/h to miles or vice versa;
• also, your gas mileage and overall car mileage will also change from kilometers to miles or vice versa.

So, this is how you can change your Kia speedometer between kilometers and miles. It will work in cheaper vehicles where you don't have an advanced infotainment system and also in older cars that have pretty efficient but not very modern dash computers.

But what if your vehicle is even older?

Changing from kilometers to miles and back in older Kia cars

During its history, Kia produced so many models with absolutely different and sometimes insanely illogical settings. I know some Kia models where speed units could be changed in GPS settings. In some other vehicles, you could choose kilometers or miles in the fuel economy settings by choosing between MPG and L/100km.

You can try just browsing different settings with your ignition or accessory mode on. But if you can't find anything like this (which is also possible), you should follow this simple plan:

• go to a Kia dealership or a specialized repair shop;
• ask a mechanic to set the needed units in your vehicle;
• they will use the OBD2 scanner or other professional scanning equipment;
• by simple programming, they will set the needed units in your vehicle.

The disadvantage of this issue is that you can't get the old units back whenever you want, so to get your miles or kilometers back, you will still need to go to the dealership and pay for this.

Oh, yeah, this is not going to be free. While an independent shop can take just several bucks from you, the dealership will charge you at least $200 for this.