What is 'sailing' mode and why does it only work occassionally?
I have purchased a Kia Sportage mild hybrid and it has a system called Sailing where when your are driving and take your foot off the accelerator the engine shuts down and it goes into coasting mode. Then as soon as you press either the accelerator or brake the engine restarts. Mine has worked a couple of times and gone into that mode but more often that not this feature does not engage, can you explain why?
Asked on 1 October 2025 by Philip J Taylor
Answered by
David Ross
The Sailing mode available on some Kia models will only operate if their is enough charge in the 48v battery, which means it's only available once you have covered enough distance for the battery to be charged up. Kia also says the function is dependent on driving conditions and speed. It's likely that it will only function when Eco drive mode is engaged and when your speed is between around 30mph and 60mph. If it does not work even when these conditions are met you may want to have it inspected by a dealer.
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