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A few days ago, we departed at 7am when it was still dark. As anticipated, the headlights were activated and remained on till the morning gradually brightened to a level where the lights automatically switched off.

Observations were made that vehicles from various brands kept their headlights on far into the morning, likely due to the relatively overcast conditions.

The return voyage started with enough daylight and the lights remained off. As the light diminished, they approached as anticipated.

Today, my spouse used the Niro for a shopping excursion. The day began in the late morning under clear and beautiful skies. The automatic lights were on and, according to her account, remained illuminated continuously. She ceased her actions.

She arrived back at about 3pm. Over the last two hours or more, the sky has been mostly clear of clouds, revealing a deep blue hue, while a radiant sun has been beaming brightly.

Once again, the lights were illuminated and remained on. Nevertheless, or maybe because to this fact, I was driving towards the south with the sun positioned low in the sky.

I examined the sensors that may plausibly be implicated. Neat and clear.

The only reason they were turned off was the absence of "Auto Lights".

I am encountering difficulty in articulating the underlying reasoning of the system. What potential aspects or elements may I be overlooking?

Frankly, I prefer endorsing the notion of driving with headlights on at this time of year when there is often a low sun. November and January/February are particularly notorious for occurrences of intense sunlight that may cause temporary blindness.

However, I question if this discovery is relevant to the logical criteria used by KIA engineers in determining the timing for autonomous light switching.

Due to an unknown cause, the presence of the optional Auto Lights feature seems to be causing my Management to believe that she cannot feel at ease when driving the vehicle, after owning it for over 2 years.

Currently, I am confronted with two perplexing dilemmas, both of which lack any logical coherence.

I am capable of dealing with the unpredictable nature of the automobile, even if it seems irrational.

That is the significant disparity in the complexity of the puzzle.

I would much appreciate any thoughts into the design rationale behind KIA's Auto Lights feature.

Thank you in advance

Apologies, I am unable to provide any insights about the theory behind Kia's lighting system. However, my personal approach is to manually regulate the lights using the switch. I have experimented with the automatic lighting feature in many vehicles, but I was never satisfied with its ability to accurately adjust to the surrounding light levels and darkness.
Personally, I refrain from using the 'auto' option and instead manually control the lights, turning them on and off as needed, even on dull or dreary days.

Perhaps they had activated them manually.

Is there anything shown on the dashboard sensor?

I must admit that I generally find the auto function satisfactory, but it sometimes exhibits some idiosyncrasies.

My wife is the one who has a specific fear related to it.

Her previous Corolla had a very comparable approach in terms of a 3-position light control, so everything should be familiar. However, it seems that the extra initial position of "Auto" is proving to be too difficult to manage.

However, I am completely unaware of the reason for the continuous illumination of the lights during broad daylight in the midst of the day. I attempted to illuminate all of the known sensor regions with a light source in order to see any potential reactions or changes. They were not deterred by anything (except disabling the automatic feature). The sky remained a vibrant shade of blue, with the sun shining brightly, while the automobile was not positioned in a shaded area.

While I am personally unaffected, the more regular remarks from management are getting quite wearisome.



It is quite plausible that other individuals manually activated the lights. Nevertheless, when I saw it, I was seeing the movement of vehicles travelling in a northerly direction on the M40, located somewhere between Oxford and High Wycombe. I believe that the inhabitants of that region often depend on Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and similar brands to handle choices about lighting rather than doing it themselves.

If only the makers could devise a system for indicators as well...

The dash is completely transparent. No objects detected by the sensors. The screen is devoid of any dirt or smudges.

Given the current circumstances, I will reevaluate the situation as I address matters like grandchild seats and other small irritants.

I appreciate the ideas from both of you.

The lights remain on in the presence of dim sunlight to enhance the car's visibility. The Skoda Yeti I had before was identical.
My wife seemed to manage it well.

My significant other is quite rational about it and just uses the manual switch. I have educated her well on the mindset of "when uncertain, just turn on the lights" (she obtained her driver's licence at the age of 55). As a result, it has become rather instinctive for her to activate the lights in poor lighting situations!

I understand. I see the logic behind it, but I am rather taken aback by its automatic nature. Highly rational in my perspective.

Earlier today, I conducted further testing. The weather this morning is characterised by a high level of luminosity and visibility.

All components were thoroughly cleaned, including the screen, sensor cover, and other parts. It should be noted that these components were not unclean to begin with.

When I started the engine when the "auto" lights were selected, no lights illuminated.

Obstruct the dashboard sensor - lights will activate promptly.

Reveal it. The lights remain illuminated.

Activate the forward or backward gear and proceed with the movement of the car. The lights remain illuminated.

Toggle the car's operating state from "on" to "off" and then back to "auto". The lights remain switched off. Obstructing the sensor will activate the lights, which will remain illuminated until the obstruction is removed.

Presently indecisive on whether to contemplate replacing the automobile or the spouse. Alternatively, it is worth noting that despite a few minor flaws, I have been pleasantly surprised by the car's performance and overall satisfaction for the almost 2 years that I have had it.

It is reassuring to learn that training may provide positive results for some individuals...

I propose that she regards the illumination choice as manually operated lights with an unconventional and, for her, insignificant initial position that she should disregard.

A few days ago, as I was driving and she was in the passenger seat, we were on a familiar route for a brief night journey. Once again, she asked me about the functioning of the Auto-Mainbeam feature. Alternatively, it might be described as a vehement criticism of its lack of usefulness due to its failure to maintain its settings after each journey.

Considering that the most recent instance I can remember of her driving at night was a year ago, and it was on roads that did not need the use of Main Beam lights, I am perplexed by her current interest. The issue I have is that when I am using the function and she, in her role as a passenger, chooses to provide feedback on it, I find myself in a predicament where I am compelled to formulate a response. Typically, I provide an explanation of the underlying logic of the system and its inherent limitations. However, such approach seldom proves effective in addressing her viewpoints over the feature. Once she is retrained to bypass the Auto Lights option, she will no longer need to worry about this function.

We have determined that her xCeed is afraid of darkness. While it is true that we turn off our lights when there are no obstructions such as overhanging trees or highway flyovers, other drivers may see our behaviour as foolish, constantly switching our lights on and off. Resembling a karate film.

That is the reason why I do not like automatic lighting.