Get Driving Your Vehicle -> All wheel drive (AWD) Guide for Hyundai Kona SUV Second Generation (2023-2026)

All Wheel Drive (AWD)

if equipped

Type A

2C_4WDLockButton

Type B

2C_4WDLockButton_2

The All wheel drive (AWD) system delivers engine power to all front and rear wheels

for maximum traction. AWD is useful when extra traction is required on roads such as

slippery, muddy, wet, or snow-covered roads.

AWD may also be used for occasional off-road use such as established unpaved roads and

trails. Always reduce the speed to a level that is appropriate for those conditions.

350 Driving Your Vehicle

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:

• Do not drive in conditions that exceed the vehicle's intended design such as

challenging off-road conditions.

• Avoid high speeds when cornering or turning.

• Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp lane changes or fast,

sharp turns.

• The risk of a rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of your vehicle at highway

speeds.

• Loss of control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the roadway and the driver

over steers to reenter the roadway.

• In the event your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow down

before pulling back into the travel lanes.

Information

• Do not drive in water if the water level is higher than the bottom of the vehicle.

• Check your brake condition once you are out of mud or water. Depress the brake pedal

several times as you move slowly until you feel normal braking condition return.

• Shorten your scheduled maintenance interval if you drive in off-road conditions such

as sand, mud, or water (refer to the "Maintenance under severe usage and low mileage

conditions" section in Chapter 9).

• Always wash your vehicle thoroughly after off-road use, especially the bottom of the

vehicle.

• Make sure that a full time AWD vehicle is towed by a flat-bed tow truck.

All wheel drive (AWD) mode

All wheel drive (AWD) mode selection

Transfer

mode

Selection button

Indicator light

Description

• AWD Auto is used when driving

on roads in normal conditions,

roads in urban areas, and on

highways.

•

All wheels are in operation

when your vehicle travels at

a constant speed. Required

traction forces on front

AWD AUTO

(AWD LOCK

is

deactivated)

and rear wheels may differ

depending on road conditions

and driving conditions, which

are automatically controlled by

the system.

Driving Your Vehicle 351

Transfer

mode

Selection button

Indicator light

Description

•

The cluster displays how the

four wheels' traction forces are

distributed.

AWD Lock mode maximizes

the vehicle's traction under

extreme driving conditions

such as unpaved off-road,

sandy roads, and muddy roads.

• AWD Lock mode operates only

when travelling at 37 mph (60

km/h) or less. When traveling

over 37 mph (60 km/h), the

mode switches to AWD Auto.

AWD LOCK

•

When AWD Lock mode

illuminates, the cluster

does not display the front/

rear wheel traction force

distribution status.

•

Press the AWD Lock mode

switch again to switch back to

AWD Auto.

WARNING

If the AWD (

) warning light stays illuminated on the instrument cluster, your

vehicle may have a malfunction with the AWD system. Have the vehicle inspected by an

authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.

NOTICE

• Maintain the AWD Auto mode when driving on roads in normal conditions.

• Driving on normal roads with the AWD Lock mode on, especially when cornering may

cause mechanical noise or vibration. Driving in this mode for prolonged periods may

damage parts of the power train. The noise and vibration disappear when the AWD

Lock mode is deactivated.

Information

When the AWD Lock mode is deactivated, a sensation may be felt as the driving power is

delivered entirely to the front wheels.

Auto AWD mode (Normal driving)

If the AWD system determines there is a need for all wheel drive, the engine's driving

power is distributes to all four wheels automatically.

352 Driving Your Vehicle

For safe AWD operation

Before driving

Make sure all passengers always wear their seat belts.

Driving on snow-covered or icy roads

• Start off slowly by applying the accelerator pedal gently.

• Use snow tires or tire chains.

• Keep a sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.

• Use engine braking during deceleration.

• Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns to

prevent skids.

Driving in sand or mud

• Maintain slow and constant speeds.

• Use tire chains when driving in mud if necessary.

• Keep a sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.

• Reduce the vehicle speed and always check the road condition.

• Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns to

prevent getting stuck.

Information

When the vehicle is stuck in snow, sand, or mud, place a non-slip material under the drive

wheels to provide traction or slowly spin the wheels in forward and reverse causing a

rocking motion that may free the vehicle. Avoid running the engine continuously at high

RPM to prevent damage to the AWD system.

Driving up or down hills

• Driving uphill

- Before starting off, check if it is possible to drive uphill.

- Drive as straight as possible.

• Driving downhill

- Do not change gears while driving downhill. Select a gear before driving downhill.

- Drive slowly when using engine braking while driving downhill.

- Drive straight as possible.

WARNING

• Exercise extreme caution driving up or down steep hills. The vehicle may roll over in the

grade, terrain, and water/ mud conditions.

• Do not drive across steep hills. A slight change in the wheel angle may destabilize the

vehicle. A stable vehicle may lose stability if the vehicle stops its forward motion. Your

vehicle may roll over, resulting in a serious injury or death.

Driving Your Vehicle 353

Driving through water

• Try to avoid driving in deep standing water. It may stall your engine and clog your

exhaust pipes.

• If you need to drive in water, stop your vehicle, set the vehicle in AWD Lock mode, and

drive under 5 mph (8 km/h).

• Do not change gears while driving in water.

Additional driving conditions

• Become familiar with the off-road conditions before driving.

• Always pay attention when driving off-road and avoid dangerous areas.

• Drive slowly when driving in heavy wind.

• Reduce vehicle speed when cornering. The center of gravity of AWD vehicles is higher

than conventional 2WD vehicles. The vehicle is more likely to roll over if you turn the

steering wheel too quickly.

• Always hold the steering wheel firmly when you are driving off-road.

WARNING

Do not grab the inside of the steering wheel when you are driving off-road. You may

hurt your arm by a sudden steering maneuver or from steering wheel rebound due to an

impact with objects on the ground. You may lose control of the steering wheel that may

lead to serious injury or death.

Emergency precautions

Tires

Do not use tires or wheels with different size and type from the one installed on your

vehicle. It may affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could cause

steering failure or rollover causing serious injury.

When replacing the tires, be sure to equip all four tires with the same size, type,

tread, brand, and load carrying capacity. If you equip your vehicle with any tire/wheel

combination not recommended by HYUNDAI for off-road driving, do not use these tires

for highway driving.

WARNING

Never start or run the engine while a full-time AWD vehicle is raised on a jack. The vehicle

may slip or roll off of a jack causing serious injury or death.

Towing

AWD vehicles must be towed with all the wheels off the ground. For more information,

refer to the "Towing" section in Chapter 8.

Dynamometer testing

A full time AWD vehicle must be tested on a special four wheel chassis dynamometer.

354 Driving Your Vehicle

2C_4WDTestCautionLabel

[A] Roll tester (Speedometer)

[B] Temporary free roller

If a 2WD roll tester must be used:

1

Check the tire pressures recommended for your vehicle.

2 Place the front wheels on the roll tester for a speedometer test as shown in the

illustration.

3 Release the parking brake.

4 Place the rear wheels on the temporary free roller as shown in the illustration.

NOTICE

• Never engage the parking brake while performing the test.

• When the vehicle is lifted up, do not operate the front and rear wheel separately. All

four wheels should be operated.

WARNING

Keep away from the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is in gear on the dynamometer.

The vehicle may jump forward and cause serious injury or death.

Driving Your Vehicle 355

Driving Your Vehicle -> All wheel drive (AWD) for Your Hyundai Kona SUV Second Generation (2023-2026)

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