2011-2016 Kia Sportage SUV Driving your vehicle User Manual
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Driving your vehicle for Your Kia Sportage SUV Third Generation (2011-2016)

Before driving / 5-3  
Key positions / 5-4  
Engine start/Stop button / 5-7  
Manual transaxle / 5-12  
Automatic transaxle5-15  
Four wheel drive (4WD) / 5-21  
Brake system / 5-27  
Cruise control system / 5-40  
Economical operation / 5-44  
Special driving conditions / 5-46  
Winter driving / 5-51  
Driving your vehicle  
5
Trailer towing / 5-54  
Vehicle load limit / 5-63  
Vehicle weight glossary / 5-68  
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Driving your vehicle  
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WARNING - ENGINE EXHAUST CAN BE DANGEROUS!  
Engine exhaust fumes can be extremely dangerous. If, at any time, you smell exhaust fumes inside the vehicle, open the win-  
dows immediately.  
• Do not inhale exhaust fumes.  
Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can cause unconsciousness and death by asphyxia-  
tion.  
• Be sure the exhaust system does not leak.  
The exhaust system should be checked whenever the vehicle is raised to change the oil or for any other purpose. If you hear  
a change in the sound of the exhaust or if you drive over something that strikes the underneath side of the car, have the  
exhaust system checked as soon as possible by an authorized Kia dealer.  
• Do not run the engine in an enclosed area.  
Letting the engine idle in your garage, even with the garage door open, is a hazardous practice. Never run the engine in your  
garage any longer than it takes to start the engine and back the car out.  
• Avoid idling the engine for prolonged periods with people inside the car.  
If it is necessary to idle the engine for a prolonged period with people inside the car, be sure to do so only in an open area  
with the air intake set at "Fresh" and fan operating at one of the higher speeds so fresh air is drawn into the interior.  
If you must drive with the tailgate open because you are carrying objects that make this necessary:  
1. Close all windows.  
2. Open side vents.  
3. Set the air intake control at "Fresh", the air flow control at "Floor" or "Face" and the fan at one of the higher speeds.  
To assure proper operation of the ventilation system, be sure the ventilation air intakes located just in front of the windshield are  
kept clear of snow, ice, leaves or other obstructions.  
5 2  
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Driving your vehicle  
BEFORE DRIVING  
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E020300AHM  
Before entering vehicle  
• Be sure that all windows, outside mir-  
ror(s), and outside lights are clean.  
• Check the condition of the tires.  
• Check under the vehicle for any sign of  
leaks.  
Before starting  
• Close and lock all doors.  
• Position the seat so that all controls are  
easily reached.  
• Adjust the inside and outside rearview  
mirrors.  
• Be sure that all lights work.  
• Check all gauges.  
• Check the operation of warning lights  
when the ignition switch is turned to  
the ON position.  
• Release the parking brake and make  
sure the brake warning light goes out.  
WARNING - Driving under  
the influence of alcohol or  
drugs  
Drinking and driving is dangerous.  
Drunk driving is the number one  
contributor to the highway death  
toll each year. Even a small amount  
of alcohol will affect your reflexes,  
perceptions and judgment. Driving  
while under the influence of drugs  
is as dangerous or more dangerous  
than driving drunk.  
You are much more likely to have a  
serious accident if you drink or  
take drugs and drive.  
If you are drinking or taking drugs,  
don’t drive. Do not ride with a driv-  
er who has been drinking or taking  
drugs. Choose a designated driver  
or call a cab.  
• Be sure there are no obstacles behind  
you if you intend to back up.  
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Necessary inspections  
Fluid levels, such as engine oil, engine  
coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid  
should be checked on a regular basis, at  
the exact interval depending on the fluid.  
Further details are provided in section 7,  
“Maintenance”.  
For safe operation, be sure you are famil-  
iar with your vehicle and its equipment.  
WARNING  
WARNING  
All passengers must be properly  
belted whenever the vehicle is mov-  
ing. Refer to “Seat belts” in section  
3 for more information on their  
proper use.  
Driving while distracted can result in  
a loss of vehicle control, that may  
lead to an accident, severe personal  
injury, and death. The driver’s pri-  
mary responsibility is in the safe and  
legal operation of a vehicle, and use  
of any handheld devices, other  
equipment, or vehicle systems which  
take the driver’s eyes, attention and  
focus away from the safe operation  
of a vehicle or which are not permis-  
sible by law should never be used  
during operation of the vehicle.  
WARNING  
Always check the surrounding  
areas near your vehicle for people,  
especially children, before putting a  
car into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).  
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Driving your vehicle  
KEY POSITIONS (IF EQUIPPED)  
WARNING  
• When you intend to park or stop  
the vehicle with the engine on, be  
careful not to depress the accel-  
erator pedal for a long period of  
time. It may overheat the engine  
or exhaust system and ignite a  
fire.  
• When you make a sudden stop or  
turn the steering wheel rapidly,  
loose objects may drop on the  
floor and it could interfere with  
the operation of the foot pedals,  
possibly causing an accident.  
Keep all things in the vehicle  
safely stored.  
• If you do not focus on driving, it  
may cause an accident. Be care-  
ful when operating what may dis-  
turb driving such as audio or  
heater. It is the responsibility of  
the driver to always drive safely.  
OSL050001  
OXM059029N  
Illuminated ignition switch  
(if equipped)  
Ignition switch position  
E030201AUN  
Whenever a front door is opened, the  
ignition switch will illuminate for your con-  
venience, provided the ignition switch is  
not in the ON position.The light will go off  
immediately when the ignition switch is  
turned on. It will also go off after about 30  
seconds when the door is closed.  
LOCK  
The steering wheel locks to protect against  
theft (if equipped). The ignition key can be  
removed only in the LOCK position.  
When turning the ignition switch to the  
LOCK position, push the key inward at the  
ACC position and turn the key toward the  
LOCK position.  
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Driving your vehicle  
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(Continued)  
ACC (Accessory)  
START  
• Never reach for the ignition switch,  
or any other controls through the  
steering wheel while the vehicle is  
in motion. The presence of your  
hand or arm in this area could  
cause a loss of vehicle control, an  
accident and serious bodily injury  
or death.  
• Do not place any movable objects  
around the driver’s seat as they  
may move while driving, interfere  
with the driver and lead to an acci-  
dent.  
The steering wheel is unlocked and elec-  
trical accessories are operative.  
Turn the ignition switch to the START  
position to start the engine. The engine  
will crank until you release the key; then  
it returns to the ON position. The brake  
warning light can be checked in this posi-  
tion.  
✽
NOTICE  
If difficulty is experienced turning the  
ignition switch to the ACC position, turn  
the key while turning the steering wheel  
right and left to release the tension.  
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WARNING - Ignition  
switch  
ON  
The warning lights can be checked  
before the engine is started. This is the  
normal running position after the engine  
is started.  
Do not leave the ignition switch ON if the  
engine is not running to prevent battery  
discharge.  
• Never turn the ignition switch to  
LOCK or ACC while the vehicle is  
moving. This would result in loss  
of directional control and braking  
function, which could cause an  
accident.  
• The anti-theft steering column lock  
is not a substitute for the parking  
brake. Before leaving the driver’s  
seat, always make sure the shift  
lever is engaged in 1st gear for the  
manual transaxle or P (Park) for  
automatic transaxle, set the park-  
ing brake fully and shut the engine  
off. Unexpected and sudden vehi-  
cle movement may occur if these  
precautions are not taken.  
(Continued)  
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Driving your vehicle  
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1. Make sure the parking brake is  
applied.  
CAUTION  
Starting the engine  
If the engine stalls while you are in  
motion, do not attempt to move the  
shift lever to the P (Park) position. If  
traffic and road conditions permit,  
you may put the shift lever in the N  
(Neutral) position while the vehicle  
is still moving and turn the ignition  
switch to the START position in an  
attempt to restart the engine.  
2. Manual Transaxle - Depress the  
clutch pedal fully and shift the  
transaxle into Neutral. Keep the clutch  
pedal and brake pedal depressed  
while turning the ignition switch to the  
start position. The starter will not oper-  
ate if the clutch pedal is not fully  
depressed.  
WARNING  
Always wear appropriate shoes  
when operating your vehicle.  
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski  
boots,etc.) may interfere with your  
ability to use the brake and acceler-  
ator pedal, and the clutch (if  
equipped).  
Automatic Transaxle - Place the  
transaxle shift lever in P (Park).  
Depress the brake pedal fully.  
You can also start the engine when  
the shift lever is in the N (Neutral)  
position.  
CAUTION  
Do not engage the starter for more  
than 10 seconds. If the engine stalls  
or fails to start, wait 5 to 10 seconds  
before re-engaging the starter.  
Improper use of the starter may  
damage it.  
3. Turn the ignition switch to START and  
hold it there until the engine starts (a  
maximum of 10 seconds), then  
release the key.  
4. In extremely cold weather (below  
0°F / -18°C) or after the vehicle has  
not been operated for several days, let  
the engine warm up without depress-  
ing the accelerator.  
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it  
should be started without depressing  
the accelerator.  
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Driving your vehicle  
ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON (IF EQUIPPED)  
ENGINE START/STOP button  
CAUTION  
position  
You are able to turn off the engine  
(START/RUN) or vehicle power  
(ON), only when the vehicle is not in  
motion. In an emergency situation  
while the vehicle is in motion, you  
are able to turn the engine off and  
to the ACC position by pressing the  
ENGINE START/STOP button for  
more than 2 seconds or 3 times  
successively within 3 seconds. If  
the vehicle is still moving, you can  
restart the engine without depress-  
ing the brake pedal by pressing the  
ENGINE START/STOP button with  
the shift lever in the N (Neutral)  
position.  
OFF  
Not illuminated  
• With automatic transaxle  
To turn off the engine (START/RUN posi-  
tion) or vehicle power (ON position),  
press the ENGINE START/STOP button  
with the shift lever in the P (Park) posi-  
tion. When you press the ENGINE  
START/STOP button without the shift  
lever in the P (Park) position, the  
ENGINE START/STOP button will not  
change to the OFF position but to the  
ACC position.  
OSL050004  
Illuminated ENGINE START/STOP  
button  
Whenever the front door is opened, the  
ENGINE START/STOP button will illumi-  
nate for your convenience. The light will  
go off after about 30 seconds when the  
door is closed. It will also go off immedi-  
ately when the theft-alarm system is  
armed.  
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Driving your vehicle  
ACC(Accessory)  
ON  
START/RUN  
Orange indicator  
Green indicator  
Not illuminated  
• With automatic transaxle  
• With automatic transaxle  
• With automatic transaxle  
Press the ENGINE START/STOP button  
while it is in the OFF position without  
depressing the brake pedal.  
If the ENGINE START/STOP button is in  
the ACC position for more than 1 hour,  
the button is turned off automatically to  
prevent battery discharge.  
Press the ENGINE START/STOP button  
while it is in the ACC position without  
depressing the brake pedal.  
The warning lights can be checked  
before the engine is started. Do not leave  
the ENGINE START/STOP button in the  
ON position for a long time. The battery  
may discharge, because the engine is  
not running.  
To start the engine, depress the brake  
pedal and press the ENGINE START/  
STOP button with the shift lever in the P  
(Park) or the N (Neutral) position. For  
your safety, start the engine with the shift  
lever in the P (Park) position.  
✽
NOTICE  
If you press the ENGINE START/STOP  
button without depressing the brake  
pedal for automatic transaxle vehicles,  
the engine will not start and the ENGINE  
START/STOP button changes as follow:  
OFF ➔ACC ➔ ON ➔ OFF or ACC  
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Driving your vehicle  
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✽
NOTICE  
(Continued)  
Starting the engine with a smart  
key (if equipped)  
1. Carry the smart key or leave it inside  
the vehicle.  
2. Make sure the parking brake is firmly  
applied  
3. Automatic Transaxle - Place the  
transaxle shift lever in P (Park).  
Depress the brake pedal fully.  
4. Press the ENGINE START/STOP but-  
ton while depressing the brake pedal.  
5. In extremely cold weather (below  
-18°C (0°F)) or after the vehicle has  
not been operated for several days, let  
the engine warm up without depress-  
ing the accelerator.  
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it  
should be started without depressing the  
accelerator.  
If you leave the ENGINE START/ STOP  
button in the ACC or ON position for a  
long time, the battery will discharge.  
• Never reach for the ENGINE  
START/STOP button or any other  
controls through the steering  
wheel while the vehicle is in  
motion. The presence of your  
hand or arm in the area could  
cause loss of vehicle control, an  
accident and serious bodily  
injury or death.  
• Do not place any movable objects  
around the driver's seat as they  
may move while driving, interfere  
with the driver and lead to an  
accident.  
WARNING  
• Never press the ENGINE START/  
STOP button while the vehicle is  
in motion except in an emer-  
gency. If the engine stops while  
the vehicle is in motion, this  
would result in loss of directional  
control and braking function,  
which could cause an accident.  
• Before leaving the driver's seat,  
always make sure the shift lever  
is engaged in P (Park), set the  
parking brake fully and shut the  
engine off. Unexpected and sud-  
den vehicle movement may occur  
if these precautions are not  
taken.  
(Continued)  
5 9  
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Driving your vehicle  
• Even if the smart key is in the vehicle,  
if it is far away from you, the engine  
may not start.  
CAUTION  
WARNING  
The engine will start, only when the  
smart key is in the vehicle.  
Never allow children or any person  
who is unfamiliar with the vehicle  
touch the ENGINE START/STOP  
button or related parts.  
If the engine stalls while the vehicle  
is in motion, do not attempt to move  
the shift lever to the P (Park) posi-  
tion. If the traffic and road condi-  
tions permit, you may put the shift  
lever in the N (Neutral) position  
while the vehicle is still moving and  
press the ENGINE START/STOP  
button in an attempt to restart the  
engine.  
• When the ENGINE START/STOP but-  
ton is in the ACC position or above, if  
any door is opened, the system checks  
for the smart key. If the smart key is not  
in the vehicle, the "KEY OUT" indicator  
will blink. And if all doors are closed,  
the chime will sound for 5 seconds.The  
indicator or warning will turn off while  
the vehicle is moving. Always have the  
smart key with you.  
5 10  
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Driving your vehicle  
(Continued)  
• When the stop lamp fuse is blown, you  
can't start the engine normally.  
Replace the fuse with a new one. If it  
is not possible, you can start the  
engine by pressing the ENGINE  
START/STOP button for 10 seconds  
while it is in the ACC position. The  
engine can start without depressing  
the brake pedal. But for your safety  
always depress the brake pedal before  
starting the engine.  
OSL050006  
✽
NOTICE  
CAUTION  
• If the battery is weak or the smart key  
does not work correctly, you can start  
the engine by inserting the smart key  
in the smart key holder. When you  
pull out the smart key from the smart  
key holder, press the smart key and  
pull it out.  
Do not press the ENGINE START/  
STOP button for more than 10 sec-  
onds except when the stop lamp  
fuse is blown.  
(Continued)  
5 11  
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Driving your vehicle  
MANUAL TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)  
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CAUTION  
Manual transaxle operation  
• When downshifting from fifth  
gear to fourth gear, caution  
should be taken not to inadver-  
tently press the gear shift lever  
sideways in such a manner that  
second gear is engaged. Such a  
drastic downshift may cause the  
engine speed to increase to the  
point that the tachometer will  
enter the red-zone. Such over-  
revving of the engine may possi-  
bly cause engine damage.  
• Do not downshift more than 2  
gears or downshift the gear when  
the engine is running at high  
speed (5,000 RPM or higher).  
Such a downshifting may damage  
the engine.  
The manual transaxle has 6 forward  
gears.  
This shift pattern is imprinted on the shift  
knob. The transaxle is fully synchronized  
in all forward gears so shifting to either a  
higher or a lower gear is easily accom-  
plished.  
Press the clutch pedal down fully while  
shifting, then release it slowly.  
If your vehicle is equipped with an igni-  
tion lock switch, the engine will not start  
when starting the engine without  
depressing the clutch pedal. (if equipped)  
The gearshift lever must be returned to  
the neutral position before shifting into R  
(Reverse).  
The ring (1) located immediately below  
the shift knob must be pulled upward  
while moving the shift lever to the R posi-  
tion. (if equipped)  
The shift lever can be moved without pulling  
the R knob (1).  
The R knob (1) must be pulled up while  
moving the shift lever.  
OSL050008L  
E050000AUN  
Make sure the vehicle is completely  
stopped before shifting into R (Reverse).  
Never operate the engine with the  
tachometer (rpm) in the red zone.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E050101AUN  
• During cold weather, shifting may be  
difficult until the transaxle lubricant has  
warmed up. This is normal and not  
harmful to the transaxle.  
• If you've come to a complete stop and  
it's hard to shift into 1st or R (Reverse),  
put the shift lever in N (Neutral) posi-  
tion and release the clutch. Press the  
clutch pedal back down, and then shift  
into 1st or R (Reverse) gear position.  
Using the clutch  
WARNING  
The clutch should be pressed all the way  
to the floor before shifting, then released  
slowly.The clutch pedal should always be  
fully released while driving. Do not rest  
your foot on the clutch pedal while driv-  
ing. This can cause unnecessary wear.  
Do not partially engage the clutch to hold  
the car on an incline. This causes unnec-  
essary wear. Use the foot brake or park-  
ing brake to hold the car on an incline. Do  
not operate the clutch pedal rapidly and  
repeatedly.  
• Before leaving the driver’s seat,  
always set the parking brake fully  
and shut the engine off. Then  
make sure the transaxle is shifted  
into 1st gear when the vehicle is  
parked on a level or uphill grade,  
and shifted into R (Reverse) on a  
downhill grade. Unexpected and  
sudden vehicle movement can  
occur if these precautions are not  
followed in the order identified.  
CAUTION  
• To avoid premature clutch wear  
and damage, do not drive with  
your foot resting on the clutch  
pedal. Also, don’t use the clutch  
to hold the vehicle stopped on an  
uphill grade, while waiting for a  
traffic light, etc.  
• If your vehicle has a manual  
transaxle not equipped with a  
ignition lock switch, it may move  
and cause a serious accident  
when starting the engine without  
depressing the clutch pedal while  
the parking brake is released and  
the shift lever not in the N (neu-  
tral) position.  
E050102AUN  
Downshifting  
When you must slow down in heavy traf-  
fic or while driving up steep hills, down-  
shift before the engine starts to labor.  
Downshifting reduces the chance of  
stalling and gives better acceleration  
when you again need to increase your  
speed. When the vehicle is traveling  
down steep hills, downshifting helps  
maintain safe speed and prolongs brake  
life.  
• Do not use the shift lever as a  
handrest during driving, as this  
can result in premature wear of  
the transaxle shift forks.  
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Driving your vehicle  
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• Exercise extreme caution when driving  
on a slippery surface. Be especially  
careful when braking, accelerating or  
shifting gears. On a slippery surface,  
an abrupt change in vehicle speed can  
cause the drive wheels to lose traction  
and the vehicle to go out of control.  
Good driving practices  
WARNING  
• Always buckle-up! In a collision,  
an unbelted occupant is signifi-  
cantly more likely to be seriously  
injured or killed than a properly  
belted occupant.  
• Never take the vehicle out of gear and  
coast down a hill. This is extremely  
hazardous. Always leave the vehicle in  
gear.  
• Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause  
them to overheat and malfunction.  
Instead, when you are driving down a  
long hill, slow down and shift to a lower  
gear. When you do this, engine braking  
will help slow down the vehicle.  
• Avoid high speeds when corner-  
ing or turning.  
• Do not make quick steering  
wheel movements, such as sharp  
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.  
• Slow down before shifting to a lower  
gear. This will help avoid over-revving  
the engine, which can cause damage.  
• The risk of rollover is greatly  
increased if you lose control of  
your vehicle at highway speeds.  
• Slow down when you encounter cross  
winds. This gives you much better con-  
trol of your vehicle.  
• Be sure the vehicle is completely  
stopped before you attempt to shift into  
reverse. The transaxle can be dam-  
aged if you do not.To shift into reverse,  
depress the clutch, move the shift lever  
to neutral, then shift to the reverse  
position.  
• 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.  
• Never exceed posted speed lim-  
its.  
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Driving your vehicle  
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)  
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Automatic transaxle operation  
The automatic transaxle has 6 forward  
speeds and one reverse speed. The indi-  
vidual speeds are selected automatically,  
depending on the position of the shift  
lever.  
Shift lever  
Button  
✽
NOTICE  
+ (UP)  
The first few shifts on a new vehicle, if  
the battery has been disconnected, may  
be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal  
condition, and the shifting sequence will  
adjust after shifts are cycled a few times  
by the TCM (Transaxle Control  
Module) or PCM (Powertrain Control  
Module).  
- (DOWN)  
To shift, depress the brake pedal and press the button when the ignition switch  
is in the ON position.  
Press the button when shifting.  
The shift lever can be shifted freely.  
OSL050009L  
E060000AAM-EU  
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Driving your vehicle  
E060101AAM  
For smooth operation, depress the brake  
pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to a  
forward or reverse gear.  
CAUTION  
Transaxle ranges  
• To avoid damage to your  
transaxle, do not accelerate the  
engine in R (Reverse) or any for-  
ward gear position with the  
brakes on.  
The indicator in the instrument cluster  
displays the shift lever position when the  
ignition switch is in the ON position.  
WARNING - Automatic  
transaxle  
• Always check the surrounding  
areas near your vehicle for peo-  
ple, especially children, before  
shifting the shift lever into D  
(Drive) or R (Reverse).  
P (Park)  
• When stopped on an incline, do  
not hold the vehicle with the  
engine power. Use the service  
brake or the parking brake.  
Always come to a complete stop before  
shifting into P (Park). This position locks  
the transaxle and prevents the drive  
wheels from rotating.  
• Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P  
• Before leaving the driver’s seat,  
always make sure the shift lever  
is in the P (Park) position; then  
set the parking brake fully and  
shut the engine off. Unexpected  
and sudden vehicle movement  
can occur if these precautions  
are not followed in the order iden-  
tified.  
(Park) into  
(Reverse) when the engine is  
above idle speed.  
D
(Drive), or  
R
WARNING  
• Shifting into P (Park) while the  
vehicle is in motion will cause the  
drive wheels to lock which will  
cause you to lose control of the  
vehicle.  
• Do not use the P (Park) position  
in place of the parking brake.  
Always make sure the shift lever  
is latched in the P (Park) position  
and set the parking brake fully.  
• Never leave a child unattended in  
a vehicle.  
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Driving your vehicle  
N (Neutral)  
CAUTION  
The transaxle may be damaged if  
you shift into P (Park) while the  
vehicle is in motion.  
The wheels and transaxle are not  
engaged. The vehicle will roll freely even  
on the slightest incline unless the parking  
brake or service brakes are applied.  
D (Drive)  
R (Reverse)  
This is the normal forward driving posi-  
tion. The transaxle will automatically shift  
through a 6-gear sequence, providing the  
best fuel economy and power.  
Use this position to drive the vehicle  
backward.  
Sports  
mode  
CAUTION  
Always come to a complete stop  
before shifting into or out of R  
(Reverse); you may damage the  
OSL050011  
For extra power when passing another  
vehicle or climbing grades, depress the  
accelerator fully, at which time the  
transaxle will automatically downshift to  
the next lower gear.  
Sports mode  
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in  
motion, sports mode is selected by push-  
ing the shift lever from the D (Drive) posi-  
tion into the manual gate. To return to D  
(Drive) range operation, push the shift  
lever back into the main gate.  
transaxle if you shift into  
R
(Reverse) while the vehicle is in  
motion, except when “Rocking the  
vehicle” explained in this section.  
✽
NOTICE  
Always come to a complete stop before  
shifting into D (Drive).  
In sports mode, moving the shift lever  
backwards and forwards will allow you to  
make gearshifts rapidly. In contrast to a  
manual transaxle, the sports mode  
allows gearshifts with the accelerator  
pedal depressed.  
Up (+) : Push the lever forward once to  
shift up one gear.  
Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards once  
to shift down one gear.  
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Driving your vehicle  
Shift lock system  
✽
NOTICE  
For your safety, the automatic transaxle  
has a shift lock system which prevents  
shifting the transaxle from P (Park) or N  
(Neutral) into R (Reverse) unless the  
brake pedal is depressed.  
To shift the transaxle from P (Park) or N  
(Neutral) into R (Reverse):  
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.  
2. Start the engine or turn the ignition  
switch to the ON position.  
3. Depress the lock release button and  
move the shift lever.  
If the brake pedal is repeatedly  
depressed and released with the shift  
lever in the P (Park) position, a chattering  
noise near the shift lever may be heard. It  
is a normal condition.  
• In sports mode, the driver must exe-  
cute upshifts in accordance with road  
conditions, taking care to keep the  
engine speed below the red zone.  
• In sports mode, only the 6 forward  
gears can be selected. To reverse or  
park the vehicle, move the shift lever  
to the R (Reverse) or P (Park) position  
as required.  
• In sports mode, downshifts are made  
automatically when the vehicle slows  
down. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear  
is automatically selected.  
• In sports mode, when the engine rpm  
approaches the red zone shift points  
are varied to upshift automatically.  
• To maintain the required levels of  
vehicle performance and safety, the  
system may not execute certain  
gearshifts when the shift lever is oper-  
ated.  
• When driving on a slippery road,  
push the shift lever forward into the  
+(up) position. This causes the  
transaxle to shift into the 2nd gear  
which is better for smooth driving on  
a slippery road. Push the shift lever to  
the -(down) side to shift back to the 1st  
gear.  
OSL050010N  
Shift-lock override  
If the shift lever cannot be moved from  
the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position into R  
(Reverse) position with the brake pedal  
depressed, continue depressing the  
brake, then do the following:  
1. Carefully remove the cap covering the  
shift-lock access hole (1).  
2. Insert a key (or screwdriver) into the  
access hole and press down on the  
key (or screwdriver).  
3. Depress the lock release button (2)  
and move the shift lever.  
WARNING  
Always fully depress the brake  
pedal before and while shifting out  
of the P (Park) position into anoth-  
er position to avoid inadvertent  
motion of the vehicle which could  
injure persons in or around the  
vehicle.  
4. Have your vehicle inspected by an  
authorized Kia dealer immediately.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E060103AHM  
E060200AAM  
• Always use the parking brake. Do not  
depend on placing the transaxle in P  
(Park) to keep the vehicle from moving.  
• Exercise extreme caution when driving  
on a slippery surface. Be especially  
careful when braking, accelerating or  
shifting gears. On a slippery surface,  
an abrupt change in vehicle speed can  
cause the drive wheels to lose traction  
and the vehicle to go out of control.  
Ignition key interlock system  
Good driving practices  
The ignition key cannot be removed  
unless the shift lever is in the P (Park)  
position. Even if the ignition switch is in  
the LOCK position, the key also cannot  
be removed.  
If your vehicle is equipped with ENGINE  
START/STOP button, the button will not  
change to the OFF position unless the  
shift lever is in the P (Park) position.  
• Never move the gear shift lever from P  
(Park) or N (Neutral) to any other posi-  
tion with the accelerator pedal  
depressed.  
• Never move the gear shift lever into P  
(Park) when the vehicle is in motion.  
• Be sure the vehicle is completely  
stopped before you attempt to shift into  
R (Reverse) or D (Drive).  
• Never take the vehicle out of gear and  
coast down  
extremely hazardous. Always leave the  
car in gear when moving.  
• Optimum vehicle performance and  
economy is obtained by smoothly  
depressing and releasing the accelera-  
tor pedal.  
a
hill. This may be  
• Do not "ride" the brakes. This can  
cause them to overheat and malfunc-  
tion. Instead, when you are driving  
down a long hill, slow down and shift to  
a lower gear. When you do this, engine  
braking will help slow down the car.  
• Slow down before shifting to a lower  
gear. Otherwise, the lower gear may  
not be engaged.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E060203AUN  
Moving up a steep grade from a stand-  
ing start  
WARNING  
WARNING  
• Always buckle-up! In a collision,  
an unbelted occupant is signifi-  
cantly more likely to be seriously  
injured or killed than a properly  
belted occupant.  
If your vehicle becomes stuck in  
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you  
may attempt to rock the vehicle free  
by moving it forward and backward.  
Do not attempt this procedure if  
people or objects are anywhere  
near the vehicle. During the rocking  
operation the vehicle may suddenly  
move forward of backward as it  
becomes unstuck, causing injury  
or damage to nearby people or  
objects.  
To move up a steep grade from a stand-  
ing start, depress the brake pedal, shift  
the shift lever to D (Drive). Select the  
appropriate gear depending on load  
weight and steepness of the grade, and  
release the parking brake. Depress the  
accelerator gradually while releasing the  
service brakes.  
When accelerating from a stop on a  
steep hill, the vehicle may have a ten-  
dency to roll backwards. Shifting the  
shift lever into 2 (Second Gear) will  
help prevent the vehicle from rolling  
backwards.  
• Avoid high speeds when corner-  
ing or turning.  
• Do not make quick steering  
wheel movements, such as sharp  
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.  
• The risk of 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.  
• Never exceed posted speed lim-  
its.  
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Driving your vehicle  
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)  
Engine power can be delivered to all front  
and rear wheels for maximum traction.  
Tight corner brake effect  
WARNING - Off road driving  
4WD is useful when extra traction is  
required on road, such as, when driving  
on slippery, muddy, wet, or snow-covered  
roads. These vehicles are not designed  
for challenging off-road use. Occasional  
off-road use such as established  
unpaved roads and trails are OK. It is  
always important when traveling off-high-  
way that the driver carefully reduces the  
speed to a level that does not exceed the  
safe operating speed for those condi-  
tions. In general, off-road conditions pro-  
vide less traction and braking effective-  
ness than normal road conditions. The  
driver must be especially alert to avoid  
driving on slopes which tilt the vehicle to  
either side.  
This vehicle is designed primarily  
for on road use although it can oper-  
ate effectively off road. However, it  
was not designed to drive in chal-  
lenging off-road conditions. Driving  
in conditions that exceed the vehi-  
cle's intended design or the driver's  
experience level may result in  
severe injury or death.  
CAUTION - 4WD  
When turning sharply on a paved  
road at low speed while in four-  
wheel drive, steering control will be  
difficult.  
Tight corner brake effect is a unique  
characteristic of four-wheel drive vehicles  
caused by the difference in tire rotation at  
the four wheels and the zero-degree  
alignment of the front wheels and sus-  
pension.  
WARNING  
If the 4WD system warning light  
Sharp turns at low speeds should be car-  
ried out with caution.  
(
) illuminates, this indicates that  
there is a malfunction in the 4WD  
system.  
These factors must be carefully consid-  
ered when driving off-road. Keeping the  
vehicle in contact with the driving surface  
and under control in these conditions is  
always the driver's responsibility for the  
safety of him/herself and his or her pas-  
sengers.  
If this occurs, have your vehicle  
checked by an authorized Kia deal-  
er as soon as possible.  
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Driving your vehicle  
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) transfer mode selection  
Transfer mode  
Selection button  
Indicator light  
Description  
• When driving in 4WD AUTO mode, the vehicle operates sim-  
ilar to conventional 2WD vehicles under normal operating  
conditions. However, if the system determines that there is a  
need for the 4WD mode, the engine’s driving power is dis-  
tributed to all four wheels automatically without driver inter-  
vention.  
4WD AUTO  
(4WD LOCK is  
deactivated)  
(Indicator light is  
not illuminated)  
• When driving on normal roads and pavement, the vehicle  
moves similar to conventional 2WD vehicles.  
• This mode is used for climbing or descending sharp grades,  
off-road driving, driving on sandy and muddy roads, etc., to  
maximize traction.  
• This mode automatically begins to deactivate at speeds  
above 30 km/h (19 mph) and is shifted to 4WD AUTO mode  
at speed above 40 km/h (25 mph). If the vehicle decelerates  
to speeds below approximate 40 km/h (25 mph), however,  
the transfer mode is shifted into 4WD LOCK mode again.  
4WD LOCK  
(Indicator light is  
illuminated)  
✽
NOTICE  
• When driving on normal roads, deactivate the 4WD LOCK mode by pushing the 4WD LOCK button (the indicator light goes  
off). Driving on normal roads with 4WD LOCK mode (especially, when cornering) may cause mechanical noise or vibration.  
The noise and vibration will disappear when the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated. Some parts of the power train may be dam-  
aged by prolonged driving with the noise and vibration.  
• When the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated, a shock may be felt as the drive power is delivered entirely to the front wheels.  
This shock is not a mechanical failure.  
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Driving your vehicle  
For safe four-wheel drive opera-  
tion  
WARNING - Four-wheel  
driving  
The conditions of on-road or off-  
road that demand four-wheel drive  
mean all functions of your vehicle  
are exposed to extreme stress than  
under normal road conditions. Slow  
down and be ready for changes in  
the composition and traction of the  
surface under your tires. If you  
have any doubt about the safety of  
the conditions you are facing, stop  
and consider the best way to pro-  
ceed. Do not exceed the ability of  
yourself or your vehicle to operate  
safely.  
HILL1  
HILL2  
• When you are driving up or down hills  
drive as straight as possible. Use  
extreme caution in going up or down  
steep hills, since you may flip your  
vehicle over depending on the grade,  
terrain and water/mud conditions.  
WARNING - Hills  
Driving across the contour of steep  
hills can be extremely dangerous.  
This danger can come from slight  
changes in the wheel angle which  
can destabilize the vehicle or, even  
if the vehicle is maintaining stabili-  
ty under power, it can lose that sta-  
bility if the vehicle stops its forward  
motion. Your vehicle may roll over  
without warning and without time  
for you to correct a mistake that  
could cause serious injury or  
death.  
• Do not try to drive in deep standing  
water or mud since such conditions  
can stall your engine and clog your  
exhaust pipes. Do not drive down  
steep hills since it requires extreme  
skill to maintain control of the vehicle.  
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Driving your vehicle  
• You must consciously take the effort to  
learn how to corner in a 4WD vehicle.  
Do not rely on your experience in con-  
ventional 2WD vehicles in choosing  
safe cornering speed in 4WD mode.  
For starters, you must drive more slow-  
ly in 4WD.  
• Drive carefully off-road because your  
vehicle may be damaged by rocks or  
roots of trees. Become familiar with the  
off-road conditions where you are  
going to drive before you begin driving.  
WARNING - Wind danger  
If you are driving in heavy wind, the  
vehicle's higher center of gravity  
decreases your steering control  
capacity and requires you to drive  
more slowly.  
• If you need to drive in the water, stop  
your vehicle, set your transfer to the  
4WD LOCK mode and drive at less  
than 8 km/h (5 mph).  
OXM059027N  
WARNING - 4WD  
WARNING - Steering  
WARNING - Driving  
through water  
Reduce speed when you turn cor-  
ners. The center of gravity of 4WD  
vehicles is higher than that of con-  
ventional 2WD vehicles, making  
them more likely to roll over when  
you turn corners too fast.  
wheel  
Do not grab the inside of the steer-  
ing wheel when you are driving off-  
road. You may hurt your arm by a  
sudden steering maneuver or from  
steering wheel rebound due to  
impact with objects on the ground.  
You could lose control of the steer-  
ing wheel.  
Drive slowly. If you are driving too  
fast in water, the water can get into  
the engine compartment and wet  
the ignition system, causing your  
vehicle to suddenly stop. If this  
happens and your vehicle is in a  
tilted position, your vehicle may roll  
over.  
• Always hold the steering wheel firmly  
when you are driving off-road.  
• Make sure all passengers are wearing  
seat belts.  
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Driving your vehicle  
✽
NOTICE  
WARNING - 4WD driving  
• Avoid high cornering speed.  
• Do not make quick steering  
wheel movements, such as sharp  
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.  
• The risk of rollover is greatly  
increased if you lose control of  
your vehicle at high speed.  
• In a collision, an unbelted person  
is significantly more likely to die  
compared to a person wearing a  
seat belt.  
• Loss of control often occurs if  
two or more wheels drop off the  
roadway and the driver over-  
steers to re-enter the roadway. In  
the event your vehicle leaves the  
roadway, do not steer sharply.  
Instead, slow down before pulling  
back into the travel lanes.  
WARNING - Jacked vehicle  
• Do not drive in water if the level is  
higher than the bottom of the vehicle.  
• Check your brake condition once you  
are out of mud or water. Press the  
brake pedal several times as you move  
slowly until you feel normal braking  
forces return.  
• Shorten your scheduled maintenance  
interval if you drive in off-road condi-  
tions such as sand, mud or water (see  
“Maintenance under severe usage  
conditions” in section 7). Always wash  
your vehicle thoroughly after off-road  
use, especially cleaning the bottom of  
the vehicle.  
• Since the driving torque is always  
applied to the 4 wheels the perform-  
ance of the 4WD vehicle is greatly  
affected by the condition of the tires.  
Be sure to equip the vehicle with four  
tires of the same size and type.  
While the full-time 4WD vehicle is  
being raised on a jack, never start  
the engine or cause the tires to  
rotate.  
There is the danger that rotating  
tires touching the ground could  
cause the vehicle to go off the jack  
and to jump forward.  
• A full time four wheel drive vehicle  
cannot be towed by an ordinary tow  
truck. Make sure that the vehicle is  
placed on a flat bed truck for moving.  
CAUTION - Mud or snow  
If one of the front or rear wheels  
begins to spin in mud, snow, etc.  
the vehicle can sometimes be driv-  
en out by depressing the accelera-  
tor pedal further; however avoid  
running the engine continuously at  
high rpm because doing so could  
damage the 4WD system.  
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Driving your vehicle  
• Full-time 4WD vehicles must be tested  
on a special four wheel chassis  
dynamometer.  
WARNING - Dynamometer  
testing  
Keep away from the front of the  
vehicle while the vehicle is in gear  
on the dynamometer. This is very  
dangerous as the vehicle can jump  
forward and cause serious injury or  
death.  
✽
NOTICE  
Never engage the parking brake while  
performing these tests.  
Temporary free roller  
OXM059025  
• A full-time 4WD vehicle should not be  
tested on a 2WD roll tester. If a 2WD  
roll tester must be used, perform the  
following:  
Roll tester (speedometer)  
1. Check the tire pressures recommend-  
ed for your vehicle.  
2. Place the front wheels on the roll  
tester for a speedometer test as shown  
in the illustration.  
CAUTION  
• When lifting up the vehicle, do not  
operate front and rear wheel sep-  
arately. All four wheels should be  
operated.  
3. Release the parking brake.  
• If you need to operate the front  
wheel and rear wheel when lifting  
up the vehicle, you should  
release the parking brake.  
4. Place the rear wheels on the tempo-  
rary free roller as shown in the illustra-  
tion.  
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Driving your vehicle  
BRAKE SYSTEM  
E070100AHM  
E070101AUN  
(Continued)  
In the event of brake failure  
Power brakes  
• When descending a long or steep  
hill, shift to a lower gear and  
avoid continuous application of  
the brakes. Continuous brake  
application will cause the brakes  
to overheat and could result in a  
temporary loss of braking per-  
formance.  
• Wet brakes may impair the vehi-  
cle’s ability to safely slow down;  
the vehicle may also pull to one  
side when the brakes are applied.  
Applying the brakes lightly will  
indicate whether they have been  
affected in this way. Always test  
your brakes in this fashion after  
driving through deep water. To  
dry the brakes, apply them lightly  
while maintaining a safe forward  
speed until brake performance  
returns to normal.  
If service brakes fail to operate while the  
vehicle is in motion, you can make an  
emergency stop with the parking brake.  
The stopping distance, however, will be  
much greater than normal.  
Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes  
that adjust automatically through normal  
usage.  
In the event that the power-assisted  
brakes lose power because of a stalled  
engine or some other reason, you can  
still stop your vehicle by applying greater  
force to the brake pedal than you nor-  
mally would. The stopping distance, how-  
ever, will be longer.  
When the engine is not running, the  
reserve brake power is partially depleted  
each time the brake pedal is applied. Do  
not pump the brake pedal when the  
power assist has been interrupted.  
Pump the brake pedal only when neces-  
sary to maintain steering control on slip-  
pery surfaces.  
WARNING - Parking brake  
Applying the parking brake while  
the vehicle is moving at normal  
speeds can cause a sudden loss of  
control of the vehicle. If you must  
use the parking brake to stop the  
vehicle, use great caution in apply-  
ing the brake.  
CAUTION  
Do not operate the parking brake  
while the vehicle is moving except  
in an emergency situation. It could  
damage the vehicle system and  
make endanger driving safety.  
WARNING - Brakes  
• Always, confirm the position of  
the brake and accelerator pedal  
before driving. If you don’t check  
the position of the accelerator  
and brake pedal before driving,  
you may depress the accelerator  
instead of the brake pedal. It may  
cause a serious accident.  
• Do not drive with your foot rest-  
ing on the brake pedal. This will  
create abnormal high brake tem-  
peratures, excessive brake lining  
and pad wear, and increased  
stopping distances.  
(Continued)  
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Driving your vehicle  
E070102AHM  
Disc brakes wear indicator  
When your brake pads are worn and new  
pads are required, you will hear a high-  
pitched warning sound from your front  
brakes or rear brakes. You may hear this  
sound come and go or it may occur  
whenever you depress the brake pedal.  
Please remember that some driving con-  
ditions or climates may cause a brake  
squeal when you first apply (or lightly  
apply) the brakes. This is normal and  
does not indicate a problem with your  
brakes.  
OSL050012  
OLM059014  
E070201AFD-SA  
Parking brake  
Applying the parking brake  
Foot type  
Hand type  
To engage the parking brake, first apply  
the foot brake and then without pressing  
the release button in, pull the parking  
brake lever up as far as possible.  
In addition it is recommended that when  
parking the vehicle on a gradient, the  
shift lever should be positioned in the  
appropriate low gear on manual  
transaxle vehicles.  
CAUTION  
• To avoid costly brake repairs, do  
not continue to drive with worn  
brake pads.  
• Always replace the front or rear  
brake pads as pairs.  
To engage the parking brake, first apply  
the foot brake and then depress the park-  
ing brake pedal down as far as possible.  
WARNING - Brake wear  
This brake wear warning sound  
means your vehicle needs service.  
If you ignore this audible warning,  
you will eventually lose braking  
performance, which could lead to a  
serious accident.  
CAUTION  
Driving with the parking brake  
applied will cause excessive brake  
pad and brake rotor wear.  
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Driving your vehicle  
WARNING  
• To prevent unintentional move-  
ment when stopped and leaving  
the vehicle, do not use the shift  
lever instead of the parking  
brake. Set the parking brake AND  
make sure the shift lever is  
securely positioned in 1st (First)  
gear or R (Reverse) for manual  
transaxle equipped vehicles and  
in  
P
(Park) for automatic  
OSL050014  
OLM059015  
transaxle equipped vehicles.  
E070202AFD-U1  
• Never allow anyone who is unfa-  
miliar with the vehicle to touch  
the parking brake. If the parking  
brake is released unintentionally,  
serious injury may occur.  
• All vehicles should always have  
the parking brake fully engaged  
when parking to avoid inadver-  
tent movement of the vehicle  
which can injure occupants or  
pedestrians.  
Releasing the parking brake  
Foot type  
To release the parking brake, depress  
the parking brake pedal a second time  
while applying the foot brake. The pedal  
will automatically extend to the fully  
released position.  
Hand type  
To release the parking brake, first apply  
the foot brake and pull up the parking  
brake lever slightly. Secondly press the  
release button (1) and lower the parking  
brake lever (2) while holding the button.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E070300AHM-EU  
(Continued)  
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)  
• On roads where the road surface  
is pitted or has different surface  
height.  
WARNING  
ABS (or ESC) will not prevent acci-  
dents due to improper or danger-  
ous driving maneuvers. Even  
though vehicle control is improved  
during emergency braking, always  
maintain a safe distance between  
you and objects ahead. Vehicle  
speeds should always be reduced  
during extreme road conditions.  
The safety features of an ABS (or  
ESC) equipped vehicle should not  
be tested by high speed driving or  
cornering. This could endanger the  
safety of yourself or others.  
W-75  
Check the brake warning light by turning  
the ignition switch ON (do not start the  
engine). This light will be illuminated when  
the parking brake is applied with the igni-  
tion switch in the START or ON position.  
Before driving, be sure the parking brake  
is fully released and the brake warning  
light is off.  
If the brake warning light remains on after  
the parking brake is released while the  
engine is running, there may be a mal-  
function in the brake system. Immediate  
attention is necessary.  
The braking distance for vehicles  
equipped with an anti-lock braking  
system (or Electronic Stability  
Control System) may be longer  
than for those without it in the fol-  
lowing road conditions.  
During these conditions the vehicle  
should be driven at reduced  
speeds:  
• Rough, gravel or snow-covered  
roads.  
(Continued)  
If at all possible, cease driving the vehi-  
cle immediately. If that is not possible,  
use extreme caution while operating the  
vehicle and only continue to drive the  
vehicle until you can reach a safe loca-  
tion or repair shop.  
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Driving your vehicle  
The ABS continuously senses the speed  
of the wheels. If the wheels are going to  
lock, the ABS system repeatedly modu-  
lates the hydraulic brake pressure to the  
wheels.  
When you apply your brakes under con-  
ditions which may lock the wheels, you  
may hear a “tik-tik’’ sound from the  
brakes, or feel a corresponding sensation  
in the brake pedal. This is normal and it  
means your ABS is active.  
In order to obtain the maximum benefit  
from your ABS in an emergency situa-  
tion, do not attempt to modulate your  
brake pressure and do not try to pump  
your brakes. Press your brake pedal as  
hard as possible or as hard as the situa-  
tion allows the ABS to control the force  
being delivered to the brakes.  
✽
NOTICE  
A click sound may be heard in the  
engine compartment when the vehicle  
begins to move after the engine is start-  
ed. These conditions are normal and  
indicate that the anti-lock brake system  
is functioning properly.  
• Even with the anti-lock brake system,  
your vehicle still requires sufficient  
stopping distance. Always maintain a  
safe distance from the vehicle in front  
of you.  
• Always slow down when cornering.  
The anti-lock brake system cannot pre-  
vent accidents resulting from exces-  
sive speeds.  
• On loose or uneven road surfaces,  
operation of the anti-lock brake system  
may result in a longer stopping dis-  
tance than for vehicles equipped with a  
conventional brake system.  
W-78  
CAUTION  
• If the ABS warning light is on and  
stays on, you may have a problem  
with the ABS. In this case, howev-  
er, your regular brakes will work  
normally.  
• The ABS warning light will stay on  
for approximately 3 seconds after  
the ignition switch is ON. During  
that time, the ABS will go through  
self-diagnosis and the light will go  
off if everything is normal. If the  
light stays on, you may have a  
problem with your ABS. Contact  
an authorized Kia dealer as soon  
as possible.  
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Driving your vehicle  
CAUTION  
WARNING  
• When you drive on a road having  
poor traction, such as an icy road,  
and have operated your brakes  
continuously, the ABS will be  
active continuously and the ABS  
warning light may illuminate. Pull  
your car over to a safe place and  
stop the engine.  
Never drive too fast according to  
the road conditions or too quickly  
when cornering. Electronic stability  
control (ESC) will not prevent acci-  
dents. Excessive speed in turns,  
abrupt maneuvers and hydroplan-  
ing on wet surfaces can still result  
in serious accidents. Only a safe  
and attentive driver can prevent  
accidents by avoiding maneuvers  
that cause the vehicle to lose trac-  
tion. Even with ESC installed,  
always follow all the normal precau-  
tions for driving - including driving  
at safe speeds for the conditions.  
• Restart the engine. If the ABS  
warning light goes off, then your  
OSL050015  
ABS  
system  
is  
normal.  
Otherwise, you may have a prob-  
lem with the ABS. Contact an  
authorized Kia dealer as soon as  
possible.  
E070500AHM-EU  
Electronic stability control (ESC)  
The Electronic Stability control (ESC)  
system is designed to stabilize the vehicle  
during cornering maneuvers. ESC checks  
where you are steering and where the  
vehicle is actually going. ESC applies the  
brakes on individual wheels and  
intervenes with the engine management  
system to stabilize the vehicle.  
✽
NOTICE  
When you jump start your vehicle  
because of a drained battery, the engine  
may not run as smoothly and the ABS  
warning light may turn on at the same  
time. This happens because of low bat-  
tery voltage. It does not mean your ABS  
has malfunctioned.  
• Do not pump your brakes!  
• Have the battery recharged before  
driving the vehicle.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E070501AUN-EU  
When operating  
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC)  
system is an electronic system designed  
to help the driver maintain vehicle control  
under adverse conditions. It is not a  
substitute for safe driving practices.  
Factors including speed, road conditions  
and driver steering input can all affect  
whether ESC will be effective in  
preventing a loss of control. It is still your  
responsibility to drive and corner at  
reasonable speeds and to leave a  
sufficient margin of safety.  
When you apply your brakes under con-  
ditions which may lock the wheels, you  
may hear a “tik-tik’’ sound from the  
brakes, or feel a corresponding sensation  
in the brake pedal. This is normal and it  
means your ESC is active.  
ESC operation  
ESC ON condition  
• When the ignition is turned ON, ESC  
and ESC OFF indicator lights illuminate  
for approximately 3 seconds, then ESC  
is turned on.  
• Press the ESC OFF button for at least  
half a second after turning the ignition  
ON to turn ESC off. (ESC OFF indica-  
tor will illuminate). To turn the ESC on,  
press the ESC OFF button (ESC OFF  
indicator light will go off).  
• When starting the engine, you may  
hear a slight ticking sound. This is the  
ESC performing an automatic system  
self-check and does not indicate a  
problem.  
When the ESC is in operation,  
ESC indicator light blinks.  
• When the Electronic Stability  
Control is operating properly,  
you can feel a slight pulsation  
in the vehicle. This is only the  
effect of brake control and  
indicates nothing unusual.  
• When moving out of the mud  
or slippery road, pressing the  
accelerator pedal may not  
cause the engine rpm (revo-  
lutions per minute) to  
increase.  
✽
NOTICE  
A click sound may be heard in the  
engine compartment when the vehicle  
begins to move after the engine is start-  
ed. These conditions are normal and  
indicate that the Electronic Stability  
Control System is functioning properly.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E070502AUN-EU  
■ ESC indicator light  
CAUTION  
ESC operation off  
ESC OFF state  
Driving with varying tire or wheel  
sizes may cause the ESC system to  
malfunction. When replacing tires,  
make sure they are the same size as  
your original tires.  
• To cancel ESC operation,  
press the ESC OFF button  
(ESC OFF indicator light illu-  
minates).  
■ ESC OFF indicator light  
• If the ignition switch is turned  
to LOCK position when ESC  
is off, ESC remains off. Upon  
restarting the engine, the  
ESC will automatically turn  
on again.  
WARNING  
The Electronic Stability Control sys-  
tem is only a driving aid; use pre-  
cautions for safe driving by slowing  
down on curved, snowy, or icy  
roads. Drive slowly and don’t  
attempt to accelerate whenever the  
ESC indicator light is blinking, or  
when the road surface is slippery.  
E070503AAM-EU  
Indicator light  
When the ignition switch is turned ON,  
the indicator light illuminates, then goes  
off if ESC system is operating normally.  
The ESC indicator light blinks whenever  
ESC is operating and illuminates when  
ESC fails to operate.  
The ESC OFF indicator light comes on  
when the ESC is turned off with the but-  
ton.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E070504AAM-EU  
ESC OFF usage  
When driving  
• It’s a good idea to keep the ESC turned  
on for daily driving whenever possible.  
• To turn ESC off while driving, press the  
ESC OFF button while driving on a flat  
road surface.  
VSM operation off  
If you press the ESC OFF button to turn  
off the ESC, the VSM will also cancel and  
the ESC OFF indicator light (  
nates.  
To turn on the VSM, press the button  
again. The ESC OFF indicator light goes  
out.  
Vehicle stability management  
(VSM) (if equipped)  
This system provides further enhance-  
ments to vehicle stability and steering  
responses when a vehicle is driving on a  
slippery road or a vehicle detected  
changes in coefficient of friction between  
right wheels and left wheels when brak-  
ing.  
) illumi-  
Malfunction indicator  
WARNING  
Never press the ESC OFF button  
while ESC is operating (ESC indica-  
tor light blinks).  
If ESC is turned off while ESC is  
operating, the vehicle may slip out  
of control.  
The VSM can be deactivated even if you  
don’t cancel the VSM operation by press-  
ing the ESC OFF button. It indicates that  
a malfunction has been detected some-  
where in the Electric Power Steering sys-  
tem or VSM system. If the ESC indicator  
VSM operation  
When the VSM is in operation, ESC indi-  
cator light (  
) blinks.  
When the vehicle stability management  
is operating properly, you can feel a slight  
pulsation in the vehicle and/or abnormal  
steering responses (EPS). This is only  
the effect of brake and EPS control and  
indicates nothing unusual.  
light (  
) or EPS warning light remains  
on, take your vehicle to an authorized Kia  
dealer and have the system checked.  
✽
NOTICE  
• When operating the vehicle on a  
dynamometer, ensure that the ESC is  
turned off (ESC OFF light illuminat-  
ed). If the ESC is left on, it may pre-  
vent the vehicle speed from increas-  
ing, and result in false diagnosis.  
✽
NOTICE  
The VSM does not operate when:  
• Driving on bank road such as gradient  
or incline  
• The VSM is designed to function  
above approximately 15 km/h (9 mph)  
on curves.  
• The VSM is designed to function  
above approximately 30 km/h (18  
mph) when a vehicle is braking on a  
split-mu road. The split-mu road is  
made of surfaces which have different  
friction forces.  
• Driving rearward  
• ESC OFF indicator light (  
on the instrument cluster  
) remains  
• Turning the ESC off does not affect  
ABS or brake system operation.  
• EPS indicator light remains on the  
instrument cluster  
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Driving your vehicle  
Hill-start assist control (HAC)  
(if equipped)  
WARNING  
• The Vehicle Stability Management  
system is not a substitute for  
safe driving practices but a sup-  
plementary function only. It is the  
responsibility of the driver to  
always check the speed and the  
distance to the vehicle ahead.  
Always hold the steering wheel  
firmly while driving.  
A vehicle has the tendency to roll back  
on a steep hill when it starts to go after  
stopping. The Hill-start Assist Control  
(HAC) prevents the vehicle from rolling  
back by applying the brakes automatical-  
ly for about 2 seconds. The brakes are  
released when the accelerator pedal is  
depressed or after about 2 seconds.  
• Your vehicle is designed to acti-  
vate according to the driver’s  
intention, even with installed  
VSM. Always follow all the normal  
precautions for driving at safe  
WARNING  
OSL050016  
The HAC is activated only for about  
2 seconds, so when the vehicle is  
starting off always depress the  
accelerator pedal.  
Downhill brake control (DBC)  
(if equipped)  
The Downhill Brake Control (DBC) sup-  
ports the driver driving down a steep hill  
without the driver depressing the brake  
pedal. It slows down the vehicle under 8  
km/h (5mph) and lets the driver concen-  
trate on steering the vehicle.  
DBC defaults to the OFF position when-  
ever the ignition is turned on.  
The DBC can be turned on or off by  
pushing the button.  
speeds for the conditions  
–
including driving inclement  
weather and on a slippery road.  
• Driving with varying tire or wheel  
sizes may cause the VSM system  
to malfunction. When replacing  
tires, make sure they are the  
same size as your original tires.  
✽
NOTICE  
• The HAC does not operate when the  
transaxle shift lever is in the P (Park)  
or N (Neutral) position.  
• The HAC activates even though the  
ESC is off but it does not activate  
when the ESC has malfunctioned.  
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Driving your vehicle  
✽
NOTICE  
Mode  
Indicator light  
Description  
• The DBC does not turn ON in the P  
(Park) position.  
• The DBC may not activate if the ESC  
(or BAS) is activated.  
• Noise or vibration may occur from the  
brakes when the DBC is activated.  
• The rear stop light comes on when the  
DBC is activated.  
• In a very steep hill even though the  
brake pedal or accelerator pedal is  
depressed the DBC may not deacti-  
vate.  
Press the DBC button when the vehicle speed is under  
40 km/h (25 mph). The DBC system will turn ON and  
enter the standby mode.  
Standby  
The system does not turn ON if the vehicle speed is  
over 40 km/h (25 mph).  
illuminated  
In the standby mode, if the vehicle speed is under 35  
km/h (22 mph) while driving down a steep hill, the DBC  
will activate automatically.  
Activated  
blinks  
• Always turn OFF the DBC on normal  
roads. The DBC might activate from  
the standby mode when abrupt corn-  
ing or driving through speed bumps.  
• DBC may activate and cause the  
engine to stop in vehicles with manual  
transaxle if you drive in 3rd gear (or  
above) with DBC on. Do not turn on  
DBC when driving in 3rd gear (or  
above).  
In the activated mode, the DBC will temporarily deacti-  
vate under the following conditions:  
• The hill is not steep enough.  
• The brake pedal or accelerator pedal is depressed.  
If the above conditions are gone, the DBC will automat-  
ically activate again.  
Temporarily  
deactivated  
illuminated  
The DBC will turn OFF under the following conditions:  
• The DBC button is pressed again.  
OFF  
• The vehicle speed is over 60 km/h (38 mph).  
not  
illuminated  
WARNING  
If the DBC red indicator light illuminates, the system has overheated or some-  
thing is wrong. The DBC will not activate. If the DBC red indicator light illu-  
minates even though the DBC system has been cooled enough have the sys-  
tem checked by an authorized Kia dealer.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E070600AAM  
• Check to be sure the parking brake is  
not engaged and the parking brake  
indicator light is out before driving  
away.  
• Driving through water may get the  
brakes wet. They can also get wet  
when the vehicle is washed. Wet  
brakes can be dangerous! Your vehicle  
will not stop as quickly if the brakes are  
wet. Wet brakes may cause the vehicle  
to pull to one side.  
To dry the brakes, apply the brakes  
lightly until the braking action returns to  
normal, taking care to keep the vehicle  
under control at all times. If the braking  
action does not return to normal, stop  
as soon as it is safe to do so and call  
an authorized Kia dealer for assis-  
tance.  
• Don't coast down hills with the vehicle  
out of gear. This is extremely haz-  
ardous. Keep the vehicle in gear at all  
times, use the brakes to slow down,  
then shift to a lower gear so that  
engine braking will help you maintain a  
safe speed.  
• Don't "ride" the brake pedal. Resting  
your foot on the brake pedal while driv-  
ing can be dangerous because the  
brakes might overheat and lose their  
effectiveness. It also increases the  
wear of the brake components.  
• If a tire goes flat while you are driving,  
apply the brakes gently and keep the  
vehicle pointed straight ahead while  
you slow down. When you are moving  
slowly enough for it to be safe to do so,  
pull off the road and stop in a safe  
place.  
Good braking practices  
WARNING  
• Whenever you leave or park your  
vehicle, always set the parking  
brake as far as possible and shift  
the vehicle to 1st (First) gear or R  
(Reverse) for manual transaxle, or  
P (Park) for automatic transaxle. If  
the parking brake is not fully  
engaged, the vehicle may move  
inadvertently and injure yourself  
and others.  
• All vehicles should always have  
the parking brake fully engaged  
when parking to avoid inadver-  
tent movement of the vehicle  
which can injure occupants or  
pedestrians.  
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Driving your vehicle  
• If your vehicle is equipped with an  
automatic transaxle, don't let your vehi-  
cle creep forward. To avoid creeping  
forward, keep your foot firmly on the  
brake pedal when the vehicle is  
stopped.  
• Be cautious when parking on a hill.  
Firmly engage the parking brake and  
place the shift lever in P (automatic  
transaxle) or in first or reverse gear  
(manual transaxle). If your vehicle is  
facing downhill, turn the front wheels  
into the curb to help keep the vehicle  
from rolling. If your vehicle is facing  
uphill, turn the front wheels away from  
the curb to help keep the vehicle from  
rolling. If there is no curb or if it is  
required by other conditions to keep  
the vehicle from rolling, block the  
wheels.  
• Under some conditions your parking  
brake can freeze in the engaged posi-  
tion.This is most likely to happen when  
there is an accumulation of snow or ice  
around or near the rear brakes or if the  
brakes are wet. If there is a risk that the  
parking brake may freeze, apply it only  
temporarily while you put the shift lever  
in P (automatic transaxle) or in first or  
reverse gear (manual transaxle) and  
block the rear wheels so the vehicle  
cannot roll. Then release the parking  
brake.  
• Do not hold the vehicle on the upgrade  
with the accelerator pedal. This can  
cause the transaxle to overheat.  
Always use the brake pedal or parking  
brake.  
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Driving your vehicle  
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)  
CAUTION  
WARNING  
During cruise-speed driving of a  
manual transaxle vehicle, do not  
shift into neutral without depress-  
ing the clutch pedal, since the  
engine will be overrevved. If this  
happens, depress the clutch pedal  
or release the cruise control ON-  
OFF switch.  
• If the cruise control is left on  
(CRUISE indicator light in the  
instrument cluster illuminated),  
the cruise control can be  
switched on accidentally. Keep  
the cruise control system off  
(CRUISE indicator light OFF)  
when the cruise control is not in  
use, to avoid inadvertently set-  
ting a speed.  
SET  
CRUISE  
✽
NOTICE  
• Use the cruise control system  
only when traveling on open  
highways in good weather.  
OSL010002N/Q  
During normal cruise control operation,  
when the SET switch is activated or  
reactivated after applying the brakes,  
the cruise control will energize after  
approximately 3 seconds. The delay is  
normal.  
1. Cruise indicator  
2. Cruise set indicator  
• Do not use the cruise control  
when it may not be safe to keep  
the vehicle at a constant speed,  
for instance, driving in heavy or  
varying traffic, or on slippery  
(rainy, icy or snow-covered) or  
winding roads or over 6% up-hill  
or down-hill roads.  
E090000AAM-EU  
The cruise control system allows you to  
program the vehicle to maintain a con-  
stant speed without pressing the acceler-  
ator pedal.  
This system is designed to function  
above approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).  
• Pay particular attention to the  
driving conditions whenever  
using the cruise control system.  
• Be careful when driving downhill  
using the cruise control system,  
which may increase the vehicle  
speed.  
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Driving your vehicle  
OSL050030L  
OSL050031L  
OSL050032L  
E090100AUN-KM  
E090200AAM-EU  
3. Push the - SET switch, and release it  
at the desired speed. The SET indica-  
tor light in the instrument cluster will  
illuminate. Release the accelerator at  
the same time. The desired speed will  
automatically be maintained.  
On a steep grade, the vehicle may slow  
down or speed up slightly while going  
downhill.  
To set cruise control speed:  
To increase cruise control set  
speed:  
Follow either of these procedures:  
• Push the RES + switch and hold it. Your  
vehicle will accelerate. Release the  
switch at the speed you want.  
• Push the RES + switch and release it  
immediately. The cruising speed will  
increase by 2.0 km/h (1.2 mph) each  
time the RES + switch is operated in  
this manner.  
1. Push the cruise ON-OFF button on the  
steering wheel, to turn the system on.  
The CRUISE indicator light in the  
instrument cluster will illuminate.  
2. Accelerate to the desired speed, which  
must be more than 40 km/h (25 mph).  
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Driving your vehicle  
E090400AUN  
To temporarily accelerate with the  
cruise control on:  
If you want to speed up temporarily when  
the cruise control is on, depress the  
accelerator pedal. Increased speed will  
not interfere with cruise control operation  
or change the set speed.  
To return to the set speed, take your foot  
off the accelerator.  
OSL050031L  
OSL050033L  
E090300AAM-EU  
E090500AAM-EU  
To decrease the cruising speed:  
Follow either of these procedures:  
To cancel cruise control, do one  
of the following:  
• Press the brake pedal.  
• Press the clutch pedal with a manual  
transaxle.  
• Shift into N (Neutral) with an automatic  
transaxle.  
• Push the CANCEL switch located on  
the steering wheel.  
• Decrease the vehicle speed lower than  
the memory speed by 20 km/h (12  
mph).  
• Push the - SET switch and hold it.Your  
vehicle will gradually slow down.  
Release the switch at the speed you  
want to maintain.  
• Push the - SET switch and release it  
immediately. The cruising speed will  
decrease by 2.0 km/h (1.2 mph) each  
time the - SET switch is operated in  
this manner.  
• Decrease the vehicle speed to less  
than approximately 40 km/h (25 mph).  
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Driving your vehicle  
Each of these actions will cancel cruise  
control operation (the SET indicator light  
in the instrument cluster will go off), but it  
will not turn the system off. If you wish to  
resume cruise control operation, push  
the RES + switch located on your steer-  
ing wheel. You will return to your previ-  
ously preset speed.  
OSL050032L  
OSL050030L  
E090600AAM-EU  
E090700AUN-KM  
To resume cruising speed at  
more than approximately 40 km/h  
(25 mph):  
If any method other than the cruise ON-  
OFF switch was used to cancel cruising  
speed and the system is still activated,  
the most recent set speed will automati-  
cally resume when the RES + switch is  
pushed.  
To turn cruise control off, do one  
of the following:  
• Push the cruise ON-OFF button (the  
CRUISE indicator light in the instru-  
ment cluster will go off).  
• Turn the ignition off.  
Both of these actions will cancel the  
cruise control operation. If you want to  
resume the cruise control operation,  
repeat the steps provided in “To set  
cruise control speed” on the previous  
page.  
It will not resume, however, if the vehicle  
speed has dropped below approximately  
40 km/h (25 mph).  
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Driving your vehicle  
ECONOMICAL OPERATION  
E100000AHM-EU  
• Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This can  
increase fuel consumption and also  
increase wear on these components.  
In addition, driving with your foot rest-  
ing on the brake pedal may cause the  
brakes to overheat, which reduces  
their effectiveness and may lead to  
more serious consequences.  
• Take care of your tires. Keep them  
inflated to the recommended pressure.  
Incorrect inflation, either too much or  
too little, results in unnecessary tire  
wear. Check the tire pressures at least  
once a month.  
• Be sure that the wheels are aligned  
correctly. Improper alignment can  
result from hitting curbs or driving too  
fast over irregular surfaces. Poor align-  
ment causes faster tire wear and may  
also result in other problems as well as  
greater fuel consumption.  
• Keep your vehicle in good condition.  
For better fuel economy and reduced  
maintenance costs, maintain your vehi-  
cle in accordance with the mainte-  
nance schedule in section 7. If you  
drive your vehicle in severe conditions,  
more frequent maintenance is required  
(see section 7 for details).  
• Keep your vehicle clean. For maximum  
service, your vehicle should be kept  
clean and free of corrosive materials. It  
is especially important that mud, dirt,  
ice, etc. not be allowed to accumulate  
on the underside of the vehicle. This  
extra weight can result in increased  
fuel consumption and also contribute  
to corrosion.  
• Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary  
weight in your vehicle. Weight reduces  
fuel economy.  
• Don't let the engine idle longer than  
necessary. If you are waiting (and not  
in traffic), turn off your engine and  
restart only when you're ready to go.  
Your vehicle's fuel economy depends  
mainly on your style of driving, where you  
drive and when you drive.  
Each of these factors affects how many  
kilometers (miles) you can get from a liter  
(gallon) of fuel. To operate your vehicle  
as economically as possible, use the fol-  
lowing driving suggestions to help save  
money in both fuel and repairs:  
• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moder-  
ate rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit" starts  
or full-throttle shifts and maintain a  
steady cruising speed. Don't race  
between stoplights. Try to adjust your  
speed to the traffic so you don't have to  
change speeds unnecessarily. Avoid  
heavy traffic whenever possible.  
Always maintain a safe distance from  
other vehicles so you can avoid unnec-  
essary braking. This also reduces  
brake wear.  
• Drive at a moderate speed. The faster  
you drive, the more fuel your vehicle  
uses. Driving at a moderate speed,  
especially on the highway, is one of the  
most effective ways to reduce fuel con-  
sumption.  
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Driving your vehicle  
• Remember, your vehicle does not  
require extended warm-up. After the  
engine has started, allow the engine to  
run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to plac-  
ing the vehicle in gear. In very cold  
weather, however, give your engine a  
slightly longer warm-up period.  
• Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.  
Lugging is driving too slowly in a very  
high gear resulting in engine bucking. If  
this happens, shift to a lower gear.  
Over-revving is racing the engine  
beyond its safe limit.This can be avoid-  
ed by shifting at the recommended  
speed.  
• Use your air conditioning sparingly.  
The air conditioning system is operat-  
ed by engine power so your fuel econ-  
omy is reduced when you use it.  
• Open windows at high speeds can  
reduce fuel economy.  
• Fuel economy is less in crosswinds  
and headwinds. To help offset some of  
this loss, slow down when driving in  
these conditions.  
WARNING - Engine off dur-  
ing motion  
Never turn the engine off to coast  
down hills or anytime the vehicle is  
in motion. The power steering and  
power brakes will not function  
properly without the engine run-  
ning. Instead, keep the engine on  
and downshift to an appropriate  
gear for engine braking effect. In  
addition, turning off the ignition  
while driving could engage the  
steering wheel lock resulting in  
loss of vehicle steering which  
could cause serious injury or  
death.  
Keeping a vehicle in good operating con-  
dition is important both for economy and  
safety. Therefore, have an authorized Kia  
dealer perform scheduled inspections  
and maintenance.  
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Driving your vehicle  
SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS  
E110100AHM  
E170800AHM  
• If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use  
second gear. Accelerate slowly to  
avoid spinning the drive wheels.  
• Use sand, rock salt, or other non-slip  
material under the drive wheels to pro-  
vide traction when stalled in ice, snow,  
or mud.  
Hazardous driving conditions  
Reducing the risk of a rollover  
When hazardous driving conditions are  
encountered such as water, snow, ice,  
mud, sand, or similar hazards, follow  
these suggestions:  
• Drive cautiously and allow extra dis-  
tance for braking.  
This multi-purpose passenger vehicle is  
defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).  
SUV’s have higher ground clearance and  
a narrower track to make them capable  
of performing in a wide variety of off-road  
applications. Specific design characteris-  
tics give them a higher center of gravity  
than ordinary vehicles. An advantage of  
the higher ground clearance is a better  
view of the road, which allows you to  
anticipate problems. They are not  
designed for cornering at the same  
speeds as conventional passenger vehi-  
cles, any more than low-slung sports  
vehicles are designed to perform satis-  
factorily in off-road conditions. Due to this  
risk, driver and passengers are strongly  
recommended to buckle their seat belts.  
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is  
more likely to die than a person wearing  
a seat belt. There are steps that a driver  
can make to reduce the risk of a rollover.  
If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or  
abrupt maneuvers, do not load your roof  
rack with heavy cargo, and never modify  
your vehicle in any way.  
• Avoid sudden braking or steering.  
WARNING - Downshifting  
• When braking with non-ABS brakes  
pump the brake pedal with a light up-  
and-down motion until the vehicle is  
stopped.  
Downshifting with an automatic  
transaxle, while driving on slippery  
surfaces can cause an accident.  
The sudden change in tire speed  
could cause the tires to skid. Be  
careful when downshifting on slip-  
pery surfaces.  
WARNING - ABS  
Do not pump the brake pedal on a  
vehicle equipped with ABS.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E170600AHM  
E110200AAM-EU  
Rocking the vehicle  
WARNING - Rollover  
As with other Sports Utility Vehicle  
(SUV), failure to operate this vehi-  
cle correctly may result in loss of  
control, an accident or vehicle  
rollover.  
• Utility vehicles have a significant-  
ly higher rollover rate than other  
types of vehicles.  
• Specific design characteristics  
(higher ground clearance, nar-  
rower track, etc.) give this vehicle  
a higher center of gravity than  
ordinary vehicles.  
• A SUV is not designed for corner-  
ing at the same speeds as con-  
ventional vehicles.  
WARNING  
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free  
it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the  
steering wheel right and left to clear the  
area around your front wheels.Then, shift  
back and forth between 1st (First) and R  
(Reverse) in vehicles equipped with a  
manual transaxle or R (Reverse) and any  
forward gear in vehicles equipped with an  
automatic transaxle. Do not race the  
engine, and spin the wheels as little as  
possible. If you are still stuck after a few  
tries, have the vehicle pulled out by a tow  
vehicle to avoid engine overheating and  
possible damage to the transaxle.  
Your vehicle is equipped with tires  
designed to provide safe ride and  
handling capability. Do not use a  
size and type of tire and wheel that  
is different from the one that is  
originally installed on your vehicle.  
It can affect the safety and perform-  
ance of your vehicle, which could  
lead to steering failure or rollover  
and serious injury. When replacing  
the tires, be sure to equip all four  
tires with the tire and wheel of the  
same size, type, tread, brand and  
load-carrying capacity. If you never-  
theless decide to equip your vehi-  
cle with any tire/wheel combination  
not recommended by Kia for off  
road driving, you should not use  
these tires for highway driving.  
CAUTION  
Prolonged rocking may cause  
engine overheating, transaxle dam-  
age or failure, and tire damage.  
• Avoid sharp turns or abrupt  
maneuvers.  
• In a rollover crash, an unbelted  
person is significantly more like-  
ly to die than a person wearing a  
seat belt. Make sure everyone in  
the vehicle is properly buckled  
up.  
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Driving your vehicle  
WARNING - Spinning tires  
Do not spin the wheels, especially  
at speeds more than 56 km/h (35  
mph). Spinning the wheels at high  
speeds when the vehicle is station-  
ary could cause a tire to overheat  
which could result in tire damage  
that may injure bystanders.  
✽
NOTICE  
The ESC system (if equipped) should be  
turned OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.  
OUN056051  
OCM053010  
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E110400AUN  
Smooth cornering  
Driving at night  
Avoid braking or gear changing in cor-  
ners, especially when roads are wet.  
Ideally, corners should always be taken  
under gentle acceleration. If you follow  
these suggestions, tire wear will be held  
to a minimum.  
Because night driving presents more  
hazards than driving in the daylight, here  
are some important tips to remember:  
• Slow down and keep more distance  
between you and other vehicles, as it  
may be more difficult to see at night,  
especially in areas where there may  
not be any street lights.  
WARNING  
If your vehicle becomes stuck in  
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you  
may attempt to rock the vehicle free  
by moving it forward and backward.  
Do not attempt this procedure if  
people or objects are anywhere  
near the vehicle. During the rocking  
operation the vehicle may suddenly  
move forward of backward as it  
becomes unstuck, causing injury  
or damage to nearby people or  
objects.  
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Driving your vehicle  
• Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare  
from other driver's headlights.  
• If your tires are not in good condition,  
making a quick stop on wet pavement  
can cause a skid and possibly lead to  
an accident. Be sure your tires are in  
good shape.  
• Turn on your headlights to make it eas-  
ier for others to see you.  
• Driving too fast through large puddles  
can affect your brakes. If you must go  
through puddles, try to drive through  
them slowly.  
• If you believe you may have gotten  
your brakes wet, apply them lightly  
while driving until normal braking oper-  
ation returns.  
• Keep your headlights clean and prop-  
erly aimed on vehicles not equipped  
with the automatic headlight aiming  
feature. Dirty or improperly aimed  
headlights will make it much more diffi-  
cult to see at night.  
• Avoid staring directly at the headlights  
of oncoming vehicles. You could be  
temporarily blinded, and it will take  
several seconds for your eyes to read-  
just to the darkness.  
1VQA3003  
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Driving in the rain  
Rain and wet roads can make driving  
dangerous, especially if you’re not pre-  
pared for the slick pavement. Here are a  
few things to consider when driving in the  
rain:  
• A heavy rainfall will make it harder to  
see and will increase the distance  
needed to stop your vehicle, so slow  
down.  
E110600AUN  
Driving in flooded areas  
Avoid driving through flooded areas  
unless you are sure the water is no high-  
er than the bottom of the wheel hub.  
Drive through any water slowly. Allow  
adequate stopping distance because  
brake performance may be affected.  
• Keep your windshield wiping equip-  
ment in good shape. Replace your  
windshield wiper blades when they  
show signs of streaking or missing  
areas on the windshield.  
After driving through water, dry the  
brakes by gently applying them several  
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E110700AHM  
Highway driving  
Tires  
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to  
specification. Low tire inflation pressures  
will result in overheating and possible  
failure of the tires.  
Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil  
WARNING  
High speed travel consumes more fuel  
than urban motoring. Do not forget to  
check both the engine coolant and  
engine oil.  
• Underinflated or overinflated  
tires can cause poor handling,  
loss of vehicle control, and sud-  
den tire failure leading to acci-  
dents, injuries, and even death.  
Always check tires for proper  
inflation before driving. For prop-  
er tire pressures, refer to “Tires  
and wheels” in section 8.  
Drive belt  
A loose or damaged drive belt may result  
in overheating of the engine.  
Avoid using worn or damaged tires which  
may result in reduced traction or tire fail-  
ure.  
• Driving on tires with no or insuffi-  
cient tread is dangerous. Worn-  
out tires can result in loss of  
vehicle control, collisions, injury,  
and even death. Worn-out tires  
should be replaced as soon as  
possible and should never be  
used for driving. Always check  
the tire tread before driving your  
car. For further information and  
tread limits, refer to “Tires and  
wheels” in section 7.  
✽
NOTICE  
Never exceed the maximum tire inflation  
pressure shown on the tires.  
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Driving your vehicle  
WINTER DRIVING  
E120100AUN  
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Snow tires  
Snowy or icy conditions  
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle,  
make sure they are radial tires of the  
same size and load range as the original  
tires. Mount snow tires on all four wheels  
to balance your vehicle’s handling in all  
weather conditions. Keep in mind that the  
traction provided by snow tires on dry  
roads may not be as high as your vehi-  
cle's original equipment tires. You should  
drive cautiously even when the roads are  
clear. Check with the tire dealer for max-  
imum speed recommendations.  
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may  
be necessary to use snow tires on your  
tires. If snow tires are needed, it is nec-  
essary to select tires equivalent in size  
and type of the original equipment tires.  
Failure to do so may adversely affect the  
safety and handling of your vehicle.  
Furthermore, speeding, rapid accelera-  
tion, sudden brake applications, and  
sharp turns are potentially very haz-  
ardous practices.  
During deceleration, use engine braking  
to the fullest extent. Sudden brake appli-  
cations on snowy or icy roads may cause  
skids to occur. You need to keep suffi-  
cient distance between the vehicle in  
operation in front and your vehicle. Also,  
apply the brake gently.  
1VQA3005  
E120000ASA  
Severe weather conditions in the winter  
result in greater wear and other prob-  
lems. To minimize the problems of winter  
driving, you should follow these sugges-  
tions:  
WARNING - Snow tire size  
Snow tires should be equivalent in  
size and type to the vehicle's stan-  
dard tires. Otherwise, the safety  
and handling of your vehicle may  
be adversely affected.  
Do not install studded tires without first  
checking local, state and municipal regu-  
lations for possible restrictions against  
their use.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E120200AUN  
E120400BUN  
E120600AUN  
Use high quality ethylene glycol  
coolant  
Change to "winter weight" oil if  
necessary  
To keep locks from freezing  
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an  
approved de-icer fluid or glycerine into  
the key opening. If a lock is covered with  
ice, squirt it with an approved de-icing  
fluid to remove the ice. If the lock is  
frozen internally, you may be able to thaw  
it out by using a heated key. Handle the  
heated key with care to avoid injury.  
Your vehicle is delivered with high quality  
ethylene glycol coolant in the cooling  
system. It is the only type of coolant that  
should be used because it helps prevent  
corrosion in the cooling system, lubri-  
cates the water pump and prevents  
freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish  
your coolant in accordance with the  
maintenance schedule in section 7.  
Before winter, have your coolant tested to  
assure that its freezing point is sufficient  
for the temperatures anticipated during  
the winter.  
In some climates it is recommended that  
a lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be  
used during cold weather. See section 8  
for recommendations. If you aren't sure  
what weight oil you should use, consult  
an authorized Kia dealer.  
E120500AUN  
E120700AUN  
Check spark plugs and ignition  
system  
Inspect your spark plugs as described in  
section 7 and replace them if necessary.  
Also check all ignition wiring and compo-  
nents to be sure they are not cracked,  
worn or damaged in any way.  
Use approved window washer  
anti-freeze in system  
To keep the water in the window washer  
system from freezing, add an approved  
window washer anti-freeze solution in  
accordance with instructions on the con-  
tainer. Window washer anti-freeze is  
available from an authorized Kia dealer  
and most auto parts outlets. Do not use  
engine coolant or other types of anti-  
freeze as these may damage the paint  
finish.  
E120300AUN  
Check battery and cables  
Winter puts additional burdens on the  
battery system. Visually inspect the bat-  
tery and cables as described in section  
7. The level of charge in your battery can  
be checked by an authorized Kia dealer  
or a service station.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E120800AAM  
E121000ASA  
Don’t let your parking brake  
freeze  
Carry emergency equipment  
Depending on the severity of the weath-  
er, you should carry appropriate emer-  
gency equipment. Some of the items you  
may want to carry include, tow straps or  
chains, flashlight, emergency flares,  
sand, shovel, jumper cables, window  
scraper, gloves, ground cloth, coveralls,  
blanket, etc.  
Under some conditions your parking  
brake can freeze in the engaged position.  
This is most likely to happen when there  
is an accumulation of snow or ice around  
or near the rear brakes or if the brakes  
are wet. If there is a risk the parking  
brake may freeze, apply it only temporar-  
ily while you put the gear shift lever in P  
(Park, automatic transaxle) or in first or  
reverse gear (manual transaxle) and  
block the rear wheels so the vehicle can-  
not roll. Then release the parking brake.  
E120900AHM  
Don't let ice and snow accumu-  
late underneath  
Under some conditions, snow and ice  
can build up under the fenders and inter-  
fere with the steering. When driving in  
severe winter conditions where this may  
happen, you should periodically check  
underneath the vehicle to be sure the  
movement of the front wheels and the  
steering components are not obstructed.  
.
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Driving your vehicle  
TRAILER TOWING  
E140000AFD  
Remember that trailering is different than  
just driving your vehicle by itself.  
Trailering means changes in handling,  
durability, and fuel economy. Successful,  
safe trailering requires correct equip-  
ment, and it has to be used properly.  
If you are considering towing with your  
vehicle, you should first check with your  
country's Department of Motor Vehicles  
to determine their legal requirements.  
Since laws vary the requirements for tow-  
ing trailers, cars, or other types of vehi-  
cles or apparatus may differ. Ask an  
authorized Kia dealer for further details  
before towing.  
WARNING - Weight limits  
Before towing, make sure the total  
trailer weight, GCW (gross combi-  
nation weight), GVW (gross vehicle  
weight), GAW (gross axle weight)  
and trailer tongue load are all with-  
in the limits.  
This section contains many time-tested,  
important trailering tips and safety rules.  
Many of these are important for your  
safety and that of your passengers.  
Please read this section carefully before  
you pull a trailer.  
CAUTION  
WARNING - Towing a trail-  
er  
Pulling a trailer improperly can  
damage your vehicle and result in  
costly repairs not covered by your  
warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,  
follow the advice in this section.  
If you don't use the correct equip-  
ment and/or drive improperly, you  
can lose control when you pull a  
trailer. For example, if the trailer is  
too heavy, the brakes may not work  
well - or even at all. You and your  
passengers could be seriously or  
fatally injured. Pull a trailer only if  
you have followed all the steps in  
this section.  
Load-pulling components such as the  
engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and  
tires are forced to work harder against  
the load of the added weight. The engine  
is required to operate at relatively higher  
speeds and under greater loads. This  
additional burden generates extra heat.  
The trailer also adds considerably to  
wind resistance, increasing the pulling  
requirements.  
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify  
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for  
your vehicle, you should read the infor-  
mation in “Weight of the trailer” that  
appears later in this section.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E140100AUN  
E140200AUN  
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Hitches  
Safety chains  
Trailer brakes  
It's important to have the correct hitch  
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks  
going by, and rough roads are a few rea-  
sons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here  
are some rules to follow:  
• Will you have to make any holes in the  
body of your vehicle when you install a  
trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to  
seal the holes later when you remove  
the hitch.  
You should always attach chains  
between your vehicle and your trailer.  
Cross the safety chains under the tongue  
of the trailer so that the tongue will not  
drop to the road if it becomes separated  
from the hitch.  
Instructions about safety chains may be  
provided by the hitch manufacturer or by  
the trailer manufacturer. Follow the man-  
ufacturer’s recommendation for attaching  
safety chains. Always leave just enough  
slack so you can turn with your trailer.  
And, never allow safety chains to drag on  
the ground.  
If your trailer is equipped with a braking  
system, make sure it conforms to your  
state’s regulations and that it is properly  
installed and operating correctly.  
If your trailer weight exceeds the maxi-  
mum allowed weight without trailer  
brakes, then the trailer will also require its  
own brakes as well. Be sure to read and  
follow the instructions for the trailer  
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust  
and maintain them properly.  
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon  
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can  
get into your vehicle, as well as dirt and  
water.  
• Don’t tap into or modify your vehicle's  
brake system.  
• The bumpers on your vehicle are not  
intended for hitches. Do not attach  
rental hitches or other bumper-type  
hitches to them. Use only a frame-  
mounted hitch that does not attach to  
the bumper.  
WARNING - Trailer brakes  
Do not use a trailer with its own  
brakes unless you are absolutely  
certain that you have properly set  
up the brake system. This is not a  
task for amateurs. Use an experi-  
enced, competent trailer shop for  
this work.  
• Kia trailer hitch accessory is available  
at an authorized Kia dealer.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E140400AUN  
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E140404AUN  
Following distance  
Making turns  
Driving with a trailer  
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehi-  
cle ahead as you would when driving  
your vehicle without a trailer. This can  
help you avoid situations that require  
heavy braking and sudden turns.  
When you’re turning with a trailer, make  
wider turns than normal. Do this so your  
trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,  
road signs, trees, or other objects near  
the edge of the road. Avoid jerky or sud-  
den maneuvers. Signal well in advance  
before turning or lane changes.  
Towing a trailer requires a certain  
amount of experience. Before setting out  
for the open road, you must get to know  
your trailer. Acquaint yourself with the  
feel of handling and braking with the  
added weight of the trailer. And always  
keep in mind that the vehicle you are  
driving is now a good deal longer and not  
nearly so responsive as your vehicle is  
by itself.  
Before you start, check the trailer hitch  
and platform, safety chains, electrical  
connector(s), lights, tires and mirror  
adjustment. If the trailer has electric  
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer mov-  
ing and then apply the trailer brake con-  
troller by hand to be sure the brakes are  
working. This lets you check your electri-  
cal connection at the same time.  
E140402AUN  
Passing  
You’ll need more passing distance up  
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,  
because of the increased vehicle length,  
you’ll need to go much farther beyond the  
passed vehicle before you can return to  
your lane. Due to the added load to the  
engine when going uphill the vehicle may  
also take longer to pass than it would on  
flat ground.  
E140403AUN  
During your trip, check occasionally to be  
sure that the load is secure, and that the  
lights and any trailer brakes are still work-  
ing.  
Backing up  
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel  
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer  
to the left, just move your hand to the left.  
To move the trailer to the right, move your  
hand to the right. Always back up slowly  
and, if possible, have someone guide  
you.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E140405AFD  
E140406AFD  
Turn signals when towing a trailer  
Driving on grades  
WARNING  
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has  
to have a different turn signal flasher and  
extra wiring. The green arrows on your  
instrument panel will flash whenever you  
signal a turn or lane change. Properly  
connected, the trailer lights will also flash  
to alert other drivers you’re about to turn,  
change lanes, or stop.  
When towing a trailer, the green arrows  
on your instrument panel will flash for  
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are  
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers  
behind you are seeing your signals  
when, in fact, they are not. It’s important  
to check occasionally to be sure the trail-  
er bulbs are still working. You must also  
check the lights every time you discon-  
nect and then reconnect the wires.  
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear  
before you start down a long or steep  
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you  
might have to use your brakes so much  
that they would get hot and no longer  
operate efficiently.  
On a long uphill grade, shift down and  
reduce your speed to around 70 km/h (45  
mph) to reduce the possibility of engine  
and transaxle overheating.  
If your trailer weighs more than the max-  
imum trailer weight without trailer brakes  
and you have an automatic transaxle,  
you should drive in D (Drive) when tow-  
ing a trailer.  
Operating your vehicle in D (Drive) when  
towing a trailer will minimize heat build up  
and extend the life of your transaxle.  
Failure to use an approved trailer  
wiring harness could result in dam-  
age to the vehicle electrical system  
and/or personal injury.  
Do not connect a trailer lighting system  
directly to your vehicle’s lighting system.  
Use only an approved trailer wiring har-  
ness.  
An authorized Kia dealer can assist you  
in installing the wiring harness.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E140407AUN-EA  
4. Place chocks under the trailer wheels  
on the down hill side of the wheels.  
CAUTION  
Parking on hills  
• When towing a trailer on steep  
grades (in excess of 6%) pay  
close attention to the engine  
coolant temperature gauge to  
ensure the engine does not over-  
heat.  
Generally, if you have a trailer attached to  
your vehicle, you should not park your  
vehicle on a hill. People can be seriously  
or fatally injured, and both your vehicle  
and the trailer can be damaged if they  
unexpectedly roll downhill.  
5. Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift  
to neutral, release the parking brake  
and slowly release the brakes until the  
trailer chocks absorb the load.  
6. Reapply the brakes, reapply the park-  
ing brake and shift the vehicle to R  
(Reverse) for manual transaxle or P  
(Park) for automatic transaxle.  
If the needle of the coolant tem-  
perature gauge moves across the  
dial towards “H” (HOT), pull over  
and stop as soon as it is safe to  
do so, and allow the engine to idle  
until it cools down. You may pro-  
ceed once the engine has cooled  
sufficiently.  
• You must decide driving speed  
depending on trailer weight and  
uphill grade to reduce the possi-  
bility of engine and transaxle  
overheating.  
WARNING - Parking on a  
hill  
Parking your vehicle on a hill with a  
trailer attached could cause seri-  
ous injury or death, should the trail-  
er break loose or brake stops work-  
ing.  
7. Shut off the vehicle and release the  
vehicle brakes but leave the parking  
brake set.  
WARNING - Parking brake  
It can be dangerous to get out of  
your vehicle if the parking brake is  
not firmly set.  
If you have left the engine running,  
the vehicle can move suddenly.You  
or others could be seriously or  
fatally injured.  
However, if you ever have to park your  
trailer on a hill, here's how to do it:  
1. Pull the vehicle into the parking space.  
Turn the steering wheel in the direction  
of the curb (right if headed downhill,  
left if headed up hill).  
2. If the vehicle has a manual transaxle,  
place the car in neutral. If the vehicle  
has an automatic transaxle, place the  
car in P (Park).  
3. Set the parking brake and shut off the  
vehicle.  
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Driving your vehicle  
E140500AUN  
When you are ready to leave after park-  
ing on a hill  
1. With the manual transaxle in Neutral  
or automatic transaxle in P (Park),  
apply your brakes and hold the brake  
pedal down while you:  
CAUTION  
Maintenance when trailer towing  
Your vehicle will need service more often  
when you regularly pull  
• Due to higher load during trailer  
usage, overheating might occur  
in hot days or during uphill driv-  
ing. If the coolant gauge indicates  
over-heating, switch off the A/C  
and stop the vehicle in a safe area  
to cool down the engine.  
a
trailer.  
Important items to pay particular atten-  
tion to include engine oil, automatic  
transaxle fluid, axle lubricant and cooling  
system fluid. Brake condition is another  
important item to frequently check. Each  
item is covered in this manual, and the  
Index will help you find them quickly. If  
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review  
these sections before you start your trip.  
Don’t forget to also maintain your trailer  
and hitch. Follow the maintenance  
schedule that accompanied your trailer  
and check it periodically. Preferably, con-  
duct the check at the start of each day’s  
driving. Most importantly, all hitch nuts  
and bolts should be tight.  
• Start your engine;  
• Shift into gear; and  
• Release the parking brake.  
• When towing check transaxle  
fluid more frequently.  
2. Slowly remove your foot from the  
brake pedal.  
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of  
the chocks.  
4. Stop and have someone pick up and  
store the chocks.  
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Driving your vehicle  
kg (lbs.)  
2.4L Gasoline Engine  
E140600BFD  
Engine  
If you do decide to pull a trailer  
Here are some important points if you  
decide to pull a trailer:  
• Consider using a sway control.You can  
ask a hitch dealer about sway control.  
• Do not do any towing with your car dur-  
ing its first 2,000 km (1,200 miles) in  
order to allow the engine to properly  
break in. Failure to heed this caution  
may result in serious engine or  
transaxle damage.  
• When towing a trailer, be sure to con-  
sult an authorized Kia dealer for further  
information on additional requirements  
such as a towing kit, etc.  
2WD  
4WD  
Item  
454  
(1000)  
454  
(1000)  
Without brake system  
With brake system  
Maximum trailer  
weight  
907  
(2000)  
907  
(2000)  
91  
(200)  
91  
(200)  
Maximum tongue weight  
2WD : 2-Wheel drive  
4WD : 4-Wheel drive  
• Always drive your vehicle at a moder-  
ate speed (less than 100 km/h (60  
mph)).  
To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the informa-  
tion in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section.  
• On a long uphill grade, do not exceed  
70 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing  
speed limit, whichever is lower.  
• The chart contains important consider-  
ations that have to do with weight:  
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The trailer tongue should weigh a maxi-  
mum of 10% of the total loaded trailer  
weight, within the limits of the maximum  
permissible trailer tongue load. After  
you've loaded your trailer, weigh the trail-  
er and then the tongue, separately, to  
see if the weights are proper. If they  
aren’t, you may be able to correct them  
simply by moving some items around in  
the trailer.  
Tongue Load  
Total Trailer Weight  
C190E01JM  
Gross Axle Weight Gross Vehicle Weight  
C190E02JM  
E140602AEN  
E140601AUN  
Weight of the trailer  
Weight of the trailer tongue  
What is the maximum safe weight of a  
trailer? It should never weigh more than  
the maximum trailer weight with trailer  
brakes. But even that can be too heavy.  
It depends on how you plan to use your  
trailer. For example, speed, altitude, road  
grades, outside temperature and how  
often your vehicle is used to pull a trailer  
are all important. The ideal trailer weight  
can also depend on any special equip-  
ment that you have on your vehicle.  
The tongue load of any trailer is an  
important weight to measure because it  
affects the total gross vehicle weight  
(GVW) of your vehicle. This weight  
includes the curb weight of the vehicle,  
any cargo you may carry in it, and the  
people who will be riding in the vehicle.  
And if you will tow a trailer, you must add  
the tongue load to the GVW because  
your vehicle will also be carrying that  
weight.  
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WARNING - Trailer  
• Never load a trailer with more  
weight in the rear than in the  
front. The front should be loaded  
with approximately 60% of the  
total trailer load; the rear should  
be loaded with approximately  
40% of the total trailer load.  
• Never exceed the maximum  
weight limits of the trailer or trail-  
er towing equipment. Improper  
loading can result in damage to  
your vehicle and/or personal  
injury. Check weights and loading  
at a commercial scale or highway  
patrol office equipped with  
scales.  
• An improperly loaded trailer can  
cause loss of vehicle control.  
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VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT  
E150100AUN  
E150102AAM  
Seating capacity:  
Tire and loading information label  
Total : 5 persons  
- Front seat : 2 persons  
- Rear seat : 3 persons  
Seating capacity is the maximum  
number of occupants including a  
driver, your vehicle may carry.  
The label located on the driver's door  
sill gives the original tire size, cold  
tire pressures recommended for your  
vehicle, the number of people that  
can be in your vehicle and vehicle  
capacity weight.  
SLTIRE01N  
SLTIRE02N  
SLTIRE03N  
E150101AAM  
However, the seating capacity may  
be reduced based upon the weight of  
all of the occupants, and the weight  
of the cargo being carried or towed.  
Vehicle capacity weight:  
5 persons : 420 kg (926 lbs.)  
Vehicle capacity weight is the maxi-  
mum combined weight of occupants Do not overload the vehicle as there  
and cargo. If your vehicle is equipped is a limit to the total weight, or load  
with a trailer, the combined weight limit including occupants and cargo,  
includes the tongue load.  
the vehicle can carry.  
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E150103AEN  
E150105AUN-C1  
5. Determine the combined weight of  
luggage and cargo being loaded  
on the vehicle. That weight may  
not safely exceed the available  
cargo and luggage load capacity  
calculated in Step 4.  
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trail-  
er, load from your trailer will be  
transferred to your vehicle. Consult  
this manual to determine how this  
reduces the available cargo and  
luggage load capacity of your  
vehicle.  
Towing capacity:  
Without trailer brakes  
: 454 kg (1000 lbs)  
With trailer brakes  
: 907 kg (2000 lbs)  
Towing capacity is the maximum  
trailer weight including its cargo  
weight, your vehicle can tow.  
Steps for determining correct load  
limit  
1. Locate the statement "The combined  
weight of occupants and cargo  
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX  
lbs.'' on your vehicle's placard.  
2. Determine the combined weight of  
the driver and passengers that will  
be riding in your vehicle.  
3. Subtract the combined weight of the  
driver and passengers from XXX kg  
or XXX lbs.  
E150104AUN  
Cargo capacity:  
The cargo capacity of your vehicle  
will increase or decrease depending  
on the weight and the number of  
occupants and the tongue load, if  
your vehicle is equipped with a trailer.  
4. The resulting figure equals the  
available amount of cargo and lug-  
gage load capacity. For example, if  
the "XXX" amount equals 635 kg  
(1400 lbs.) and there will be five 68  
kg (150 lbs.) passengers in your  
vehicle, the amount of available  
cargo and luggage load capacity  
is 295 kg (650 lbs).  
(635-340 (5 x 68) = 295 kg or  
1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)  
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Example 1  
Example 2  
Example 3  
A
B
C
A
B
C
A
B
C
C190F01JM  
C190F02JM  
C190F03JM  
Item  
A
Description  
Vehicle Capacity  
Weight  
Total  
635 kg  
(1400 lbs)  
Item  
A
Description  
Vehicle Capacity  
Weight  
Total  
635 kg  
(1400 lbs)  
Item  
A
Description  
Vehicle Capacity  
Weight  
Total  
635 kg  
(1400 lbs)  
Subtract Occupant  
Weight  
68 kg (150 lbs) × 2  
Available Cargo and 499 kg  
Luggage weight (1100 lbs)  
Subtract Occupant  
Weight  
68 kg (150 lbs) × 5  
Available Cargo and 295 kg  
Luggage weight (650 lbs)  
Subtract Occupant  
Weight  
78 kg (172 lbs) × 5  
Available Cargo and 245 kg  
Luggage weight (540 lbs)  
136 kg  
(300 lbs)  
340 kg  
(750 lbs)  
390 kg  
(860 lbs)  
B
C
B
C
B
C
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label for specific information about your vehicle's capacity weight  
and seating positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers and cargo should never exceed your vehicle's  
capacity weight.  
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E150200AUN  
The label will help you decide how  
much cargo and installed equipment  
your vehicle can carry.  
Certification label  
WARNING - Over loading  
• Never exceed the GVWR for  
your vehicle, the GAWR for  
either the front or rear axle  
and vehicle capacity weight.  
Exceeding these ratings can  
cause an accident or vehicle  
damage.You can calculate the  
weight of your load by weigh-  
ing the items (or people)  
before putting them in the  
vehicle. Be careful not to over-  
load your vehicle.  
• Do not load your vehicle any  
heavier than the GVWR, either  
the maximum front or rear  
GAWR and vehicle capacity  
weight. If you do, parts,  
including tires on your vehicle  
can break, and it can change  
the way your vehicle handles  
and braking ability. This could  
cause you to lose control and  
crash. Also, overloading can  
shorten the life of your vehi-  
cle.  
The certification label is located on  
the driver's door sill at the center pil-  
lar.  
This label shows the maximum  
allowable weight of the fully loaded  
vehicle. This is called the GVWR  
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The  
GVWR includes the weight of the  
vehicle, all occupants, fuel and  
cargo.  
This label also tells you the maxi-  
mum weight that can be supported  
by the front and rear axles, called  
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).  
To find out the actual loads on your  
front and rear axles, you need to go  
to a weigh station and weigh your  
vehicle.Your dealer can help you with  
this. Be sure to spread out your load  
equally on both sides of the center-  
line.  
If you carry items inside your vehicle  
- like suitcases, tools, packages, or  
anything else - they are moving as  
fast as the vehicle. If you have to stop  
or turn quickly, or if there is a crash,  
the items will keep going and can  
cause an injury if they strike the driv-  
er or a passenger.  
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CAUTION  
WARNING  
WARNING - Loose cargo  
Items you carry inside your  
vehicle can strike and injure  
occupants in a sudden stop or  
turn, or in a crash.  
• Put items in the cargo area of  
your vehicle.Try to spread the  
weight evenly.  
• Never stack items, like suit-  
cases, inside the vehicle  
above the tops of the seats.  
• Do not leave an unsecured  
child restraint in your vehicle.  
• Overloading your vehicle may  
cause damage. Repairs would  
not be covered by your warran-  
ty. Do not overload your vehicle.  
• Using heavier suspension com-  
ponents to get added durability  
might not change your weight  
ratings. Ask your dealer to help  
you load your vehicle the right  
way.  
• Overloading your vehicle can  
cause heat buildup in your  
vehicle's tires and possible  
tire failure that could lead to a  
crash.  
• Overloading your vehicle can  
cause increased stopping dis-  
tances that could lead to a  
crash.  
• A crash resulting from poor  
handling vehicle damage, tire  
failure, or increased stopping  
distances could result in seri-  
ous injury or death.  
• When you carry something  
inside the vehicle, secure it.  
• Do not drive with a seat folded  
down unless necessary.  
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VEHICLE WEIGHT GLOSSARY  
E160000AUN  
E160300AUN  
E160700AUN-EU  
Cargo weight  
GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating)  
This section will guide you in the proper  
loading of your vehicle and/or trailer, to  
keep your loaded vehicle weight within its  
design rating capability, with or without a  
trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will  
provide maximum return of the vehicle  
design performance. Before loading your  
vehicle, familiarize yourself with the fol-  
lowing terms for determining your vehi-  
cle's weight ratings, with or without a  
trailer, from the vehicle's specifications  
and the certification label:  
This figure includes all weight added to  
the Base Curb Weight, including cargo  
and optional equipment.  
This is the maximum allowable weight of  
the fully loaded vehicle (including all  
options, equipment, passengers and  
cargo). The GVWR is shown on the cer-  
tification label located on the driver’s  
door sill.  
E160400AUN  
GAW (Gross axle weight)  
This is the total weight placed on each  
axle (front and rear) - including vehicle  
curb weight and all payload.  
E160500AUN  
GAWR (Gross axle weight rating)  
E160100AUN  
This is the maximum allowable weight  
that can be carried by a single axle (front  
or rear). These numbers are shown on  
the certification label.  
The total load on each axle must never  
exceed its GAWR.  
Base curb weight  
This is the weight of the vehicle including  
a full tank of fuel and all standard equip-  
ment. It does not include passengers,  
cargo, or optional equipment.  
E160200AUN  
E160600AUN  
Vehicle curb weight  
GVW (Gross vehicle weight)  
This is the Base Curb Weight plus actual  
Cargo Weight plus passengers.  
This is the weight of your new vehicle  
when you picked it up from your dealer  
plus any aftermarket equipment.  
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Related Topics

Before driving Key positions (if equipped) Engine start/Stop button (if equipped) Manual transaxle (if equipped) Automatic transaxle (if equipped) Four wheel drive (4WD) (if equipped) Brake system Cruise control system (if equipped) Economical operation Special driving conditions Winter driving Trailer towing Vehicle load limit Vehicle weight glossary

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