Get Driving your vehicle -> Four wheel drive (4WD) (if equipped) Guide for Kia Sportage SUV Third Generation (2011-2016)

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 -> Four wheel drive (4WD) (if equipped) for Your Kia Sportage SUV Third Generation (2011-2016)

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