8-6 Driving tips/Off road driving
Off road driving
result in damage not eligible for repair
such as a towing rope or chain, a shovel,
under warranty.
wheel blocks, first aid kit and cell phone or
citizens band radio.
If you do take your SUBARU off road, you
WARNING
. Drive carefully. Do not take unneces-
should review the common sense precau-
sary risks by driving in dangerous areas or
tions in the next section (applicable to the
. Always maintain a safe driving
over rough terrain.
XV CROSSTREK models) for general
speed according to the road and
. Slow down and employ extra caution at
guidance. But please keep in mind that
weather conditions in order to
all times. When driving off-road, you will
your vehicle’s off-road capabilities are
avoid having an accident on a
not have the benefit of marked traffic
more limited than those of the XV
sharp turn, during sudden brak-
lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and
CROSSTREK models.
ing or under other similar condi-
the like.
Never attempt to drive through pools and
tions.
. Do not drive across steep slopes.
puddles, or roads flooded with water.
. Always use the utmost care in
Instead, drive either straight up or straight
Water entering the engine air intake or
driving – overconfidence be-
down the slopes. A vehicle can much
the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto
cause you are driving an All-
more easily tip over sideways than it can
electrical parts may damage your vehicle
Wheel Drive model could easily
end over end. Avoid driving straight up or
and may cause it to stall.
lead to a serious accident.
down slopes that are too steep.
. Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, espe-
& XV CROSSTREK models
cially at higher speeds.
& Except XV CROSSTREK
Because of the AWD feature and higher
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
models
ground clearance, your SUBARU can be
steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk the
driven on ordinary roads or off-road. But
Your AWD vehicle is neither a conven-
wheel and injure your hands. Instead drive
please keep in mind that an AWD
tional off-road vehicle nor an all terrain
with your fingers and thumbs on the
SUBARU is a passenger car and is
vehicle. It is a passenger car designed
outside of the rim.
neither a conventional off-road vehicle
primarily for on-road use. The AWD
. If driving through water, such as when
nor an all-terrain vehicle. If you do take
feature gives it some limited off-road
crossing shallow streams, first check the
your SUBARU off-road, certain common
capabilities in situations in which the
depth of the water and the bottom of the
sense precautions such as those in the
driving surface is relatively level, obstruc-
stream bed for firmness and ensure that
following list should be taken:
tion-free and otherwise similar to on-road
the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly
. Make certain that you and all of your
driving conditions. Operating it under other
and cross the stream without stopping.
passengers are wearing seatbelts.
than those conditions could subject the
The water should be shallow enough that
vehicle to excessive stress which might
. Carry some emergency equipment,
it does not reach the vehicle’s under-
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