05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05
192
General information
Economical driving conserves natural
resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by
thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops
and adjusting the speed of your vehicle to
immediate traffic conditions.
Observe the following rules:
•Bring the engine to normal operating tem-
perature as soon as possible by driving
with a light foot on the accelerator pedal for
the first few minutes of operation. A cold
engine uses more fuel and is subject to
increased wear.
•Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle
for driving short distances. This does not
allow the engine to reach normal operating
temperature.
•Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration
and hard braking.
•Use the transmission's Drive (D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-
down.
•Do not exceed posted speed limits.
•Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra
load) in the vehicle.
•Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire
pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
•Remove snow tires when threat of snow or
ice has ended.
•Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc,
increase air resistance and also fuel con-
sumption.
•At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-
tion will be lower with the air conditioning
on and the windows closed than with the
air conditioning off and the windows open.
•Using the onboard trip computer's fuel
consumption modes can help you learn
how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage
are:
•Dirty air cleaner
•Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
•Dragging brakes
•Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others
are checked at the standard maintenance
intervals.
WARNING
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with
the tailgate open could lead to poisonous
exhaust gases entering the passenger com-
partment. If the tailgate must be kept open
for any reason, proceed as follows:
•Close the windows
•Set the ventilation system control to air
flow to floor, windshield and side win-
dows and the blower control to its high-
est setting.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a
tendency to understeer, which means that the
steering wheel has to be turned more than
might seem appropriate for the curvature of a
bend. This ensures good stability and reduces
the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that
these properties can alter with the vehicle load.
The heavier the load in the cargo area, the less
the tendency to understeer.
Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure
all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check
that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See the
"Tire pressure" section. Loads should be dis-
tributed so that capacity weight or maximum
permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
07 Index
07
286
Spin control............................................. 154
SRS............................................................ 19
Stability system....................................... 154
indicator light........................................ 73
Starting the engine..................................103
with keyless drive...............................103
Starting the vehicle
after a crash (crash mode)....................33
Start inhibitor (immobilizer)..................52, 53
Steel grid in cargo area............................ 205
Steering wheel
adjusting............................................... 84
horn....................................................... 84
keypad.................................. 84, 120, 131
Stone chips, touching up......................... 266
Storage spaces........................................ 187
Studded tires........................................... 251
Sunroof (moonroof).................................... 98
Supplemental restraint system.................. 19
warning light......................................... 74T
Tailgate
driving with it open.............................192
power operated.................................. 200
wiper/washer........................................ 92
Tailgate wipers......................................... 230
Taillights, changing bulbs........................ 226
Temporary spare tire............................... 252
Three-way catalytic converter................. 199
Tire designations.....................................248
Tire Pressure Monitoring System....260, 261
indicator light........................................ 73
Tires.........................................................242
age...................................................... 242
changing from summer to winter........ 243
glossary of terms................................ 249
improving economy............................ 242
inflation pressure........................244, 245
inflation pressure tables..................... 247
rotation............................................... 243
snow...................................................251
spare................................................... 252
specifications...................................... 246
storing................................................. 243
studded............................................... 251tire pressure monitoring system......... 260
tread wear indicator............................ 244
uniform tire quality grading................. 251
Top tether anchors (child restraint sys-
tems).......................................................... 44
Touching up paint.................................... 266
Towing a trailer................................208, 209
trailer hitch.......................................... 209
Towing the vehicle........................... 210, 211
Traction control........................................ 154
Trailer towing...................................208, 209
trailer hitch.......................................... 209
Transmission
general description.....................107, 108
oil........................................................ 277
shiftlock override................................ 108
Tread wear indicator................................ 244
Trip computer.......................................... 151
Trip odometers.......................................... 76
Trips, long distance................................. 194
Turn signals............................................... 88
changing bulbs................................... 225
indicator lights...................................... 73
Two-stage booster cushion....................... 46
