05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05
202
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.
09 Index
09
312
Sirius satellite radio.................................. 143
Snow chains............................................ 239
Snow tires................................................ 239
Sound settings, audio system................. 136
Spare tire................................................. 240
Speed-dependent steering...................... 159
Spin control............................................. 157
SRS............................................................ 21
Stability system...............................157, 158
indicator light........................................ 75
Starting the engine..................................107
with keyless drive...............................107
Starting the vehicle
after a crash (crash mode)....................35
Start inhibitor (immobilizer)........................ 55
Steel grid in cargo area............................ 216
Steering wheel
adjusting............................................... 87
horn....................................................... 87
keypad.................................. 87, 124, 135
Stone chips, touching up......................... 287
Storage spaces........................................ 196
Studded tires........................................... 239
Sunroof (moonroof).................................. 102Supplemental restraint system.................. 21
warning light......................................... 76
Symbols, overview................................... 301
T
Tailgate
driving with it open.............................202
locking/unlocking.................................. 66
power operated.................................. 211
wiper/washer........................................ 95
Tailgate wipers......................................... 272
Taillights, changing bulbs........................ 268
Temporary spare tire............................... 240
Three-way catalytic converter................. 209
Tire designations.....................................233
Tire Pressure Monitoring System....250, 251
indicator light........................................ 75
Tires.........................................................226
age...................................................... 226
changing from summer to winter........ 227
glossary of terms................................ 235
improving economy............................ 226
inflation pressure................................ 229
inflation pressure tables.............231, 232load ratings......................................... 230
rotation............................................... 227
snow...................................................239
spare................................................... 240
specifications...................................... 230
speed ratings...................................... 230
storing................................................. 227
studded............................................... 239
tire pressure monitoring system......... 250
tread wear indicator............................ 228
uniform tire quality grading................. 238
Top tether anchors (child restraint sys-
tems).......................................................... 46
Touching up paint.................................... 287
Towing a trailer................................220, 221
trailer hitch.......................................... 221
Towing the vehicle........................... 222, 223
Traction control........................................ 157
Trailer towing...................................220, 221
trailer hitch.......................................... 221
Transmission
general description.....................111, 112
oil........................................................ 299
shiftlock override................................ 112
Tread wear indicator................................ 228
Trip computer.......................................... 155
