2012 KIA Sorento Eco

k i a ,
t h e c o m p a n yThank you for becoming the owner of a new Kia vehicle.
As a global car manufacturer focused on building high-quality, value
for money prices, Kia Motors is dedicated to providing you with a
customer service experience that exceeds your expectations.
All information contained in this Owner’s Manual is accurate at the
time of publication. However, Kia reserves the right to make changes
at any time so that our policy of continual product improvement can
be carried out.
This manual applies to all Kia models and includes descriptions and
explanations of optional as well as standard equipment. As a result,
you may encounter material in this manual that is not applicable to
your specific Kia vehicle.
Drive safely and enjoy your Kia!
XM CAN (ENG) FOREWORD.QXP 4/19/2011 10:20 AM Page 1

i
Thank you for choosing a KIA vehicle.
When you require service, remember that your KIA Dealer
knows your vehicle best. Your dealer has factory-trained tech-
nicians, recommended special tools, genuine KIA replacement
parts and is dedicated to your complete satisfaction.
Because subsequent owners require this important information
as well, this publication should remain with the vehicle if it is
sold.
This manual will familiarize you with operational, mainte-
nance and safety information about your new vehicle. It is sup-
plemented by a Warranty and Consumer Information manual
that provides important information on all warranties regarding
your vehicle.
We urge you to read these publications carefully and follow the
recommendations to help assure enjoyable and safe operation
of your new vehicle.
KIA offers a great variety of options, components and features
for its various models. Therefore, some of the equipment
described in this manual, along with the various illustrations,
may not be applicable to your particular vehicle.
The information and specifications provided in this manual
were accurate at the time of printing. KIA reserves the right to
discontinue or change specifications or design at any time
without notice and without incurring any obligation. If you
have questions, always check with your KIA dealer.
We assure you of our continuing interest in your motoring
pleasure and satisfaction in your KIA vehicle.
© 2011 Kia Canada Inc.
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system or translation in
whole or part is not permitted without written authorization
from Kia Canada Inc..
Printed in U. S. A.Foreword
XM CAN (ENG) FOREWORD.QXP 4/19/2011 10:20 AM Page 2

I3
Index
ChainsSafety chains ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······5-54
Checking tire inflation pressure··················\
··················\
·7-37
Child restraint system ··················\
··················\
················3-33 Auto lock mode (Passenger seat belt) ··················\
·····3-36
Lower anchor system ··················\
··················\
············3-39
Tether anchor system ··················\
··················\
············3-38
Child-protector rear door lock ··················\
··················\
···4-18
Climate control system (Automatic) ··················\
···········4-87 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-93
Automatic heating and air conditioning··················\
··4-88
Manual heating and air conditioning ··················\
······4-89
3rd row air conditioning··················\
··················\
········4-83
Climate control system (Manual) ··················\
···············4-78 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-83
Heating and air conditioning··················\
··················\
·4-79
3rd row air conditioning··················\
··················\
········4-83
Climate control air filter··················\
··················\
···4-86, 7-27
Clock (Digital) ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-102
Combined instrument, see instrument cluster ···············4-48
Compact spare tire ··················\
··················\
··················\
···6-14
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
··················\
7-41
Coolant ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-19
Cooling fluid, see engine coolant ··················\
················7-19
Crankcase emission control system ··················\
·············7-64
Cruise control system ··················\
··················\
················5-39
Cup holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-100
Curtain air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-59 Dashboard, see instrument cluster ··················\
···············4-48
Dashboard illumination, see instrument
panel illumination··················\
··················\
··················\
4-49
Defogging (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
············4-95
Defogging logic (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
···4-96
Defroster (Rear window) ··················\
··················\
···········4-77
Defrosting (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
············4-95
Digital clock··················\
··················\
··················\
···········4-102
Dimensions ··················\
··················\
··················\
················8-2
Display illumination, see instrument panel illumination··················\
··················\
··················\
4-49
Displays, see instrument cluster ··················\
··················\
4-48
Door locks··················\
··················\
··················\
················4-15 Central door lock switch ··················\
··················\
·······4-17
Child-protector rear door lock ··················\
················4-18
Drinks holders, see cup holders··················\
·················4-10\
0
Driver position memory system ··················\
··················\
4-34
Driver's air bag··············\
··················\
··················\
·············3-53
Driving at night··················\
··················\
··················\
········5-47
Driving in flooded areas ··················\
··················\
············5-48
Driving in the rain ··················\
··················\
··················\
···5-48
Economical operation ··················\
··················\
················5-43
Electric chromic mirror (ECM) ··················\
··················\
·4-39
DE
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I7
Index
Occupant detection system ··················\
··················\
········3-47
Odometer/Tripmeter/Trip computer ··················\
············4-51
Oil (Engine) ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············7-18
Outside rearview mirror··················\
··················\
·············4-45
Overheats ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·6-6
Owner maintenance ··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-6
Panoramic sunroof ··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-30
Parking brake··················\
··················\
··················\
··5-28, 7-24
Passenger's front air bag ··················\
··················\
············3-53
Power brakes··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-27
Power outlet ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········4-101
Power steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-36
Power steering fluid ··················\
··················\
··················\
·7-23
Power window lock button ··················\
··················\
········4-24
Pre-tensioner seat belt··················\
··················\
················3-26
Push starting··················\
··················\
··················\
···············6-5
Rear parking assist system··················\
··················\
·········4-63
Rear seat adjustment ··················\
··················\
··················\
3-12
Rearview camera ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····4-66
Recommended cold tire inflation pressures ··················\
7-36Recommended lubricants and capacities ··················\
·······8-4
Recommended SAE viscosity number··················\
······8-6
Remote keyless entry ··················\
··················\
··················\
·4-6
Road warning ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············6-2
Rocking the vehicle ··················\
··················\
··················\
·5-46
Roof rack ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············4-105
Safety chains ··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-54
Seat belts ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
3-20 Pre-tensioner seat belt ··················\
··················\
···········3-26
Seat belt - Driver's··················\
··················\
·················3-22\
Seat belt warning··················\
··················\
··················\
·3-21
Seat belts - Front passenger and rear seat ·················3-24\
Seat heater··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
3-9
Seat heater with air ventilation ··················\
··················\
··3-10
Seatback pocket ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······3-12
Seating capacity ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······5-62
Seats ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-2 Armrest ··················\
··················\
··················\
················3-19
Folding the rear seat ··················\
··················\
··············3-13
Front seat adjustment - manual ··················\
·················3-4
Front seat adjustment - power ··················\
··················\
·3-5
Headrest ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······3-7, 3-17
Lumbar support ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····3-7
Rear seat adjustment ··················\
··················\
·············3-12
Seat heater ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············3-9OP
S
R
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Index8I
Seat heater with air ventilation ··················\
···············3-10
Seatback pocket··················\
··················\
··················\
···3-12
Shift lock system ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····5-18
Side impact air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
··3-57
Spare tire Compact spare tire ··················\
··················\
················6-14
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
··············7-41
Removing and storing the spare tire ··················\
·········6-8
Smart key ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·4-9
Smooth cornering··················\
··················\
··················\
·····5-47
Snow tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······5-50, 7-48
Special driving conditions ··················\
··················\
·········5-45 Driving at night ··················\
··················\
··················\
···5-47
Driving in flooded areas··················\
··················\
········5-48
Driving in the rain ··················\
··················\
·················5-48\
Hazardous driving conditions ··················\
·················5-45\
Highway driving··················\
··················\
··················\
··5-49
Rocking the vehicle··················\
··················\
···············5-46
Smooth cornering ··················\
··················\
··················\
5-47
Speedometer··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-49
Sports mode ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············5-17
Starting difficulties, see Engine will not start ·················6-3
Starting the engine ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····5-5
Steering wheel ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-36 Heated steering wheel ··················\
··················\
···········4-37
Horn··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-38
Power steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····4-36
Tilt steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-36
Steering wheel audio control ··················\
··················\
···4-107 Storage compartment ··················\
··················\
·················4-98\
Center console storage ··················\
··················\
··········4-98
Glove box ··················\
··················\
··················\
············4-98
Luggage box ··················\
··················\
··················\
········4-99
Sunglass holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-99
Summer tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
············7-48
Sunglass holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
········4-99
Sunroof··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-30
Sunvisor ··················\
··················\
··················\
·················4-10\
1
Tachometer ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············4-49
Tailgate ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-19 Emergency tailgate safety release ··················\
···········4-20
Tether anchor system ··················\
··················\
·················3-38\
Theft-alarm system ··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-13
Third (3rd) row air conditioning ··················\
·················4-83\
Tilt steering ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············4-36
Tire and loading information label ··················\
··············5-62
Tire specification and pressure label ··················\
·············8-8
Tires and wheels··················\
··················\
·················7-36\
, 8-3 All season tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
····7-48
Checking tire inflation pressure ··················\
··············7-37
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
··············7-41
Radial-ply tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
····7-48
Recommended cold tire inflation pressures ··············7-36
Snow tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
············7-48
T
XM CAN (ENG) INDEX.QXP 4/19/2011 10:59 AM Page 8

Introduction21A010000AAMWe want to help you get the greatest
possible driving pleasure from your vehi-
cle. Your Owner’s Manual can assist you
in many ways. We strongly recommend
that you read the entire manual. In order
to minimize the chance of death or injury,
you must read the WARNING and CAU-
TION sections in the manual.
Illustrations complement the words in this
manual to best explain how to enjoy your
vehicle. By reading your manual, you will
learn about features, important safety
information, and driving tips under vari-
ous road conditions.The general layout of the manual is pro-
vided in the Table of Contents. Use the
index when looking for a specific area or
subject; it has an alphabetical listing of all
information in your manual.
Sections: This manual has eight sections
plus an index. Each section begins with a
brief list of contents so you can tell at a
glance if that section has the information
you want.
You will find various WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs, and NOTICEs in this manu-
al. These WARNINGs were prepared to
enhance your personal safety. You should
carefully read and follow ALL procedures
and recommendations provided in these
WARNINGs, CAUTIONs and NOTICEs.
✽ ✽


NOTICEA NOTICE indicates interesting or help-
ful information is being provided.
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
WARNING
A WARNING indicates a situation in
which harm, serious bodily injury or
death could result if the warning is
ignored.
CAUTION
A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which damage to your vehicle couldresult if the caution is ignored.
XM CAN (ENG) 1.QXP 4/19/2011 10:21 AM Page 2

Introduction41"E85" fuel is an alternative fuel com-
prised of 85 percent ethanol and 15 per-
cent gasoline, and is manufactured
exclusively for use in Flexible Fuel
Vehicles. “E85” is not compatible with
your vehicle. Use of “E85” may result in
poor engine performance and damage to
your vehicle's engine and fuel system.
KIA recommends that customers do not
use fuel with an ethanol content exceed-
ing 10%.
A020104AUNUse of MTBEKIA recommends avoiding fuels contain-
ing MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
over 15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7%
weight) in your vehicle.
Fuel containing MTBE over 15.0% vol.
(Oxygen Content 2.7% weight) may
reduce vehicle performance and produce
vapor lock or hard starting.A020105AUNDo not use methanolFuels containing methanol (wood alco-
hol) should not be used in your vehicle.
This type of fuel can reduce vehicle per-
formance and damage components of
the fuel system.
Fuel AdditivesKIA recommends that you use good
quality gasolines treated with detergent
additives such as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline, which help prevent deposit for-
mation in the engine. These gasolines
will help the engine run cleaner and
enhance performance of the Emission
Control System. For more information on
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please
go to the website (www.toptiergas.com)
For customers who do not use TOP Tier
Detergent Gasoline regularly, and have
problems starting or the engine does not
run smoothly, additives that you can buy
separately may be added to the gasoline.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not
available, one bottle of additive added to
the fuel tank at every 7,500mile or every
engine oil change is recommended.
Additives are available from your author-
ized KIA dealer along with information on
how to use them. Do not mix other addi-
tives.A020107AUNOperation in foreign countriesIf you are going to drive your vehicle in
another country, be sure to:
 Observe all regulations regarding reg-istration and insurance.
 Determine that acceptable fuel is avail- able.
CAUTION
Your New Vehicle Limited Warrantymay not cover damage to the fuel system and any performance prob-lems that are caused by the use of fuels containing methanol or fuelscontaining MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) over 15.0% vol.(Oxygen Content 2.7% weight.)
CAUTION
Never use gasohol which contains methanol. Discontinue use of anygasohol product which impairs dri- vability.
CAUTION
Your New Vehicle Limited Warrantydoes not cover damage to the fuelsystem or any performance prob-lems caused by the use of “E85” fuel.
XM CAN (ENG) 1.QXP 4/19/2011 10:21 AM Page 4

15
Introduction
A090000AENAs with other vehicles of this type, failure
to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control, an accident or
vehicle rollover.
Specific design characteristics (higher
ground clearance, track, etc.) give this
vehicle a higher center of gravity than
other types of vehicles. In other words
they are not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as conventional 2-wheel
drive vehicles. Avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers. Again, failure to oper-
ate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control, an accident or vehicle
rollover.Be sure to read the “Reducing
the risk of a rollover” driving guide-
lines, in section 5 of this manual.
A030000AUNNo special break-in period is needed. By
following a few simple precautions for the
first 1,000 km (600 miles) you may add to
the performance, economy and life of
your vehicle.
 Do not race the engine.
 While driving, keep your engine speed (rpm, or revolutions per minute)
between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.
 Do not maintain a single speed for long periods of time, either fast or slow.
Varying engine speed is needed to
properly break-in the engine.
 Avoid hard stops, except in emergen- cies, to allow the brakes to seat prop-
erly.
 Don't let the engine idle longer than 3 minutes at one time.
 Don't tow a trailer during the first 2,000 km (1,200 miles) of operation.VEHICLE BREAK-IN PROCESS
VEHICLE HANDLING
INSTRUCTIONS
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