
489
Features of your vehicle
Map lamp
Push the lens to turn the map lamp
on or off. This light produces a spot
beam for convenient use as a map
lamp at night or as a personal lamp
for the driver and the front passenger.
DOOR: The light comes on when
any door (or trunk) is
opened regardless of the
ignition switch position.
When doors are unlocked
by the transmitter (or smart
key), the light comes on for
approximately 30 seconds
as long as any door is not
open. The light goes out
gradually after approxi-
mately 30 seconds if the
door is closed. However, if
the ignition switch is ON or
all doors are locked, the
light will turn off immediate-
ly. If a door is opened with
the ignition switch in the
ACC or LOCK position, the
light stays on for about 20
minutes. However, if a door
is opened with the ignition
switch in the ON position,
the light stays on continu-
ously.
INTERIOR LIGHT
CAUTION
Do not use the interior lights for
extended periods when the
engine is not running.
It may cause battery discharge.
OBK049055N
WARNING
Do not use the interior lights
when driving in the dark.
Accidents could happen
because the view may be
obscured by interior lights. 

53
Driving your vehicle
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights are
clean.
 Check the condition of the tires.
 Check under the vehicle for any
sign of leaks.
 Be sure there are no obstacles
behind you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections  
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, with the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in section 7,
“Maintenance”.CALIFORNIA PROPO-
SITION 65 WARNING
Engine exhaust and a wide vari-
ety of automobile components
and parts, including compo-
nents found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or
emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause can-
cer and birth defects and repro-
ductive harm. In addition, cer-
tain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of compo-
nent wear contain or emit chem-
icals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproduc-
tive harm.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING
Driving while distracted can
result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol, that may lead to an acci-
dent, severe personal injury,
and death. The driver’s primary
responsibility is in the safe and
legal operation of a vehicle, and
use of any handheld devices,
other equipment, or vehicle sys-
tems which take the driver’s
eyes, attention and focus away
from the safe operation of a
vehicle or which are not permis-
sible by law should never be
used during operation of the
vehicle. 

Before starting 
 Close and lock all doors.
 Position the seat so that all con-
trols are easily reached.
 Adjust the inside and outside
rearview mirrors.
 Be sure that all lights work.
 Check all gauges.
 Check the operation of warning
lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
 Release the parking brake and
make sure the brake warning light
goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
Driving your vehicle
4 5
WARNING
 When you intend to park or
stop the vehicle with the
engine on, be careful not to
depress the accelerator pedal
for a long period of time. It may
overheat the engine or exhaust
system and cause a fire.
 When you make a sudden stop
or turn the steering wheel rap-
idly, loose objects may drop on
the floor and it could interfere
with the operation of the foot
pedals, possibly causing an
accident. Keep all things in the
vehicle safely stored.
 If you do not focus on driving,
it may cause an accident. Be
careful when operating what
may disturb driving such as
audio or heater. It is the
responsibility of the driver to
always drive safely.
WARNING
All passengers must be proper-
ly belted whenever the vehicle
is moving. Refer to “Seat belts”
in section 3 for more informa-
tion on their proper use.
WARNING- Driving under
the influence of alcohol or
drugs
Drinking and driving is danger-
ous. Drunk driving is the num-
ber one contributor to the high-
way death toll each year. Even a
small amount of alcohol will
affect your reflexes, percep-
tions and judgment. Driving
while under the influence of
drugs is as dangerous or more
dangerous than driving drunk.
You are much more likely to
have a serious accident if you
drink or take drugs and drive.
If you are drinking or taking
drugs, don’t drive. Do not ride
with a driver who has been drink-
ing or taking drugs. Choose a
designated driver or call a cab.
WARNING
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for peo-
ple, especially children, before
putting a car into D (Drive) or R
(Reverse). 

55
Driving your vehicle
Illuminated ignition switch 
Whenever a front door is opened, the
ignition switch will be illuminated for
your convenience, provided the igni-
tion switch is not in the ON position.
The light will go off immediately
when the ignition switch is turned on
or go off after about 30 seconds
when the door is closed.
Ignition switch position
LOCK
The steering wheel locks to protect
against theft. The ignition key can be
removed only in the LOCK position.
When turning the ignition switch to
the LOCK position, push the key
inward at the ACC position and turn
the key toward the LOCK position.
ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel is unlocked and
electrical accessories are operative.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
If difficulty is experienced turning
the ignition switch to the ACC posi-
tion, turn the key while turning the
steering wheel right and left to
release the tension.
ON
The warning lights can be checked
before the engine is started. This is
the normal running position after the
engine is started.
Do not leave the ignition switch ON if
the engine is not running to prevent
the battery from discharging.
KEY
OBK059001NOUN036002 

59
Driving your vehicle
ACC(Accessory)
• with manual transmission
Press the engine start/stop button
when the button is in the OFF posi-
tion without depressing the clutch
pedal.
• with automatic transmission
Press the engine start/stop button
when the button is in the OFF posi-
tion without depressing the brake
pedal.
The steering wheel is unlocked and
electrical accessories are operative
(if equipped with steering lock).
If you leave the engine start/stop but-
ton in the ACC position for more than
1 hour, the engine is off automatical-
ly to prevent the battery from dis-
charging.
ON
• with manual transmission
Press the engine start/stop button
when the button is in the ACC posi-
tion without depressing the clutch
pedal.
• with automatic transmission
Press the engine start/stop button
when the button is in the ACC posi-
tion without depressing the brake
pedal.
The warning lights can be checked
before the engine is started. Do not
leave the button in the ON position if
the engine is not running to prevent
the battery from discharging.
START
• with manual transmission
To start the engine, depress the
clutch pedal and brake pedal, then
press the engine start/stop button
with the shift lever in the N(Neutral)
position.
• with automatic transmission
To start the engine, depress the brake
pedal and press the engine start/stop
button with the shift lever in the
P(Park) or the N (Neutral) position.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
• If you press the engine start/stop
button without depressing the
clutch pedal on manual transmis-
sion vehicles or without depressing
the brake pedal on automatic
transmission vehicles, the engine
will not start and the engine
start/stop button changes as fol-
lows:
OFF→ →
ACC → →
ON → →
OFF
• If you leave the engine start/stop
button in the ACC or the ON posi-
tion for a long time, the battery
may be discharged.  

Driving your vehicle
44 5
✽
✽
NOTICE
The ESC system should be turned
OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.Smooth cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are
wet. Ideally, corners should always
be taken under gentle acceleration. If
you follow these suggestions, tire
wear will be held to a minimum.
Driving at night  
Because night driving presents more
hazards than driving in the daylight,
here are some important tips to
remember:
 Slow down and keep more dis-
tance between you and other vehi-
cles, as it may be more difficult to
see at night, especially in areas
where there may not be any street
lights.
WARNING- Spinning
tires
Do not spin the wheels. Spinning
the wheels at high speeds when
the vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat which
could result in tire damage that
may injure bystanders.
OBK059021
WARNING
If your vehicle becomes stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you
may attempt to rock the vehicle
free by moving it forward and
backward. Do not attempt this
procedure if people or objects
are anywhere near the vehicle.
During the rocking operation the
vehicle may suddenly move for-
ward of backward as it becomes
unstuck, causing injury or dam-
age to nearby people or objects.
OBK059020N 

What to do in an emergency
2 6
ROAD WARNING 
Hazard warning flasher  
The hazard warning flasher serves
as a warning to other drivers to exer-
cise extreme caution when
approaching, overtaking, or passing
your vehicle.It should be used whenever emer-
gency repairs are being made or
when the vehicle is stopped near the
edge of a roadway.
Depress the flasher switch with the
ignition switch in any position. The
flasher switch is located in the center
console switch panel. All turn signal
lights will flash simultaneously.
• The hazard warning flasher oper-
ates whether your vehicle is run-
ning or not.
 The turn signals do not work when
the hazard flasher is on.
 Care must be taken when using
the hazard warning flasher while
the vehicle is being towed.
If the engine stalls at a cross-
road or crossing
If the engine stalls at a crossroad or
crossing, set the shift lever in the N
(Neutral) position and then push the
vehicle to a safe place.
If you have a flat tire while
driving
If a tire goes flat while you are driv-
ing:
1.Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal and let the car slow down
while driving straight ahead. Do not
apply the brakes immediately or
attempt to pull off the road as this
may cause a loss of control. When
the car has slowed to such a speed
that it is safe to do so, brake care-
fully and pull off the road. Drive off
the road as far as possible and
park on firm, level ground. If you
are on a divided highway, do not
park in the median area between
the two traffic lanes.
IN CASE OF AN EMER-
GENCY WHILE  DRIVING
OBK042044N 

Maintenance
6 7
While operating your vehicle:
 Note any changes in the sound of
the exhaust or any smell of
exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
 Check for vibrations in the steering
wheel. Notice any increased steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-
ahead position.
 Notice if your vehicle constantly
turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling on smooth, level
road.
 When stopping, listen and check
for unusual sounds, pulling to one
side, increased brake pedal travel
or “hard-to-push” brake pedal.
 If any slipping or changes in the
operation of your transmission
occurs, check the transmission
fluid level.
 Check automatic transmission P
(Park) function.
 Check parking brake.
 Check for fluid leaks under your
vehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
At least monthly:
 Check the coolant level in the
engine coolant reservoir.
 Check the operation of all exterior
lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
 Check the inflation pressures of all
tires including the spare.
At least twice a year 
(i.e., every Spring and Fall):
 Check the radiator, heater and air
conditioning hoses for leaks or
damage.
 Check the windshield washer
spray and wiper operation. Clean
the wiper blades with clean cloth
dampened with washer fluid.
 Check the headlight alignment.
 Check the muffler, exhaust pipes,
shields and clamps.
 Check the lap/shoulder belts for
wear and function.
 Check for worn tires and loose
wheel lug nuts.