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5
Before driving / 5-3
Key positions / 5-4
ENGINE START/STOP button / 5-6
Starting the engine / 5-8
Automatic transmission / 5-12
Four wheel drive (4WD) / 5-18
Brake system / 5-28
Locking differential / 5-40
Air leveling system / 5-41
Cruise control system / 5-44
Economical operation / 5-48
Special driving conditions / 5-50
Winter driving / 5-54
Trailer Towing / 5-58
Vehicle weight / 5-66
Driving your vehicle
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Driving your vehicle
4
5
E030100AHM
Illuminated ignition switch
Whenever a front door is opened, the
ignition switch will illuminate for your con-
venience, provided the ignition switch is
not in the ON position. The light will go off
immediately when the ignition switch is
turned on. It will also go off after about 30seconds when the door is closed. Ignition switch position
E030201AUN
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 towardthe LOCK position.
OEN056001OUN036002
WARNING
When you intend to park or stop the vehicle with the engine on, be careful not to depress the accel-
erator pedal for a long period of
time. It may overheat the engine
or exhaust system and cause fire.
When you make a sudden stop or turn the steering wheel rapidly,
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 care-
ful when operating what may dis-
turb driving such as audio or
heater. It is the responsibility of
the driver to always drive safely.
KEY POSITIONS (IF EQUIPPED)
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519
Driving your vehicle
Transfer mode Shift knob Indicator light Description
This mode is used when driving on normal roads and highway.
This mode is used when driving on slippery roads such as
snowy and rainy roads at normal speed.
Maximum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)This mode is used when increased traction is required, such as
climbing or descending hills, driving off-roads, and towing a
vehicle.
Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
44 WW DD
H
H II
4WD
HI
4WD
LOW
44 WW DD
L
L OO WW2H
(Rear-wheel drive)
4H
(High-speed
4-wheel drive)
4L
(Low-speed
4-wheel drive) (not illuminated)
✽✽
NOTICE
4WD transfer has a time delay for a few seconds until the actual shift is made after turning the transfe r shift knob.
When the 4WD transfer mode is shifted, it may cause mechanical noise. It is not a mechanical failur e but a normal condition.
E170800AHM
Part-Time 4WD (if equipped)
CAUTION
When you stop the vehicle to transfer the shift knob, wait until the corresponding indicator light turns on or off to
depart. If the vehicle moves before the transfer is completed, the vehicle may be damaged.
(illuminated)
(illuminated)
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521
Driving your vehicle
Transfer mode Shift knob Indicator light Description
This mode is used when driving on normal roads and highway.
The engine power is distributed to all four wheels automatical-
ly without the driver's intervention in accordance with the road
conditions and driving conditions.
This mode is used when driving on slippery roads, such as
snowy and rainy roads at normal speed.
Maximum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)This mode is used when ncreased traction is required, such as
climbing or descending hills, driving off-roads, and towing a
vehicle.
Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)44 WW DD
H
H II
4WD
HI
4WD
LOW
44 WW DD
L
L OO WWAUTO
(Automatic
4-wheel drive)
4H
(High-speed
4-wheel drive)
4L
(Low-speed
4-wheel drive) (not illuminated)
✽✽
NOTICE
4WD transfer has a time delay for a few seconds until the actual shift is made after turning the transfe r shift knob.
When the 4WD transfer mode is shifted, it may cause mechanical noise. It is not a mechanical failur e but a normal condition.
E170900AHM Full-Time 4WD Operation (if equipped)
CAUTION
When you stop the vehicle to transfer the shift knob, wait until the corresponding indicator light turns on or off to
depart. If the vehicle moves before the transfer is completed, the vehicle may be damaged.
(illuminated)
(illuminated)
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525
Driving your vehicle
✽✽NOTICE
Do not drive in water if the level is higher than the bottom of the vehicle.
Check your brake condition once you
are out of mud or water. Press the
brake pedal several times as you move
slowly until you feel normal braking
forces return.
Shorten your scheduled maintenance interval if you drive in off-road condi-
tions such as sand, mud or water (see
“Maintenance under severe usage
conditions” in section 7). Always wash
your vehicle thoroughly after off road
use, especially cleaning the bottom of
the vehicle.
Since the driving torque is always applied to the 4 wheels the perform-
ance of the 4WD vehicle is greatly
affected by the condition of the tires.
Be sure to equip the vehicle with four
tires of the same size and type.
A full time four wheel drive vehicle cannot be towed by an ordinary tow
truck. Make sure that the vehicle is
placed on a flat bed truck for moving.E170800AHM
Reducing the risk of a rollover
This multi-purpose passenger vehicle is
defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
SUV’s have higher ground clearance and
a narrower track to make them capable
of performing in a wide variety of off-road
applications. Specific design characteris-
tics give them a higher center of gravity
than ordinary vehicles. An advantage of
the higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road, which allows you to
anticipate problems. They are not
designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger vehi-
cles, any more than low-slung sports
vehicles are designed to perform satis-
factorily in off-road conditions. Due to this
risk, driver and passengers are strongly
recommended to buckle their seat belts.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
more likely to die than a person wearing
a seat belt. There are steps that a driver
can make to reduce the risk of a rollover.
If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers, do not load your roof
rack with heavy cargo, and never modify
your vehicle in any way.
CAUTION - Mud or snow
If one of the front or rear wheels
begins to spin in mud, snow, etc.
the vehicle can sometimes be driv-en out by depressing the accelera-tor pedal further; however avoid running the engine continuously at
high rpm because doing so coulddamage the 4WD system.
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Driving your vehicle
CAUTION
Always check if there is anythingunder the rear part of the vehicle
before adjusting the ALS.
There may be noise heard while the ALS is adjusting the height toa mode.
Do not turn off the engine or press the switch to another modewhile the ALS is adjusting to themode selected.
Do not activate the ALS when the air filter of the compressor has
been submerged.
Inspect or replace the ALS air fil- ter and air spring according to themaintenance schedule.
Do not drive the vehicle when the air spring is damaged or airless.Have the vehicle towed with allthe wheels lifted from the ground.
(Continued)
(Continued) Have the vehicle checked by an authorized Kia dealer if all thelights of the ALS indicator is illu-minated.
All the lights of the ALS indicator can be illuminated when the vehi-cle was parked with one side ofthe vehicle lifted or when one
side of the vehicle was lifted witha jack. When this happens, takethe vehicle to a level ground, and turn off the engine. The ALS will
operate normally when the engineis turned on again.
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Driving your vehicle
50
5
E110100AHM
Hazardous driving conditions
When hazardous driving conditions are
encountered such as water, snow, ice,
mud, sand, or similar hazards, followthese suggestions:
Drive cautiously and allow extra dis-
tance for braking.
Avoid sudden braking or steering. When braking with non-ABS brakes
pump the brake pedal with a light up-
and-down motion until the vehicle isstopped.
If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use second gear. Accelerate slowly to
avoid spinning the drive wheels.
Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or other non-slip material under the drive
wheels to provide traction when stalled
in ice, snow, or mud. E110200BHM
Rocking the vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free
it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the
steering wheel right and left to clear the
area around your driving wheels. Then,
shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and any forward gear in vehicles
equipped with an automatic transmission.
Do not race the engine, and spin the
wheels as little as possible. If you are still
stuck after a few tries, have the vehicle
pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid
engine overheating and possible damage
to the transmission.
SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS
1VQA3002
WARNING -
ABS
Do not pump the brake pedal on a
vehicle equipped with ABS.
WARNING - Downshifting
Downshifting with an automatic
transmission, while driving on slip-
pery surfaces can cause an acci-
dent. The sudden change in tirespeed could cause the tires to skid.
Be careful when downshifting on
slippery surfaces.
CAUTION
Prolonged rocking may cause engine overheating, transmission
damage or failure, and tire damage.
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Driving your vehicle
E120600AUN
To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an
approved de-icer fluid or glycerine into
the key opening. If a lock is covered with
ice, squirt it with an approved de-icing
fluid to remove the ice. If the lock is
frozen internally, you may be able to thaw
it out by using a heated key. Handle the
heated key with care to avoid injury.
E120700AUN
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window washer
system from freezing, add an approved
window washer anti-freeze solution in
accordance with instructions on the con-
tainer. Window washer anti-freeze is
available from an authorized Kia dealer
and most auto parts outlets. Do not useengine coolant or other types of anti-
freeze as these may damage the paintfinish.E120800AHM
Don't let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged position.
This is most likely to happen when there
is an accumulation of snow or ice around
or near the rear brakes or if the brakes
are wet. If there is a risk the parking
brake may freeze, apply it only temporar-
ily while you put the gear shift lever in P
(Park) and block the rear wheels so the
vehicle cannot roll. Then release the
parking brake.
E120900AUN
Don't let ice and snow accumu- late underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice
can build up under the fenders and inter-
fere with the steering. When driving in
severe winter conditions where this may
happen, you should periodically check
underneath the vehicle to be sure the
movement of the front wheels and the
steering components is not obstructed.E121000ASA
Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the weath-
er, you should carry appropriate emer-
gency equipment. Some of the items you
may want to carry include tire chains, tow
straps or chains, flashlight, emergency
flares, sand, shovel, jumper cables, win-
dow scraper, gloves, ground cloth, cover-
alls, blanket, etc.