
3-57
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
Brake assist system
When you are operating at a speed of
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph) or over and
there is a high probability of a frontal crash,
the brake assist system provides more
powerful braking when you slam down on
the brake pedal.
• While the brake assist system is work-
ing, the radar brake support system
warning light (1) will blink rapidly, and the
indication (2) will appear.
54P000335
Automatic brake system
When a frontal crash is judged to be
unavoidable at speeds between approxi-
mately 5 km/h to 30 km/h (3 mph to 9 mph),
the brakes will powerfully operate automati-
cally and will attempt to avoid the crash or
reduce the damage of the crash.
• When the automatic brake system is acti-
vated at a speed of approximately 15 km/h
(9 mph) or under, crashes may be avoid-
able.
• While the automatic brake system is
working, the radar brake support system
warning light (1) will blink rapidly, the
indication (2) will appear, and the brake
lights will be turned on.
54P000335
Radar brake support OFF switch
You can turn off the radar brake support
system.
• In the following situations, push and hold
the radar brake support OFF switch as
unexpected dangers may be possible if it
is activated.
– When the vehicle is placed upon a tes-
ter such as when undergoing a vehicle
inspection
– When the vehicle is being towed
– When the vehicle is being carried on a
car carrier
– When the vehicle is being carried on a
ferry
– When the vehicle is being operated on
a race track
– When the vehicle is placed upon a car
elevator or placed in a mechanical
parking lot
– With a spare tire or tire chains
equipped
– When you have a temporarily repaired
flat tire
– When you have an accident or break-
down
– When the vehicle is used to tow a
trailer
(1) (2)
(1) (2)

3-77
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
The ESP® has the following three sys-
tems:
Stability control system
The vehicle stability control system helps
provide integrated control of systems such
as anti-lock brakes, traction control, engine
control, etc. This system automatically
controls the brakes and engine to help pre-
vent the vehicle from skidding when cor-
nering on a slippery road surface or when
turning the steering wheel abruptly.
Traction control system
The traction control system automatically
helps prevent the spinning of wheels when
the vehicle is started or accelerated on
slippery road surfaces. The system oper-
ates only if it senses that some of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the system
operates the front or rear brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
NOTE:
You may hear a clunking sound when you
start the engine or after the vehicle begins
to move. This means that the above sys-
tems are in the self-check mode. This
sound does not indicate a malfunction.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-
tronically controlling braking pressure. It
will also help you maintain steering control
when braking on slippery surfaces or when
braking hard. The ABS works automati-
cally, so you do not have to use any spe-
cial braking technique. Just push the brake
pedal down without pumping. The ABS will
operate whenever it senses that wheels
are locking up. You may feel the brake
pedal pulsate while the ABS is operating.
(For more information on ABS, see “Brak-
ing” in this section.)
NOTE:
If the ABS system is activated, you may
hear a clunking noise and/or feel pulsating
in the brake pedal. This is normal and indi-
cates that the brake fluid pressure is being
controlled properly.WA R N I N G
• The ESP® may not work properly if
tires or wheels other than those
specified in the owner’s manual are
used. When replacing tires or
wheels, use only the size and type
specified in this owner’s manual.
• The ESP
® may not work properly if
tires are not inflated to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure.
• The ESP
® may not work properly if
tires are fitted with tire chains.
• The ESP
® may not work properly if
the tires are excessively worn.
Replace tires when the tread wear
indicators in the grooves appear on
the tread surface.
• The ESP
® is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a
snow-covered road.
WA R N I N G
• The ESP® may not work properly if
engine related parts such as the
muffler are not equivalent to stan-
dard equipment or are extremely
deteriorated.
• Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension since the ESP
® may not
work properly.

3-87
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
61MM0A199
NOTE:
The information display shows the above
warning and indicator message when this
light comes on.
TPMS limitations
The tire pressure monitoring system may
not function properly under certain circum-
stances. In the following situations, the low
tire pressure warning light may come on
and remain on or may blink.
• When you replace a flat tire with the
spare tire.
• When you include a spare tire during a
tire rotation.
• When the TPMS sensor is damaged
during a tire replacement or liquid seal-
ants are used to repair a flat tire.
• When the TPMS sensor’s electronic sig-
nal is disturbed in one of the following
ways:
– Electric devices or facilities using simi-
lar radio wave frequencies are nearby.
– A metallic film that may cause radio
wave interference is attached on the
window.
– A lot of snow or ice covers the vehicle,
in particular, around the wheels or
wheel housings.
– Snow tires that are not installed with
genuine TPMS sensors or tire chains
are used.
• When you use non-genuine SUZUKI
wheels or tires.
• When the pressure of any tire is too
high.
• When there is a problem with the
receiver of the TPMS controller.NOTICE
The tire pressure sensors can be
damaged if you do not take proper
precautions.
• We highly recommend that you
have tires repaired or replaced by
an authorized SUZUKI dealer. The
tire pressure sensors can be dam-
aged by installation or removal of
tires.
• Do not use liquid sealants for a flat
tire unless your vehicle is equipped
with a flat tire repair kit instead of a
spare tire.
NOTICE
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on frequently, there may be
something wrong with one or more of
the tires, tire pressure sensors, or the
monitoring system.
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on frequently, have your vehi-
cle inspected by an authorized
SUZUKI dealer.

4-4
DRIVING TIPS
54P00-01E
Driving on slippery roads
60G089S
On wet roads, you should drive at a lower
speed than you do on dry roads due to
possible slippage of tires during braking.
When driving on icy, snow-covered or
muddy roads, reduce your speed and
avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking,
or sharp steering movements.
Four-mode 4WD models
Your four-mode 4WD is designed to get
better traction on slippery roads than 2-
wheel drive models. However, your four-
mode 4WD will not have as much traction
in deep snow, mud or sand as multipur-
pose 4WD vehicles. You should not
attempt to drive your four-mode 4WD in
deep snow, mud or sand. Four-mode 4WDmodels are not sport/utility vehicles, and
are not designed for off-road use.
Tire chains
Tire chains should only be used if they are
needed to increase traction or are required
by law. Check that the chains you use are
the correct size for your vehicle’s tires.
Also check that there is enough clearance
between the fenders and the chains as
installed on the tires.
Install the chains on the front tires tightly,
according to the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. Retighten the chains after
driving about 1.0 km (1/2 mile) if neces-
sary. With the chains installed, drive slowly.
WA R N I N G
Do not hold the brake pedal down too
long or too often while going down a
steep or long hill. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in
reduced braking efficiency. Failure to
take this precaution could result in
loss of vehicle control.
NOTICE
When descending a downhill, Never
turn the ignition key to “LOCK” posi-
tion or press the engine switch to
change the ignition mode to “LOCK”
(OFF). Emission control system dam-
age may result.
NOTICE
• If you hear the chains hitting
against the vehicle body while driv-
ing, stop and tighten them.
• If your vehicle is equipped with full
wheel caps, remove the wheel caps
before installing the chains or the
wheel caps can be damaged by the
chain bands.

4-5
DRIVING TIPS
54P00-01E
Stuck vehicle
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) Shift the transaxle back and forth
between a forward range (or first gear
for manual transaxle) and reverse. This
will create a rocking motion which may
give you enough momentum to free the
vehicle. Press gently on the accelerator
to keep wheel spinning to a minimum
wheel rpm. Remove your foot from the
accelerator while shifting.
Do not race the engine. Excessive
wheel spin will cause the tires to dig
deeper, making it more difficult to free
the vehicle.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with the ESP
®,
you may have to turn the ESP® system off
in order to spin the wheels.
2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, we recommend you
to consult your SUZUKI dealer or a
roadside assistance service. If a towing
service is not available in an emer-
gency, your vehicle may be temporarily
towed by a towing cable or chain
secured to the towing hook either on
the front of the vehicle or on the rear of
the vehicle. Refer to “Frame hooks” in
“OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIP-
MENT” section.
54G638S
WA R N I N G
Do not allow anyone to stand near
the vehicle when you are rocking it,
and do not spin the wheels faster
than an indicated 40 km/h (25 mph)
on the speedometer. Personal injury
and/or vehicle damage may result
from spinning the wheels too fast.
NOTICE
Do not continue rocking the vehicle
for more than a few minutes. Pro-
longed rocking can cause engine
overheating or transaxle damage.
WA R N I N G
In addition to following the driving
tips in this section, it is important to
observe the following precautions.
• Check that your tires are in good
condition and always maintain the
specified tire pressure. Refer to
“Tires” in “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for
details.
(Continued)

6-2
VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
54P00-01E
NOTE:
If your vehicle has a parking sensor sys-
tem, set the system to the trailer mode via
the information display. When this mode is
set, the rear corner and rear center sen-
sors are inhibited from operating. Refer to
“Information display” in “BEFORE DRIV-
ING” section.
To w b a r s
Only use a tow bar that is designed to
attach to the chassis of your vehicle, and a
hitch that is designed to bolt to this tow bar.
We recommend that you use a genuine
SUZUKI tow bar (available as option), or
equivalent.
Safety chains
Always attach safety chains between your
vehicle and trailer. Cross safety chains
under the nose of the trailer so that the
nose will not drop to the road if the trailer
becomes separated from the tow bar. Fol-
low the manufacturer’s recommendation
for attaching safety chains. Always leave
just enough slack to permit full turning.
Never allow safety chains to drag on the
road.
Trailer lights
Check that your trailer is equipped with
lights which meet local requirements.
Always check for the proper operation of
all trailer lights before you start to tow.
Brakes
WA R N I N G
For vehicles equipped with the radar
brake support system, if your vehicle
is used to tow a trailer, press the
radar brake support OFF switch and
turn off the radar brake support sys-
tem. If not, unexpected accidents
related to the system being turned on
may occur.
NOTICE
Trailer towing puts additional stress
on the engine, drive train and brakes
of your vehicle. Never tow a trailer
during the first 960 km (600 miles) of
vehicle operation.
WA R N I N G
Never use a tow bar which attaches
to the axle or the bumper of your
vehicle.
WA R N I N G
Never attach safety chains to the
bumper of your vehicle. Secure con-
nections so that they cannot come
loose.
WA R N I N G
Never connect trailer lights directly
into your vehicle’s electrical system,
or electrical system damage may
occur.
WA R N I N G
If trailer brakes are used, follow all
instructions provided by the manu-
facturer. Never connect to the brake
system of your vehicle and never
take an electrical supply directly from
the wiring harness.

6-3
VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
54P00-01E
Tires
Mirrors
Check if your vehicle’s mirrors meet local
requirements for mirrors used on towing
vehicles. If they do not, you must install the
required mirrors before you tow.
Vehicle/trailer loading
To load your vehicle and trailer properly,
you must know how to measure gross
trailer weight and trailer nose weight.
Gross trailer weight is the weight of the
trailer plus all the cargo in it. You can mea-
sure gross trailer weight by putting the fully
loaded trailer on a vehicle scale.
Nose weight is the downward force
exerted on the tow bar by the trailer cou-pler, with the trailer fully loaded and the
coupler at its normal towing height. This
weight can be measured using a bathroom
scale.
The weight of your loaded trailer (gross
trailer weight) should never exceed towing
capacity.
Distribute cargo in your trailer so that nose
weight is about 10% of gross trailer weight,
but does not exceed the maximum vertical
load on trailer hitch point. You should mea-
sure gross trailer weight and nose weight
before towing to check that your load is
properly distributed.
Additional trailer towing warnings
WA R N I N G
When towing a trailer, it is very
important for your vehicle and trailer
to have properly inflated tires. Your
vehicle’s tires should be inflated to
the pressures listed on your vehicles
tire information label. If laden pres-
sures are listed on the label, the tires
should be inflated to the laden pres-
sures. Inflate trailer tires according to
the specifications provided by the
trailer manufacturer.
WA R N I N G
Improper weight distribution of your
trailer may result in poor vehicle han-
dling and swaying of the trailer.
Always check that trailer nose weight
is about 10% of gross trailer weight,
but does not exceed the maximum
vertical load on trailer hitch point.
Also check that the cargo is properly
secured. Failure to observe this
requirement may result in an acci-
dent.
WA R N I N G
Never overload cargo on your trailer
or your vehicle. Gross trailer weight
must never exceed towing capacity.
Gross vehicle weight (sum of the
weights of the vehicle, all the occu-
pants, accessories including tow
bars and a trailer hitch, cargo and
trailer nose weight) must never
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rat-
ing (GVWR) listed in “SPECIFICA-
TIONS” section.
WA R N I N G
Connect trailer lights and hook up
safety chains every time you tow.
NOTICE
Because towing a trailer puts addi-
tional stress on your vehicle, more
frequent maintenance will be
required than under normal driving
conditions. Follow the schedule in
“Maintenance recommended under
severe driving conditions”.

7-38
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
54P00-01E
Tire rotation
4-tire rotation
54G114
To avoid uneven wear of your tires and to
prolong their life, rotate the tires as illus-
trated. Tires should be rotated every 10000
km (6000 miles). After rotation, adjust front
and rear tire pressures to the specification
listed on your vehicle’s tire information
label.
NOTE:
(For Mexico)
For additional instruction, refer to “SUP-
PLEMENT” section in the end of this book.
Compact spare tire (if equipped)
54G115
(1) Wear indicator
(2) Indicator location mark
Your vehicle comes equipped with a com-
pact spare tire. It is designed to save
space in your storage area, and its lighter
weight facilitates installing the spare tire
when getting a flat tire. It is only intended
for temporary emergency use, until the
conventional tire can be repaired or
replaced. The inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire should be checked at
least once a month. Use a quality pocket-
type inflation pressure gauge and set at
420 kPa (60 psi). At the same time, check
that the tire is stored securely. If it is not,
tighten it.Note that two or more compact spare tires
should not be used on one vehicle simulta-
neously.
WA R N I N G
The compact spare tire and wheel are
intended for temporary emergency
use only. Continuous use of this
spare can result in tire failure and
loss of control. Always observe these
precautions when using this spare:
• Your vehicle should be handled in a
different way when using this
spare.
• Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph).
• Replace this spare with a standard
tire and wheel as soon as possible.
• Use of this spare will reduce
ground clearance.
• Recommended air pressure for this
spare is 420 kPa (60 psi).
• Do not use tire chains on the com-
pact spare. If you must use tire
chains, rearrange the wheels so
standard tires and wheels are fitted
to the front axle.
• The compact spare tire has a much
shorter tread life than the conven-
tional tires on your vehicle.
Replace the tire as soon as the
tread wear indicator appears.
• When replacing the compact spare
tire, use a replacement tire with the
exact same size and construction.