Page 249 of 505

4-2
DRIVING TIPS
75RM4-01E
heat damage to the catalytic converter and
other vehicle components.
54G584S
Improving fuel economyThe following instructions will help you
improve fuel economy.
Avoid excessive idling
If you are to wait for more than a minute
while you are parked, stop the engine and
start it again later. When warming up a
cold engine, do not allow the engine to idle
or apply full throttle until the engine has
reached operating temperature. Allow the
engine to warm up by driving.
Avoid fast starts
Fast starts away from lights or stop signs
will consume fuel unnecessarily and
shorten engine life. Start off slowly.
Avoid unnecessary stops
Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stop-
ping. Try to maintain a slow, steady speed
whenever possible. Slowing down and
then accelerating aga in uses more fuel.
Keep a steady cruising speed
Drive at a constant speed that road and
traffic conditions will permit.
NOTICE
To minimize the possibility of cata-
lytic converter or other vehicle dam-
age:
• Maintain the engine in the proper operating condition.
• In the event of an engine malfunc-
tion, particularly one involving
engine misfire or other apparent
loss of performance, have the vehi-
cle serviced promptly.
• Do not turn off the engine or inter-
rupt the ignition when the transaxle
is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
• Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle, or
coasting down a hill.
• Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as during diagnos-
tic testing.
• Do not idle the vehicle for pro- longed periods if idling seems
rough or there are other malfunc-
tions.
• Do not allow the fuel tank to get
near the empty level.
WA R N I N G
Be careful where you park and drive;
the catalytic converter and other
exhaust components can get very
hot. As with any vehicle, do not park
or operate this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as dry
grass or leaves can come in contact
with a hot exhaust system.
Page 250 of 505

4-3DRIVING TIPS
75RM4-01E
Keep the air cleaner clean
60A183S
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
Keep weight to a minimum
The heavier the load is, the more fuel the
vehicle consumes. Unload any unneces-
sary luggage or cargo.
Keep tire pressures correct
Under-inflation of the tires can waste fuel
due to increased running resistance of the
tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the label on the driver’s
side door or the driver’s door lock pillar.
Highway drivingWhen driving at highway speeds, pay
attention to the following:
• Stopping distance progressivelyincreases with vehicle speed. Apply the
brakes far enough ahead of the stopping
point to allow for the extra stopping dis-
tance.
• On rainy days, hydroplaning can occur. Hydroplaning is the loss of direct contact
between the road surface and the vehi-
cle’s tires due to a water film forming
between them. Steering or braking the
vehicle during hydroplaning can be very
difficult, and loss of control can occur.
Keep speed down when the road sur-
face is wet.
• At high speeds, the vehicle may be affected by side winds. Therefore,
reduce speed and be prepared for unex-
pected buffeting, which can occur at the
exits of tunnels, when passing by a cut
of a hill, or when being overtaken by
large vehicles, etc.
Driving on hillsManual transaxle
75RM260
Auto Gear Shift
75RM259
EXAMPLE
Page 251 of 505

4-4
DRIVING TIPS
75RM4-01E
CVT
75RM296
• When climbing steep hills, the vehiclemay begin to slow down and show a lack
of power. If this happens, you should
shift to a lower gear so that the engine
will again be operating in its normal
power range. Shift rapidly to prevent the
vehicle from losing momentum.
• When driving down a hill, the engine
should be used for braking by shifting to
the next lower gear.
Driving on slippery roads
60G089S
On wet roads, you shou ld 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.
4WD models
Your 4WD is designed to get better traction
on slippery roads than 2-wheel drive mod-
els. However, your 4WD will not have as
much traction in deep snow, mud or sand
as multipurpose 4WD vehicles. You should
not attempt to drive your 4WD in deep
snow, mud or sand. 4WD models are not
sport/utility vehicles, and are not designed
for off-road use.
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 and
CVT (if equipped) damage may result.
Page 252 of 505

4-5DRIVING TIPS
75RM4-01E
Tire chainsTire 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.
Stuck vehicleIf your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) Shift the transaxle back and forthbetween a forward range (or first gear
for manual transaxle/Auto Gear Shift)
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
®
and/or grip control system, you may have
to turn the systems off in order to spin the
wheels. 2) If your vehicle rema
ins stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, we recommend you
to consult your SUZUKI dealer or a road-
side assistance service. If a towing ser-
vice is not available in an emergency,
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 the “OTHER CON-
TROLS AND EQUIPMENT” section.
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.
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.
Page 253 of 505

4-6
DRIVING TIPS
75RM4-01E
54G638S
Off-road drivingDo not drive in the field covered with grown grassIf you drive in the field covered with grass,
it may cause unexpected accident or vehi-
cle damage by getting caught in grown
grass.
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 the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for
details. (Continued)
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
• Do not use tires other than those
specified by SUZUKI. Never use dif-
ferent sizes or types of tires on the
front and rear wheels. For informa-
tion regarding the specified tires,
refer to the tire information label
located on the driver’s door lock
pillar.
• Never use oversized tires or spe- cial shock absorbers and springs
to raise (jack up) your vehicle. This
will change the handling character-
istics. Oversized tires may also rub
against the fender over bumps,
causing vehicle damage or tire fail-
ure.
• After driving through water, test the brakes while driving at a slow
speed to see if they have main-
tained their normal effectiveness. If
the brakes are less effective than
normal, dry them by repeatedly
applying the brakes while driving
slowly until the brakes have
regained their normal effective-
ness.
Page 254 of 505
4-7DRIVING TIPS
75RM4-01E
MEMO
Page 255 of 505

OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
5
75RM4-01E
60G407
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENTFuel filler cap ....................................................................... 5-1
Engine hood ................................................... ..................... 5-2
Sun visor ..................................................... ......................... 5-4
Interior light ................................................ ......................... 5-5
Accessory socket .............. ....................... ........................... 5-6
AUX/USB socket (if equipped) . .......................................... 5-7
Assist grips (if equipped) .................................... ............... 5-7
Glove box ..................................................... ........................ 5-7
Cup holder and storage area ................................... .......... 5-8
Footrest ...................................................... .......................... 5-10
Floor mats .................................................... ........................ 5-10
Luggage compartment cover (if equipped) ...................... 5 -11
Roof rails (if equipped) ...................................... ................. 5-11
Frame hooks ................................................... ..................... 5-12
Heating and air conditioning system ........................... ..... 5-15
Heating system ................................................ .................... 5-17
Manual heating and a ir conditioning system ................... 5 -21
Automatic heating and ai r conditioning system
(climate control) ........... ....................................................... 5-26
Radio antenna ................................................. .................... 5-32
Installation of radi o frequency transmi tters ..................... 5-32
Audio system (Type A / Type B / Type C) (if equipped) ... 5-33
Page 256 of 505
5-1OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
75RM4-01E
Fuel filler cap
75RM169
75RM130
A fuel filler cap is located on the left rear
side of the vehicle. The fuel filler door can
be unlocked by pulling up the opener lever
located on the outboard side of the driver’s
seat and locked by simply closing the door.
57L51093
To remove the fuel filler cap:
1) Open the fuel filler door.
2) Remove the cap by turning it counter-
clockwise.
75RM057
75RM058
NOTE:
The cap holder (1) holds the fuel filler cap
(2) by hooking the groove (3), or the hook
(4) also holds the fuel filler cap when refu-
eling.
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE
CAUTION
Remove the fuel filler cap slowly. The
fuel may be under pressure and may
spray out, causing injury.Open CloseEXAMPLE
(1)(2)
(3)
(1)
( Ο Ν 0 3 / (
(4)
(1)
( Ο Ν 0 3 / (