2021 KIA SPORTAGE weight

4 31
Features of your vehicle
✽NOTICE
In cold and wet climates, power lift-
gate may not work properly due to
freezing conditions.
✽NOTICE
Do not attach heavy objects to the
power liftgate when you operate the
power liftgate additional. Weight on
liftgate could cause damages to the
system.
POWER LIFTGATE (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING - Unattended
children/pets
Never leave children or animals
unattended in your vehicle.
Children or animals might oper-
ate the power liftgate in such a
way that could result in injury to
themselves or others or dam-
age to the vehicle.
OQL048077LOQL048010L
OQL048476L
(1) Power liftgate open / close button
(2) Power liftgate handle switch
(3) Power liftgate close button
✽NOTICE
If ignition is ON, the power liftgate
operates when :
• Automatic shift lever is in P (Park).

4 189
Features of your vehicle
• The following specification is themaximum weight that can be loaded
onto the roof rack. Distribute the
load as evenly as possible across
the crossbars (if equipped) and roof
rack and secure the load firmly.
Loading cargo or luggage in excess
of the specified weight limit on the
roof rack may damage your vehicle.
• The vehicle center of gravity will be higher when items are loaded onto
the roof rack. Avoid sudden starts,
braking, sharp turns, abrupt maneu-
vers or high speeds that may result
in loss of vehicle control or rollover
resulting in an accident. • Always drive slowly and turn corners
carefully when carrying items on the
roof rack. Severe wind updrafts,
caused by passing vehicles or natu-
ral causes, can cause sudden
upward pressure on items loaded on
the roof rack. This is especially true
when carrying large, flat items such
as wood panels or mattresses. This
could cause the items to fall off the
roof rack and cause damage to your
vehicle or others around you.
• To prevent damage or loss of cargo while driving, check frequently
before or while driving to make sure
the items on the roof rack are
securely fastened.
ROOF 220 lbs. (100 kg)
RACK EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
WARNING -Driving with
roof load
Always drive slow and turn cor-
ners carefully when carrying
items on the roof rack. The vehi-
cle center of gravity will be
higher when items are loaded
onto the roof rack.

5
• Change to "winter weight" oil if necessary . . . . . . 5-159
• Check spark plugs and ignition system. . . . . . . . . . 5-159
• To keep locks from freezing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-159
• Use approved window washer anti-freeze in system. 5-159
• Don’t let your parking brake freeze . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-159
• Don't let ice and snow accumulate underneath . . . 5-159
• Carry emergency equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-160
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-161
• Hitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
5-162
• Safety chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-162
• Trailer brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-162
• Driving with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-163
• Maintenance when trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-166
• If you do decide to pull a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-167
• Tire and loading information label . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-169
Vehicle load limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-169
• Certification label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-173
Vehicle weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-174

Driving your vehicle
225
Good driving practices
• Never move the gear shift leverfrom P (Park) to any other position
with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
• Never move the gear shift lever into P (Park) when the vehicle is in
motion.
• Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. Otherwise, the lower
gear may not be engaged.
• Always use the parking brake. Do not depend on placing the trans-
mission in P (Park) to keep the
vehicle from moving.
• Optimum vehicle performance and economy is obtained by smoothly
depressing and releasing the
accelerator pedal.
✽NOTICE- Kickdown
Mechanism
Use the kickdown mechanism for
maximum acceleration. Depress the
accelerator pedal beyond the pres-
sure point. The automatic transmis-
sion will shift to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
Driving up a steep grade from astanding start
To drive up a steep grade from a
standing start, depress the brake
pedal, shift the shift lever to D
(Drive). Select the appropriate gear
depending on load weight and steep-
ness of the grade, and release the
parking brake. Depress the accelera-
tor gradually while releasing the
service brakes.
When accelerating from a stop on
a steep hill, the vehicle may have a
tendency to roll backwards.
Shifting the shift lever into 2
(Second Gear) will help prevent
the vehicle from rolling back-
wards.
WARNING
When driving uphill or downhill,
always shift to D (Drive) for driv-
ing forward or shift to R
(Reverse) for driving back-
wards, and check the gear posi-
tion indicated on the cluster
before driving.
Driving in the opposite direc-
tion of the selected gear can
lead to a dangerous situation by
shutting off the engine and
affecting the braking perform-
ance.

Driving your vehicle
1485
Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at amoderate rate. Don't make "jack-
rabbit" starts or full-throttle shifts
and maintain a steady cruising
speed. Don't race between stop-
lights. Try to adjust your speed to
the traffic so you don't have to
change speeds unnecessarily.
Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you
can avoid unnecessary braking.
This also reduces brake wear.
• Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your
vehicle uses. Driving at a moderate
speed, especially on the highway,
is one of the most effective ways to
reduce fuel consumption. • Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This
can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these com-
ponents. In addition, driving with
your foot resting on the brake pedal
may cause the brakes to overheat,
which reduces their effectiveness
and may lead to more serious con-
sequences.
• Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to the recommended pres-
sure. Incorrect inflation, either too
much or too little, results in unnec-
essary tire wear. Check the tire
pressures at least once a month.
• Be sure that the wheels are aligned correctly. Improper align-
ment can result from hitting curbs
or driving too fast over irregular
surfaces. Poor alignment causes
faster tire wear and may also result
in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption. • Keep your vehicle in good condi-
tion. For better fuel economy and
reduced maintenance costs, main-
tain your vehicle in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
chapter 7. If you drive your vehicle
in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see
chapter 7 for details).
• Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi- mum service, your vehicle should
be kept clean and free of corrosive
materials. It is especially important
that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be
allowed to accumulate on the
underside of the vehicle. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel
consumption and also contribute to
corrosion.
• Travel lightly. Don't carry unneces- sary weight in your vehicle. Weight
reduces fuel economy.
• Don't let the engine idle longer than necessary. If you are waiting
(and not in traffic), turn off your
engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.
ECONOMICAL OPERATION

5 159
Driving your vehicle
Change to "winter weight" oil
if necessary
In some climates it is recommended
that a lower viscosity "winter weight"
oil be used during cold weather. See
chapter 9 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, consult an authorized
Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in chapter 7 and replace
them if necessary. Also check all
ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or
damaged in any way.
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 heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.
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 instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint fin-
ish.
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 temporarily while
you put the gear shift lever in P
(Park, Automatic Transmission) and
block the rear wheels so the vehicle
cannot roll. Then release the parking
brake.
Don't let ice and snow accu-
mulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and
ice can build up under the fenders
and interfere 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 are not obstructed.

5 161
Driving your vehicle
If you are considering towing with
your vehicle, you should first check
with your state's Department of
Motor Vehicles to determine the legal
requirements.
Since laws vary the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Ask
an authorized Kia dealer for further
details before towing.
You may require an additional wiring
harness connector to install a trailer
hitch. Please contact an authorized
Kia dealer for more details.Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in
“Weight of the trailer” that appears
later in this section.Remember that trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in han-
dling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering requires
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
This section contains many time-
tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Please read this
section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transmission, wheel
assemblies, and tires are forced to
work harder against the load of the
added weight. The engine is required
to operate at relatively higher speeds
and under greater loads. This addi-
tional burden generates extra heat.
The trailer also adds considerably to
wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements.
TRAILER TOWING
CAUTION - Trailer
installation
Follow instructions in this sec-tion when pulling a trailer.Pulling a trailer improperly candamage your vehicle and resultin costly repairs not covered byyour warranty.
WARNING- Towing a
trailer
Always check your towing
equipment to confirm correct
equipment size and installation
before use. Using incompatible
or incorrectly installed trailer
equipment can affect the vehi-
cle operation and endanger you
and your passengers.
WARNING- Weight
limits
Before towing, make sure the
total trailer weight, GCW (gross
combination weight), GVW
(gross vehicle weight), GAW
(gross axle weight) and trailer
tongue load are all within the
limits.

Driving your vehicle
1625
Hitches
It's important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by, and rough roads are
a few reasons why you’ll need the
right hitch. Here are some rules to
follow:
• Will you have to make any holes inthe body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly car-
bon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can get into your vehicle,
as well as dirt and water.
• The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do not
attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
• Kia trailer hitch accessory is avail- able at an authorized Kia dealer.
Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trail-
er. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the hitch manufactur-
er or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recom-
mendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough
slack so you can turn with your trail-
er. And, never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak-
ing system, make sure it conforms to
your state’s regulations and that it is
properly installed and operating cor-
rectly.
If your trailer weight exceeds the
maximum allowed weight without
trailer brakes, then the trailer will also
require its own brakes as well. Be
sure to read and follow the instruc-
tions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be
able to install, adjust and maintain
them properly.
• Don’t tap into or modify your vehi-cle's brake system.
WARNING- Trailer brakes
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolute-
ly certain that you have proper-
ly set up the brake system. This
is not a task for amateurs. Use
an experienced, competent
trailer shop for this work.