
Driving your vehicle
18
5
CAUTION
The transmission may be dam-
aged if you shift into P (Park)while the vehicle is in motion.
For smooth operation, depress thebrake pedal when shifting from N(Neutral) to a forward or reverse gear.
Transmission ranges
The indicator in the instrument clus-
ter displays the shift lever position
when the ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button is in the ON
position.P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park). This
position locks the transmission and
prevents the front wheels from rotat-
ing.
WARNING
- Intelligent Variable
Transmission (IVT)
Always check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for
people, especially children,
before shifting a car into D
(Drive) or R (Reverse).
Before leaving the driver’s seat, always make sure the
shift lever is in the P (Park)
position; then set the parking
brake fully and shut the engine
off. Unexpected and sudden
vehicle movement can occur if
these precautions are not fol-
lowed in the order identified.
Do not use the engine brake (shifting from a high gear to
lower gear) rapidly on slip-
pery roads.
The vehicle may slip, causing
an accident.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to your transmission, do not acceler-ate the engine in R (Reverse)or any forward gear positionwith the brakes on.
When stopped on an incline, do not hold the vehicle sta-tionary with engine power.Use the service brake or theparking brake.
Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R(Reverse) when the engine isabove idle speed.
WARNING
Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion will cause
the drive wheels to lock which
will cause you to lose control
of the vehicle.
Do not use the P (Park) posi- tion in place of the parking
brake. Always make sure the
shift lever is latched in the P
(Park) position and set the
parking brake fully.
Never leave a child unattend- ed in a vehicle.
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Driving your vehicle
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.
N (Neutral)
The wheels and transmission are not
engaged. The vehicle will roll freely
even on the slightest incline unless
the parking brake or service brakes
are applied.-Parking in N (Neutral) gear
Follow the steps below when parking
if you want the vehicle to move when
pushed.
1.After parking your vehicle, step on
the brake pedal and move the shift
lever to “P” with the ignition switch or
ENGINE START/STOP button in
“ON” or while the engine is running.
2.If the parking brake is applied unlock the parking brake.
3.While pressing the brake pedal, turn the ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button “OFF”.
- For smart key equipped vehicles,the ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button can be
moved to “OFF” only when the
shift lever is in “P”.
4.Change the gear shift lever to “N” (Neutral) while pressing the brake
pedal and pushing “SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE” button or inserting, a
tool (e.g. flathead screw-driver) into
the “SHIFT LOCK RELEASE”
access hole at the same time. Then,
the vehicle will move when external
force is applied.
CAUTION
Always come to a complete stopbefore shifting into or out of R(Reverse); you may damage thetransmission if you shift into Rwhile the vehicle is in motion,except as explained in “Rockingthe vehicle” in this chapter.
WARNING
Do not drive with the shift lever
in N (Neutral).
The engine brake may not work,
which may lead to an accident.
WARNING
With the exception of parking in neutral gear, always park
the vehicle in “P” (Park) for
safety and engage the parking
brake.
Before parking in “N” (Neutral) gear, first make sure the park-
ing ground is level and flat. Do
not park in “N” gear on any
slopes or gradients.
If parked and left in “N”, the
vehicle may move and cause
serious damage and injury.
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Driving your vehicle
Always use the parking brake. Donot 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.(Continued)
The risk of a rollover is greatlyincreased if you lose control of
your vehicle at highway speeds.
Losing control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the
roadway and the driver over-
steers to reenter the roadway.
In the event your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not
steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into
the travel lanes.
Never exceed posted speed limits.
WARNING
Exercise extreme caution when
driving on a slippery surface.
Be especially careful when
braking, accelerating or shifting
gears. On a slippery surface, an
abrupt change in vehicle speed
can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle to
lose control.
WARNING
When driving uphill or down-hill, always shift to D (Drive)
for driving forward or shift to R
(Reverse) for driving back-
wards, and check the gear
position indicated on the clus-
ter 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.
Always buckle-up! In a colli- sion, an unbelted occupant is
significantly more likely to be
seriously injured or killed than
a properly belted occupant.
Avoid high speeds when cor- nering or turning.
Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as
sharp lane changes or fast,
sharp turns.
(Continued)
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Driving your vehicle
28
5
Releasing the parking brake
To release the parking brake, first
apply the foot brake and pull up the
parking brake lever slightly.
Secondly, press the release button
(1) and lower the parking brake lever
(2) while holding the button. If your vehicle is equipped with an
intelligent variable transmission,
don't let your vehicle creep for-
ward. To avoid cleeping forward,
keep your foot firmly on the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped.
Be cautious when parking on a hill. Firmly engage the parking brake
and place the shift lever in P
(Intelligent Variable Transmission).
If your vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels into the curb
to help keep the vehicle from
rolling. If your vehicle is facing
uphill, turn the front wheels away
from the curb to help keep the vehi-
cle from rolling. If there is no curb
or if it is required by other condi-
tions to keep the vehicle from
rolling, chock the wheels.
WARNING- Parking brake
use
Never allow a passenger to touch the parking brake. If the
parking brake is released
unintentionally, serious injury
may occur.
All vehicles should always have the parking brake fully
engaged when parking to
avoid inadvertent movement
of the vehicle which can injure
occupants or pedestrians.
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Driving your vehicle
Under some conditions, your park-ing brake can freeze in the
engaged position. This is most like-
ly to happen when there is an
accumulation of snow or ice aroud
or near the rear brakes or if the
brakes are wet. If there is a risk
that the parking brake may freeze,
apply it only temporarily while you
put the shift lever in P (Intelligent
Variable Transmission) and chock
the rear wheels so the vehicle can-
not roll. Then release the parking
brake.
Do not hold the vehicle on an incline with the accelerator pedal.
This can cause the transmission to
overheat. Always use the brake
pedal or parking brake. Check the brake warning light by
turning the ignition switch or
ENGINE START/STOP button ON
(do not start the engine). This light
will illuminate when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition
switch or ENGINE START/STOP but-
ton in the START or ON position.
Before driving, be sure the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on
after the parking brake is released
while the engine is running, there
may be a malfunction in the brake
system. Immediate attention is nec-
essary. If at all possible, stop driving the
vehicle immediately. If that is not pos-
sible, use extreme caution while
operating the vehicle and only con-
tinue to drive the vehicle until you
can reach a safe location or repair
shop.
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Driving your vehicle
30
5
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS (or ESC) will not prevent acci-
dents due to improper or dangerous
driving maneuvers. Even though
ABS (or ESC) helps improve vehicle
control during emergency braking,
always maintain a safe distance
between you and objects ahead.
Vehicle speeds should always be
reduced during extreme road condi-
tions.
The vehicle should be driven at
reduced speeds in the following cir-
cumstances:
When driving on rough, gravel or
snow-covered roads
When driving with tire chains installed
When driving on roads where the road surface is pitted or has differ-
ent surface heights.
Driving in these conditions increases
the stopping distance for your vehi-
cle. The ABS continuously senses the
speed of the wheels. If the wheels
are going to lock, the ABS system
repeatedly modulates the hydraulic
brake pressure to the wheels.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’
sound from the brakes, or feel a cor-
responding sensation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and means
your ABS is active.
In order to obtain the maximum ben-
efit from your ABS in an emergency
situation, do not attempt to modulate
your brake pressure and do not try to
pump your brakes. Press your brake
pedal as hard as possible or as hard
as the situation allows the ABS to
control the force being delivered to
the brakes.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
A click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the vehi-
cle begins to move after the engine is
started. These conditions are normal
and indicate that the anti-lock brake
system is functioning properly.
Even with the anti-lock brake sys-
tem, your vehicle still requires suf-
ficient stopping distance. Always
maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you.
Always slow down when cornering. The anti-lock brake system cannot
prevent accidents resulting from
excessive speeds.
On loose or uneven road surfaces, operation of the anti-lock brake
system may result in a longer stop-
ping distance than for vehicles
equipped with a conventional
brake system.
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Driving your vehicle
The ABS warning light will stay on for
approximately 3 seconds after the
ignition switch or ENGINE
START/STOP button is ON. During
that time, the ABS will go through
self-diagnosis and the light will go off
if everything is normal. If the light
stays on, you may have a problem
with your ABS but your regular
brakes will work normally. Contact an
authorized Kia dealer as soon as
possible. When you drive on a road with
poor traction, such as an icy road,
and have operated your brakes
continuously, the ABS will be active
continuously and the ABS warning
light may illuminate. Pull your vehi-
cle over to a safe place and stop
the engine.
Restart the engine. If the ABS warning light goes off, then your
ABS system is normal. Otherwise,
you may have a problem with the
ABS. Contact an authorized Kia
dealer as soon as possible.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
When you jump start your vehicle
because of a drained battery, the
engine may not run as smoothly and
the ABS warning light may turn on
at the same time. This happens
because of the low battery voltage. It
does not mean your ABS has mal-
functioned.
• Do not pump your brakes!
• Have the battery recharged before
driving the vehicle.
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system is designed to stabi-
lize the vehicle during cornering
maneuvers. ESC checks where you
are steering and where the vehicle is
actually going. ESC applies the
brakes on individual wheels and
intervenes with the engine manage-
ment system to stabilize the vehicle.
W-78
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Driving your vehicle
32
5
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) will
not prevent accidents. Excessive
speed in turns, abrupt maneuvers and
hydroplaning on wet surfaces can still
result in serious accidents. Only a
safe and attentive driver can prevent
accidents by avoiding maneuvers that
cause the vehicle to lose traction.
Even with ESC installed, always fol-
low all the normal precautions for driv-
ing - including driving at safe speeds
for the conditions.
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system is an electronic sys-
tem designed to help the driver main-
tain vehicle control under adverse
conditions. It is not a substitute for
safe driving practices. Factors includ-
ing speed, road conditions and driv-
er steering input can all affect
whether ESC will be effective in pre-
venting a loss of control. It is still your
responsibility to drive and corner at
reasonable speeds and to leave a
sufficient margin of safety. When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’
sound from the brakes, or feel a cor-
responding sensation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and means
your ESC is active.ESC operation
ESC ON condition
When the ignition is turnedON, ESC and ESC OFF
indicator lights illuminate
for approximately 3 sec-
onds, then ESC is turned
on.
Press the ESC OFF but- ton for at least half a sec-
ond after turning the igni-
tion ON to turn ESC off.
(ESC OFF indicator will
illuminate). To turn the
ESC on, press the ESC
OFF button (ESC OFF
indicator light will go off).
When starting the engine, you may hear a slight tick-
ing sound. This is the ESC
performing an automatic
system self-check and
does not indicate a prob-
lem.
WARNING
For maximum protection, always
wear your seat belt. No system,
no matter how advanced, can
compensate for all driver error
and/or driving conditions.
Always drive responsibly.
-
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