Kia Sportage: Good driving practices. Good braking practices

Good driving practices

• Before moving the Kia Sportage from P (Park) or N (Neutral) into another gear, release the accelerator pedal.

• Never select P (Park) while the vehicle is moving.

• Bring the vehicle to a complete stop before selecting R (Reverse) or D (Drive).

• Never coast downhill in N (Neutral). This is hazardous and reduces your control of the vehicle. Keep the transmission in R (Reverse) or D (Drive) while the Kia Sportage is moving, as appropriate for the direction of travel.

• Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving. Continuous braking can overheat the brakes and cause them to lose effectiveness. Use engine braking when descending a long hill.

• Reduce your speed before selecting a lower gear.

• Always apply the parking brake when parking. Do not rely on P (Park) alone to keep the vehicle from moving.

• Take extra care on slippery roads, especially when braking, accelerating or changing gears. A sudden change in speed can cause the tyres to lose traction and the vehicle to become difficult to control.

• Drive smoothly to help maintain control and achieve the best performance from your Kia Sportage.

WARNING

• If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, mud, sand or a similar surface, you may try to free it by carefully moving it forward and backward. Before attempting this, check that no people or objects are near the vehicle. Once it becomes free, it may move suddenly in either direction, causing injury or damage.

• When travelling uphill or downhill, select D (Drive) to move forward or R (Reverse) to move backward. Before moving, check that the gear shown on the instrument cluster matches your intended direction. Driving against the selected gear may cause the engine to stop and affect braking performance, creating a dangerous situation.

• Always wear your seat belt. In a collision, an occupant who is not properly restrained is much more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries.

• Reduce your speed before cornering or turning; avoid entering bends at high speed.

• Avoid sudden steering inputs, including sharp lane changes and fast, tight turns.

• Losing control at highway speeds greatly increases the risk of a rollover.

• Loss of control can occur if two or more wheels leave the road and the driver steers too sharply while trying to return to the roadway.

• If the Kia Sportage leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply back into traffic. Slow down first, then return to the travel lanes when it is safe to do so.

• Never drive faster than the posted speed limit.

Good braking practices

• Before driving, make sure the parking brake is released and its warning light is off.

• Wet brakes may not stop the vehicle as quickly as dry brakes. Apply them lightly until normal braking performance returns.

• Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving. The brakes may overheat and become less effective, and continued contact can increase wear on brake components.

• If a tyre goes flat while driving, brake gently and keep the vehicle travelling straight as you slow down. Move carefully off the road and stop in a safe place.

• When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake firmly and select P (Park).

• If the vehicle is facing downhill, turn the front wheels towards the kerb to help prevent it from rolling.

  If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn the front wheels away from the kerb to help prevent it from rolling.

• If there is no kerb, or conditions make it necessary, block the wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling.

• In certain conditions, such as when snow or ice has collected around the rear brakes or the brakes are wet, the parking brake may freeze in the applied position.

  If freezing is possible, apply the parking brake only briefly while selecting P (Park) and blocking the rear wheels to prevent movement. Then release the parking brake.

• Do not use the accelerator pedal to hold the Kia Sportage on an incline. This may overheat the transmission. Use the brake pedal or parking brake instead.

Necessary vehicle inspections

Check the following fluid levels regularly, following the intervals specified in the maintenance schedule for your Kia Sportage: Engine oil Engine coolant Brake...

Starting the vehicle

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