Kia Sportage: Special driving conditions

When weather or road conditions become difficult, adjust your driving and give the road more attention than usual. The Kia Sportage may respond differently on wet, snowy, icy or loose surfaces, so leave yourself more time and space to react.

Hazardous driving conditions

When driving through or on water, snow, ice, mud, sand or similar hazards, follow these precautions:

• Drive cautiously and allow extra distance to stop.

• Avoid sudden braking and abrupt steering inputs.

• If your vehicle is equipped with ABS, do not pump the brake pedal.

• If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, try selecting 2nd gear and apply the accelerator gradually to avoid spinning the drive wheels.

• If the vehicle is stuck on ice, in snow or in mud, place sand, rock salt or another non-slip material beneath the drive wheels to improve traction.

Reducing the risk of a rollover

The Kia Sportage is a multipurpose passenger vehicle classified as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). SUVs have a higher rollover rate than some other vehicle types. Their higher ground clearance and narrower track help them handle a wider range of conditions, including some off-road use.

These design features also give an SUV a higher centre of gravity than an ordinary passenger car. The higher seating position can provide a better view of the road and help you anticipate hazards, but the vehicle’s handling characteristics are different.

An SUV is not designed to corner at the same speeds as a conventional passenger car, just as a low-slung sports car is not designed for off-road driving. Because of the increased rollover risk, the driver and all passengers should wear their seat belts on every journey.

In a rollover, an occupant who is not wearing a seat belt is significantly more likely to be killed than one who is properly restrained. You can reduce the risk by avoiding sharp turns and abrupt manoeuvres, keeping heavy cargo off the roof rack and never modifying the vehicle in a way that could affect its handling.

WARNING

• The tyres fitted to your Kia Sportage are designed to provide safe handling and ride quality. Do not use tyres or wheels that differ in size or type from the originals. Incorrect fitment may affect safety and vehicle performance, potentially causing loss of steering control or a rollover and resulting in serious injury. When replacing tyres, fit all four wheels with tyres and wheels that match in size, type, tread pattern, brand and load-carrying capacity.

• As with any SUV, incorrect operation can result in loss of control, an accident or a rollover.

  • SUVs have a higher rollover rate than some other vehicle types.

  • The vehicle’s design, including its higher ground clearance and narrower track, gives it a higher centre of gravity than ordinary passenger cars.

  • An SUV is not designed to corner at the same speeds as a conventional passenger car.

  • Avoid sharp turns and sudden manoeuvres.

  • In a rollover, an occupant who is not wearing a seat belt is significantly more likely to be killed. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained.

Rocking the vehicle

If the Kia Sportage is stuck in snow, sand or mud, rocking it may help free the vehicle. First, turn the steering wheel from side to side to clear space around the front wheels. Then shift repeatedly between R (Reverse) and a forward gear.

Do not race the engine, and keep wheelspin to a minimum. If the vehicle remains stuck after several attempts, arrange for it to be pulled out by a tow vehicle to prevent the engine from overheating or the transmission from being damaged.

WARNING

Do not rock the vehicle if people or objects are nearby. When it becomes unstuck, it may move suddenly forwards or backwards.

CAUTION

• Prolonged rocking can overheat the vehicle, damage or cause failure of the transmission, and damage the tyres.

• Do not spin the wheels, especially at speeds above 56 km/h (35 mph). Spinning the wheels at high speed while the vehicle is stationary can overheat and damage the tyres. A rotating wheel may also break free and injure bystanders.

NOTE

Switch Electronic Stability Control (ESC) to OFF before rocking the vehicle.

Smooth cornering

Avoid braking or changing gears while cornering, particularly on wet roads. Where possible, enter the turn at a suitable speed and accelerate gently through it. Smooth cornering also helps minimise tyre wear.

Driving at night

Night driving presents additional hazards compared with daylight driving. Use these precautions to improve visibility and give yourself more time to respond:

• Reduce speed and leave a greater following distance. It can be harder to see at night, especially on roads without street lighting.

• Adjust the mirrors to reduce glare from other drivers’ headlights.

• Keep the headlights clean and correctly aimed. On vehicles without automatic headlight aiming, incorrect aim or dirty lenses can make it much harder to see at night.

• Avoid looking directly into the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Glare can temporarily affect your vision, and your eyes may need several seconds to adjust to the darkness again.

Driving in the rain

Rain and wet pavement reduce tyre grip and can make driving hazardous, particularly if you are not prepared for slippery conditions. Keep the following points in mind when driving the Kia Sportage in rain:

• Heavy rain reduces visibility and increases stopping distance. Slow down and leave more room ahead.

• Keep the windscreen wipers in good condition. Replace the blades if they leave streaks or fail to clear areas of the windscreen.

• Worn tyres can lose grip on wet pavement. A sudden stop may cause the vehicle to skid, so check that the tyres are in good condition.

• Switch on the headlights to make your vehicle easier for other road users to see.

• Driving too quickly through deep puddles may affect the brakes. If you must cross one, proceed slowly.

• If you think the brakes have become wet, apply them gently while driving until normal braking performance returns.

Hydroplaning

On a wet road, travelling too fast can cause the tyres to lose contact with the road surface and ride on a layer of water. The safest response is to slow down whenever the road is wet.

The risk of hydroplaning increases as tyre tread depth decreases. Refer to the Tyres and Wheels section for further information.

Driving in flooded areas

Avoid driving through floodwater unless you are sure it is no deeper than the bottom of the wheel hub. If you must cross water, drive slowly and leave enough distance to stop, as braking performance may be reduced.

After crossing water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while moving slowly.

Driving off-road

Drive carefully off-road. Rocks and tree roots can damage the Kia Sportage, so familiarise yourself with the terrain and conditions before setting out.

Highway driving

Tyres

Set tyre pressures to the recommended specifications. Underinflated tyres can overheat and may fail.

Do not use worn or damaged tyres, as they can reduce traction or fail. Never exceed the maximum inflation pressure shown on the tyre.

WARNING

• Before driving, check that the tyres are inflated correctly. Underinflated or overinflated tyres can impair handling, reduce vehicle control or fail suddenly, potentially causing an accident, injury or death. Refer to the Tyres and Wheels section for the correct pressures.

• Check the tyre tread before driving. Worn tyres can cause loss of vehicle control and should be replaced as soon as possible. Refer to the Tyres and Wheels section for information about tread limits.

Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil

High-speed driving uses more fuel than driving in urban conditions. Before a long journey, check the engine coolant and engine oil levels.

Drive belt

A loose or damaged drive belt may cause the engine to overheat.

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