traction control CADILLAC ESCALADE 2022 User Guide

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15567102) - 2022 - CRC - 11/17/21
230 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 239
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Dynamic Fuel Management . . . . . 251
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 252
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 262
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Automatic VehicleHold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Four Corner Air Suspension
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Adaptive Cruise Control(Advanced) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Super Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 302
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . 304
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . 305
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 231
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Night Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 327
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 327
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 330
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 333
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 336
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 354
Trailering App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 367
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage.
Here are some driving tips to get the
best fuel economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the engine
is started, or turn them off when
not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt
stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions
are appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the
same TPC Spec number molded into
the tire's sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and
can take your focus from the task of
driving. Exercise good judgment and
do not let other activities divert your
attention away from the road. Many
local governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a hands-free
method to place or receive
necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take
notes, or look up information on
phones or other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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234 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way, steer
the vehicle so that it straddles the
edge of the pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the right
front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer and
vehicle control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material on the
road. Learn to recognize warning
clues
—such as enough water, ice,
or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface —and
slow down when you have any
doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden changes
could cause the tires to slide.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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236 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep for
any vehicle. Driving up hills can
cause the vehicle to stall. Driving
down hills can cause loss of control.
Driving across hills can cause a
rollover. You could be injured or
killed. Do not drive on steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and obstructions.
If the terrain ahead cannot be seen,
get out of the vehicle and walk the hill
before driving further.
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm grip
on the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight up or
down the hill.
.Slow down when approaching the
top of the hill.
.Use headlamps even during the day
to make the vehicle more visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause a crash. There
could be a drop-off, embankment,
cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed.
As you near the top of a hill, slow
down and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or
backward with either the
transmission or transfer case in
N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose control.
{Warning
If the vehicle has the two-speed
automatic or electronic transfer
case, shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause your vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). This is because the
N (Neutral) position on the transfer
case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be
injured. If leaving the vehicle, set
the parking brake and shift the (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
transmission to P (Park). Shift the
transfer case to any position but
N (Neutral).
.When driving down a hill, keep the
vehicle headed straight down. Use a
low gear because the engine will
work with the brakes to slow the
vehicle and help keep the vehicle
under control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down a
hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could cause
loss of control and you or others
could be injured or killed. Apply the
brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking
brake.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 237
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restartthe engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the parking
brake, and back straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle, it is
steep enough to cause it to
roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake. The vehicle can roll
backward quickly and you could
lose control.
.If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a lower
gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake,
shift into P (Park), and turn the
vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help. 3.2. Stay clear of the path the
vehicle would take if it rolled
downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill. A hill
that can be driven straight up or
down might be too steep to drive
across. Driving across an incline
puts more weight on the downhill
wheels, which could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause the
tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can
hit something that will trip it —a
rock, a rut, etc. —and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.If an incline must be driven across,
and the vehicle starts to slide, turn
downhill. This should help
straighten out the vehicle and
prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped across
an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be
crushed or killed. Always get out on
the uphill side of the vehicle and
stay well clear of the rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in
mud —the deeper the mud, the
lower the gear. Keep the vehicle
moving to avoid getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires tend
to sink into the sand. This affects
steering, accelerating, and braking.
Drive at a reduced speed and avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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238 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow and ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream and
you and your passengers could
drown. If it is only shallow water, it
can still wash away the ground
from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could
roll over. Do not drive through
rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive through it slowly. At faster
speeds, water can get into the engine
and cause it to stall. Stalling can
occur if the exhaust pipe is under
water. Do not turn off the ignition
when driving through water. If the
exhaust pipe is under water, the
engine will not start. When going
through water, the brakes get wet and
it may take longer to stop. See
“Driving on Wet Roads ”later in this
section.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have
the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, driveline, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust
system for damage and check the fuel
lines and cooling system for any
leakage.
More frequent maintenance service is
required. See the
Maintenance Schedule
0 455.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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240 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or IceCaution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear
snow and ice from inside the
wheels and underneath the vehicle
before driving.
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0265.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should be
applied sooner than when on dry
pavement. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0262.
.Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches
can occur on otherwise clear roads
in shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
Cold Weather Mode
In very low temperatures, a cold
weather message may display on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). The
engine speed, transmission shift
patterns, and cabin fan speed may
operate differently to enable the
vehicle to warm up quicker. You can
manually override the cabin fan speed
in cold weather mode.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0475. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking
the exhaust pipe.
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 241
Warning (Continued)
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in)
on the vehicle side that is away
from the wind, to bring in
fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or
under the instrument panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air inside
the vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0252.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0265.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle
0439.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 257
Electronic Range Select (ERS),
or Manual Mode, allows manual
selection of gear positions. Use this
mode when driving downhill or
towing a trailer to limit the top gear
and vehicle speed. The shift position
indicator within the Driver
Information Center (DIC) displays a
number next to the L indicating the
highest available gear.
To enter ERS/Manual Mode:1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back the shift lever to activate
L (Low). The L will illuminate red,
and the D will turn white. 2. Tap the left steering wheel control
to reduce the highest gear
available, or the right control to
increase the highest gear available.
3. To exit, pull back the shift lever a second time. The D will illuminate
red, and the L will turn white.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission shifts to a preset lower
gear range. The highest gear available
while in this range will be displayed
next to the L (Low) in the DIC. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) 0133.
All gears below are available to use.
For example, when 4 (Fourth) is
shown next to the L, 1 (First) through
4 (Fourth) gears are shifted
automatically. To shift to 5 (Fifth)
gear, tap the right steering wheel
control or shift into D (Drive).
L (Low) prevents shifting to a lower
gear range if the engine speed is too
high. If the vehicle speed is not
reduced within the allotted time, the
lower gear range shift will not
complete. Slow the vehicle, then tap
the left steering wheel control to the
desired lower gear range. Cruise control can be used while
in ERS.
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive engages
the front axle for extra traction.
Four-wheel drive engages the front
axle for extra traction.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry
pavement in 4
mand 4n(if
equipped) for an extended period
of time. These conditions may
cause premature wear on the
vehicle’s powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in 4
m
or 4nmay:
.Cause a vibration to be felt in the
steering system.
.Cause tires to wear faster.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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258 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
With four-wheel drive, the vehicle
will be free to roll if the transfer
case is in N (Neutral), even when
the shift lever is in P (Park). Be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear—2
m, 4m, or 4n—not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park
0 250.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in
4
nmay damage or shorten the life
of the drivetrain.
An engagement noise and bump is
normal when shifting between 4
nand
4
mor N (Neutral), with the engine
running.
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0265.
Automatic Transfer Case
Two-Speed Transfer Case
If equipped, the transfer case controls
are used to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
To shift the transfer case, press the
desired button. The graphic in the
instrument cluster will flash while a
shift is in progress. The graphic
displayed will change to indicate the
setting requested.
When the shift is complete the
graphic will stop flashing. The DIC
message turns off once the shift is complete. If the transfer case cannot
complete a shift request, it will go
back to its last chosen setting.
The settings are:
N (Neutral) :
Use only when the
vehicle needs to be towed. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0440. See
Towing the Vehicle 0439.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use for
driving on most streets and highways.
The front axle is not engaged. This
setting provides the best fuel
economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel
Drive) : Use when road surface
conditions are variable. When driving
in AUTO, the front axle is engaged,
and the vehicle's power is sent to the
front and rear wheels automatically
based on driving conditions. This
setting provides slightly lower fuel
economy than 2
m.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this position when extra traction is
needed, such as when driving on
snowy or icy roads, when off-roading,
or when plowing snow.