all wheel drive HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ 2023 Owner's Manual

Driving Your Vehicle
6-16
N (Neutral)
The wheels and transmission are not
engaged.
Use N (Neutral) if you need to restart a
stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop
with the engine ON. Shift into P (Park)
if you need to leave your vehicle for any
reason.
Always depress the brake pedal when
you are shifting from N (Neutral) to
another gear.
WARNING
Make sure your foot is firmly depressing
on the brake pedal when shifting into
gear. Also, keep your foot off of the
accelerator pedal when shifting into
gear. Shifting when the engine rpm
is high can cause the vehicle to move
suddenly. You could lose control of the
vehicle and serious injury could occur.
D (Drive)
This is the normal driving position. The
transmission will automatically shift
through an 8-gear sequence, providing
the best combination of fuel economy
and power.
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or driving uphill, continue to
depress the accelerator pedal. You may
notice the transmission downshift to
the next lower gear or multiple gears
as needed for the vehicle to accelerate
sufficiently.
The DRIVE MODE switch, located on the
shift lever console, allows the driver to
switch between NORMAL mode, SPORT
mode, or SMART mode.
For more Details, refer to "Drive Mode
Integrated Control System" later in this
chapter.

Driving Your Vehicle
6-20
Good Driving Practices
• Never move the shift lever from P
(Park) or N (Neutral) to any other
position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
• Never move the shift lever into P
(Park) when the vehicle is in motion.
Be sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before you attempt to shift
into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
• Do not move the shift lever to N
(Neutral) when driving. Doing so
may result in an accident because
of a loss of engine braking and the
transmission could be damaged.
• Driving uphill or downhill, shift to D
(Drive) to drive forward or R (Reverse)
to drive backwards, and check
the gear position indicated on the
cluster before driving. If the vehicle
is moving in the opposite direction
of the selected gear, the engine may
stop and a serious accident may
occur. Never attempt to select a gear
that is opposite to the direction of
the vehicle motion. Stop the vehicle
before changing to the desired gear.
• Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light, but
consistent pedal pressure can result
in the brakes overheating, brake wear
and possibly even brake failure.
• When driving with shifter paddles,
slow down before shifting to a lower
gear. Otherwise, the lower gear may
not be engaged if the engine RPMs
are outside of the allowable range.
• Always apply the parking brake when
leaving the vehicle. Do not depend on
placing the transmission in P (Park) to
keep the vehicle from moving.• 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 may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
• Optimum vehicle performance and
economy is obtained by smoothly
depressing and releasing the
accelerator.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY
or DEATH:
• ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. In a
collision, an unbelted occupant
is significantly more likely to be
seriously injured or killed than a
properly belted occupant.
• Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
• Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
changes or fast, sharp turns.
• The risk of rollover is greatly
increased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of 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.
• HYUNDAI recommends you follow all
posted speed limits.

06
6-25
Transmission ranges
The indicator in the instrument cluster
displays the shift lever position when the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into P (Park).
To shift from P (Park), you must depress
firmly on the brake pedal and make sure
your foot is off the accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot shift the lever out of P
(Park), see “Shift-Lock Release” in this
chapter.
The shift lever must be in P (Park) before
turning the engine off.
WARNING
• Shifting into P (Park) while the
vehicle is in motion may cause you to
lose control of the vehicle.
• After the vehicle has stopped, always
make sure the shift lever is in P
(Park), apply the parking brake, and
turn the engine off.
• When parking on an incline, place
the shift lever in P (Park) and apply
the parking brake to prevent the
vehicle from rolling downhill.
• For safety, always engage the
parking brake with the shift lever in
the P (Park) position except for the
case of emergency parking.
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.
NOTICE
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into or out of R (Reverse); you
may damage the transmission if you
shift into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
in motion.
N (Neutral)
The wheels and transmission are not
engaged.
Use N (Neutral) if you need to restart a
stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop
with the engine ON. Shift into P (Park)
if you need to leave your vehicle for any
reason.
Always depress the brake pedal when
you are shifting from N (Neutral) to
another gear.
WARNING
Do not shift into gear unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal. Shifting into
gear when the engine is running at high
speed can cause the vehicle to move
very rapidly. You could lose control of
the vehicle and hit people or objects.

Driving Your Vehicle
6-28
Good Driving Practices
• Never move the shift lever from P
(Park) or N (Neutral) to any other
position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
• Never move the shift lever into P
(Park) when the vehicle is in motion.
Be sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before you attempt to shift
into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
• Do not move the shift lever to N
(Neutral) when driving. Doing so
may result in an accident because
of a loss of engine braking and the
transmission could be damaged.
• Driving uphill or downhill, always shift
to D (Drive) when driving forward or to
R (Reverse) when driving backwards,
and check the gear position indicated
on the cluster before driving. If you
drive in the opposite direction of the
selected gear, the engine will turn
off and a serious accident might be
occurred due to the degraded brake
performance.
• Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light, but
consistent pedal pressure can result
in the brakes overheating, brake wear
and possibly even brake failure.
• Depressing both accelerator
and brake pedals at the same
time can trigger logic for engine
power reduction to assure vehicle
deceleration. Vehicle acceleration
will resume after the brake pedal is
released.
• When driving in Manual Shift mode,
slow down before shifting to a lower
gear. Otherwise, the lower gear may
not be engaged if the engine rpms are
outside of the allowable range.
•
When driving with shift
er paddles,
slow down before shifting to a lower
gear. Otherwise, the lower gear may
not be engaged if the engine rpms are
outside of the allowable range.• Always apply the parking brake when
leaving the vehicle. Do not depend on
placing the transmission in P (Park) to
keep the vehicle from moving.
• 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 may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
• Optimum vehicle performance and
economy is obtained by smoothly
depressing and releasing the
accelerator.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY
or DEATH:
• ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. In a
collision, an unbelted occupant
is significantly more likely to be
seriously injured or killed than a
properly belted occupant.
• Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
• Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
changes or fast, sharp turns.
• The risk of rollover is greatly
increased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of 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.
• HYUNDAI recommends you follow all
posted speed limits.

Driving Your Vehicle
6-38
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
WARNING
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) or
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system will not prevent accidents
due to improper or dangerous driving
maneuvers. Even though vehicle
control is improved during emergency
braking, always maintain a safe
distance between you and objects
ahead of you. Vehicle speeds should
always be reduced during extreme
road conditions. The braking distance
for vehicles equipped with ABS or ESC
may be longer than for those without
these systems in the following road
conditions.
Drive your vehicle at reduced speeds
during the following conditions:
• Rough, gravel or snow-covered
roads.
• On roads where the road surface is
pitted or has different surface height.
• Tire chains are installed on your
vehicle.
The safety features of ABS or ESC
equipped vehicle should not be tested
by high speed driving or cornering. This
could endanger the safety of yourself or
others.
ABS is an electronic braking system that
helps prevent a braking skid. ABS allows
the driver to steer and brake at the same
time.
Using ABS
To obtain the maximum benefit from
your ABS in an emergency situation,
do not attempt to modulate your brake
pressure and do not try to pump your
brakes. Depress your brake pedal as hard
as possible.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the wheels,
you may hear sounds from the brakes,
or feel a corresponding sensation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and it means
your ABS is active.
ABS does not reduce the time or distance
it takes to stop the vehicle.
Always maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you.
ABS will not prevent a skid that results
from sudden changes in direction, such
as trying to take a corner too fast or
making a sudden lane change. Always
drive at a safe speed for the road and
weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of stability.
Always steer moderately when braking
hard. Severe or sharp steering wheel
movement can still cause your vehicle to
veer into oncoming traffic or off the road.
On loose or uneven road surfaces,
operation of the anti-lock brake system
may result in a longer stopping distance
than for vehicles equipped with a
conventional brake system.
The ABS (
) warning light will stay on
for several seconds after the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
During that time, 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.
Contact an authorized HYUNDAI dealer
as soon as possible.

06
6-41
Indicator lights

v
ESC indicator light (blinks)

v
ESC OFF indicator light (comes on)
When the Engine Start/Stop button is
pressed to the ON position, the ESC
indicator light illuminates, then goes off
if the ESC system is operating normally.
The ESC indicator light blinks whenever
ESC is operating.
If the ESC indicator light stays on, your
vehicle may have a malfunction with
the ESC system. When this warning light
illuminates we recommend that the
vehicle be checked by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
The ESC OFF indicator light comes on
when ESC is turned off.
WARNING
When ESC is blinking, this indicates ESC
is active:
Drive slowly and NEVER attempt to
accelerate. NEVER turn ESC off while
the ESC indicator light is blinking or you
may lose control of the vehicle resulting
in an accident.
NOTICE
Driving with wheels and tires with
different sizes may cause the ESC
system to malfunction. Before replacing
tires, make sure all four tires and wheels
are the same size. Never drive the
vehicle with different sized wheels and
tires installed.
ESC OFF usage
When Driving
The ESC OFF mode should only be used
briefly to help free the vehicle if stuck in
snow or mud, by temporarily stopping
operation of ESC, to maintain wheel
torque.
To turn ESC off while driving, press the
ESC OFF button while driving on a flat
road surface.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the transmission:
• Do not allow wheel(s) of one axle to
spin excessively while the ESC, ABS,
and Parking Brake warning lights
are displayed. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Reduce engine power and do not
spin the wheel(s) excessively while
these lights are displayed.
• When operating the vehicle
on a dynamometer, make sure
ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light
illuminated).
Information
Turning ESC off does not affect ABS or
standard brake system operation.

06
6-43
VSM OFF condition
To cancel VSM operation, press the ESC
OFF button. ESC OFF () indicator light
will illuminate.
To turn on VSM, press the ESC OFF
button again. The ESC OFF indicator light
will go out.
WARNING
If the ESC () indicator light or EPS
() warning light stays illuminated
or blinks, your vehicle may have a
malfunction with the VSM system.
When the warning light illuminates
have your vehicle checked by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as
possible.
NOTICE
Driving with wheels and tires with
different sizes may cause the VSM
system to malfunction. Before replacing
tires, make sure all four tires and wheels
are the same size. Never drive the
vehicle with different sized tires and
wheels installed.
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer stability assist is operated as a
vehicle stability control system. The
Trailer stability assist system stabilizes
the vehicle and trailer when the trailer
sways or oscillates. Use caution when
towing a trailer in high winds, which
could cause your trailer to sway
excessively. Also, reduce your highway
speed while towing a trailer, especially
when driving a downhill grade. The
weight of the trailer behind your vehicle
while driving on a downhill grade could
cause the trailer to sway excessively.
Factors that may contribute to excessive
trailer sway include:
- Higher vehicle speeds
- Strong crosswinds
- Improper or uneven loading of the
trailer
- Sudden movements of the steering
wheel in your vehicle
- Uneven or broken road conditions
The trailer stability assist system analyzes
the vehicle and trailer condition while
driving. If the system detects excessive
sway from the trailer, the front brakes
may be applied automatically to help
stabilize the vehicle. In some cases the
brakes may be applied on all wheels and
the engine power may be reduced in
order to minimize the sway condition.

06
6-49
SPORT mode
SPORT mode provides sporty
but firm riding.
In SPORT mode, the fuel
efficiency may decrease.
• When SPORT mode is selected, the
SPORT indicator will illuminate on the
instrument cluster.
• Whenever the engine is restarted,
the drive mode will revert back to
NORMAL mode. If SPORT mode is
desired, re-select SPORT mode.
• When SPORT mode is activated:
- The engine RPM will tend to remain
raised over a certain length of time
even after releasing the accelerator
- Upshifts are delayed when
accelerating
SMART mode
SMART mode selects the
proper driving mode among,
NORMAL and SPORT by judging
the driver's driving habits (For
example, mild or dynamic) from
the brake pedal depression or
the steering wheel operation.
• Press the DRIVE MODE button to
activate SMART mode. When SMART
mode is activated, the indicator
illuminates on the instrument cluster.
• The vehicle starts in SMART mode,
when the engine was turned OFF in
SMART mode.
• SMART mode automatically controls
gear shifting patterns, engine torque,
in accordance with the driver's driving
habits.
SNOW mode
SNOW mode offers special
traction tuning for snow
optimizing available traction in
adverse conditions. Snow mode
adjusts left and right wheel slip
control, engine torque and shift
patterns according to available
traction levels.
Information
• When your vehicle drive mode
is selected to SMART mode, the
driving mode varies according to
your acceleration pedal input. When
your vehicle is in SMART mode and
your driving style is such that your
acceleration pedal input is gradual,
the drive mode will maximize fuel
efficiency. Note, however, the actual
fuel efficiency may vary according
to certain driving conditions (uphill/
downhill grade) and vehicle speed.
• When your vehicle is in SMART
mode and your driving style is more
aggressive such that your acceleration
pedal input is more abrupt, the drive
mode will change to reflect a more
SPORT driving characteristic. Note
that while you are driving this way, fuel
economy may be adversely affected.

Driving Your Vehicle
6-50
Various driving situations, which you may
encounter in SMART mode
• The driving mode automatically
changes to SMART SPORT, when you
abruptly accelerate the vehicle or
repetitively operate the steering
wheel (Your driving is categorized
to be sporty.). In this mode, your
vehicle drives in a lower gear for
abrupt accelerating/decelerating
and increases the engine brake
performance.
• You may still sense the engine
braking performance, even when
you release the accelerator pedal in
SMART SPORT mode. It is because
your vehicle remains in lower gear
over a certain period of time for next
acceleration. Thus, it is a normal
driving situation, not indicating any
malfunction.
• The driving mode automatically
changes to SMART SPORT mode only
in harsh driving situations. In most
of the normal driving situations, the
driving mode sets to be in SMART
NORMAL mode.
Limitation of SMART mode
The SMART mode may be limited in
following situations. (The OFF indicator
illuminates in those situations.)
• The driver manually moves the shift
lever : It deactivates SMART mode.
The vehicle drives, as the driver
manually moves the shift lever.
• The vehicle is driven using the paddle
shifter (manual shift mode) : SMART
mode is deactivated determining that
the driver wants to drive the vehicle
manually
• Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Control
is activated : Cruise Control or Smart
Cruise Control may deactivate the
SMART mode. When a higher system
is set by Cruise Control or Smart
Cruise Control, it starts to control
vehicle speed and deactivates
SMART mode. (SMART mode is not
deactivated just by activing Cruise
Control or Smart Cruise Control.)
• The transmission oil temperature is either
extremely low or extremely high : The
SMART mode can be active in most of
the normal driving situations. However,
an extremely high/ low transmission oil
temperature may temporarily deactivate
the SMART mode, because the
transmission condition is out of normal
operation condition.

06
6-51
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The All Wheel Drive (AWD) System
delivers engine power to both the front
and rear wheels for maximum traction.
AWD is useful when extra traction is
required on roads such slippery, muddy,
wet, or snow-covered roads.
Occasional off-road use such as
established unpaved roads and trails are
OK. It is always important that the driver
carefully reduces the speed to a level
that does not exceed the safe operating
speed for those conditions.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY
or DEATH:
• Do not drive in conditions that
exceed the vehicles intended
design such as challenging off-road
conditions.
• Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
• Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
changes or fast, sharp turns.
• The risk of a rollover is greatly
increased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of 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.
NOTICE
• Do not drive in water if the level
is higher than the bottom of the
vehicle.
• Check your brake condition once
you are out of mud or water. Depress
the brake pedal several times as you
move slowly until you feel normal
braking return.
• Shorten your scheduled
maintenance interval if you drive in
off-road conditions such as sand,
mud or water (see "Maintenance
Under Severe Usage Conditions" in
chapter 7).
• Always wash your vehicle thoroughly
after off road use, especially the
bottom of the vehicle.
• Be sure to equip the vehicle with four
tires of the same size and type.
• Make sure that a full time AWD
vehicle is towed by a flat bed tow
truck.