tow KIA NIRO PHEV 2021 Owner's Guide

Driving your vehicle
10 5
✽
✽
NOTICE
• Do not wait for the engine to warm
up while the vehicle remains sta-
tionary.
Start driving at moderate engine
speeds. (Steep accelerating and
decelerating should be avoided.)
• Always start the vehicle with your
foot on the brake pedal. Do not
depress the accelerator while
starting the vehicle. Do not race
the engine while warming it up.
• If ambient temperature is low, the
“ ” indicator may remain illu-
minated longer than the normal
amount of time.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the vehicle:
• If the “ ” indicator turns off
while you are in motion, do not
attempt to move the shift lever to
the P (Park) position.
If traffic and road conditions per-
mit, you may put the shift lever in
the N (Neutral) position while the
vehicle is still moving and turn the
ignition switch to START in an
attempt to restart the hybrid sys-
tem.
• Do not push or tow your vehicle to
start the hybrid system.

Driving your vehicle
14 5
1. Always carry the smart key with
you.
2. Make sure the parking brake is
applied.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in P
(Park).
4. Depress the brake pedal.
5. Press the Engine Start/Stop but-
ton. If the hybrid system starts, the
“ ” indicator will come on.✽ ✽
NOTICE
• Do not wait for the engine to warm
up while the vehicle remains sta-
tionary.
Start driving at moderate engine
speeds. (Steep accelerating and
decelerating should be avoided.)
• Always start the vehicle with your
foot on the brake pedal. Do not
depress the accelerator while
starting the vehicle. Do not race
the engine while warming it up.
• If ambient temperature is low, the
“ ” indicator may remain illu-
minated longer than the normal
amount of time.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the vehicle:
• If the “ ” indicator turns off
while you are in motion, do not
attempt to move the shift lever to
the P (Park) position.
If traffic and road conditions per-
mit, you may put the shift lever in
the N (Neutral) position while the
vehicle is still moving and press
the Engine Start/Stop button in an
attempt to restart the hybrid sys-
tem.
• Do not push or tow your vehicle to
start the hybrid system.

Driving your vehicle
40 5
Emergency braking
If there is a problem with the brake
pedal while driving, emergency brak-
ing is possible by pulling up and
holding the EPB switch. Braking is
possible only while you are holding
the EPB switch.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
During emergency braking by the
EPB, the parking brake warning
light will illuminate to indicate that
the system is operating.
When the EPB (Electronic Parking
Brake) does not release
If the EPB does not release normal-
ly, take your vehicle to an authorized
Kia dealer by loading the vehicle on
a flatbed tow truck and have the sys-
tem checked.
WARNING
Do not operate the parking
brake while the vehicle is mov-
ing except in an emergency sit-
uation.
CAUTION
If you continuously notice a
noise or burning smell when the
EPB is used for emergency brak-
ing, have your vehicle checked
by an authorized Kia dealer.

Driving your vehicle
62 5
(Continued)
If there is a malfunction with
FCA, the autonomous emer-
gency braking may not be
applied even through the
braking system is operating
normally.
If the vehicle in front stops
suddenly, you may have less
control of the brake system.
Therefore, always keep a safe
distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you.
FCA may activate during brak-
ing and the vehicle may stop,
suddenly shifting loose
objects toward the passen-
gers. Always keep loose
objects secured.
FCA may not activate if the
driver applies the brake pedal
to avoid a collision.
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Even if there is any problem
with the brake control func-
tion of FCA, the vehicle's
basic braking performance
will operate normally.
However, brake control func-
tion for avoiding collisions
may not activate.
FCA operates only to detect
vehicles, pedestrian in front of
the vehicle.
FCA does not operate when
the vehicle is in reverse.
FCA is not designed to detect
other objects on the road
such as animals.
FCA does not detect vehicles
in the opposite lane.
FCA does not detect cross
traffic vehicles that are
approaching.
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FCA cannot detect the driver
approaching the side view of
a parked vehicle (for example
on a dead end street.) In these
situations, you must maintain
a safe braking distance, and if
necessary, depress the brake
pedal to reduce the driving
speed in order to maintain a
safe distance.
FCA may not activate as a
result of the road conditions,
inclement weather, driving
conditions or traffic condi-
tions.
FCA does not operate for all
vehicles and pedestrian.

Driving your vehicle
64 5
The front view camera is broken.
The headlamps are not on at night
or in a tunnel, or light level is low.
The light of street, sun, oncoming
vehicle and so on reflects from the
water on the road.
When light shines brightly in the
reverse direction you drive.
The shadow is on the lane marker
by a median strip, trees, etc.
The windshield glass is fogged up;
a clear view of the road is obstruct-
ed
The front view camera sensor
recognition is limited
When only a part of vehicle image
does not cover the entire vehicle.
When the front view camera is
blocked by continuous washer
spray and wiper operation.
The vehicle in front is a special
purpose vehicle, a trailer, or a truck
loading with unusual shape of lug-
gage.
The ambient light is too high or low.
The vehicle is passing a tunnel, a
tollgate, or partially paved road. The windshield glass is fogged up;
It is hard to see the rear side of the
vehicle in front.
When it is hard to see the rear side
of the front vehicle. (The front vehi-
cle is turning or is overturned.)
When the rear part of the front
vehicle is small or low.
When a trailer or other vehicle is
towing the front vehicle.
When the ground clearance of the
front vehicle is high.
When a front vehicle makes sud-
den lane changes unexpectedly.Detecting pedestrian
The sensor may be limited when:
The pedestrian is not fully detected
by the front view camera recogni-
tion function, for example, if the
pedestrian is leaning over or is not
fully walking upright.
The pedestrian is moving very
quickly or appears abruptly in the
front view camera detection area.
The pedestrian is wearing clothing
that easily blends into the back-
ground, making it difficult to be
detected by the front view camera
recognition function.
The outside lighting is too bright
(e.g. when driving in bright sunlight
or in sun glare) or too dark (e.g.
when driving on a dark rural road
at night).
It is difficult to detect and distin-
guish the pedestrian from other
objects in the surroundings, for
example, when there is a group of
pedestrian or a large crowd.
There is an item similar to a per-
son's body structure.
The pedestrian is small.

Driving your vehicle
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Detecting pedestrian
The sensor may be limited when:
The pedestrian is not fully detected
by the front view camera recogni-
tion function, for example, if the
pedestrian is leaning over or is not
fully walking upright.
The pedestrian is moving very
quickly or appears abruptly in the
front view camera detection area.
The pedestrian is wearing clothing
that easily blends into the back-
ground, making it difficult to be
detected by the front view camera
recognition function.
The outside lighting is too bright
(e.g. when driving in bright sunlight
or in sun glare) or too dark (e.g.
when driving on a dark rural road
at night).
It is difficult to detect and distin-
guish the pedestrian from other
objects in the surroundings, for
example, when there is a group of
pedestrian, or a large crowd. There is an item similar to a per-
son's body structure.
The pedestrian is small.
The pedestrian has impaired
mobility.
In case of front view camera sen-
sor recognition is in a marginal
state.
When the pedestrian suddenly
interrupts in front of the vehicle.
When there is any other electro-
magnetic interference.
When the construction area, rail or
other metal object is near the
pedestrian.
In case of a large number of
pedestrian are gathered.
When it is difficult to distinguish
between surroundings and pedes-
trian.
When it is at night or in dark sur-
roundings.WARNING
Do not use Forward Collision-
Avoidance Assist when tow-
ing a vehicle. Application of
FCA while towing may
adversely affect the safety of
your vehicle or the towing
vehicle.
Use extreme caution when the
vehicle in front of you has
cargo that extends rearward
from the cab, or when the
vehicle in front of you has
higher ground clearance.
FCA is designed to detect and
monitor the vehicle ahead in
the roadway through front
view camera recognition. It is
not designed to detect bicy-
cles, motorcycles, or smaller
wheeled objects such as lug-
gage bags, shopping carts, or
strollers.
(Continued)

Driving your vehicle
80 5
The front view camera’s field of
view is not well illuminated (either
too dark or too much reflection or
too much backlight that obscures
the field of view)
The vehicle in front does not have
their rear lights or their rear lights
does not turned ON or their rear
lights are located unusually.
The outside brightness changes
suddenly, for example when enter-
ing or exiting a tunnel
When light coming from a street
light or an oncoming vehicle is
reflected on a wet road surface
such as a puddle in the road
The field of view in front is
obstructed by sun glare
The vehicle in front is driving errat-
ically
The vehicle is on unpaved or
uneven rough surfaces, or road
with sudden gradient changes.
The vehicle is driven near areas
containing metal substances as a
construction zone, railroad, etc. The vehicle drives inside a build-
ing, such as a basement parking
lot
The front view camera does not
recognize the entire vehicle in
front.
The front view camera is damaged.
The brightness outside is too low
such as when the headlamps are
not on at night or the vehicle is
going through a tunnel.
The shadow is on the road by a
median strip, trees, etc.
The vehicle drives through a toll-
gate.
The windshield glass is fogged up; a
clear view of the road is obstructed.
The rear part of the vehicle in front
is not normally visible. (the vehicle
turns in other direction or the vehi-
cle is overturned.)
The adverse road conditions cause
excessive vehicle vibrations while
driving The sensor recognition changes
suddenly when passing over a
speed bump
The vehicle in front is moving lon-
gitudinally to the driving direction
The vehicle in front is stopped lon-
gitudinally
The vehicle in front is driving
towards your vehicle or reversing
You are on a roundabout and the
vehicle in front circles
It is difficult to secure the field of
view of the front view camera such
as backlight, reflected light, and
darkness.
When the front view camera is
blocked by continuous washer
spray and wiper operation.
The vehicle in front is a special
purpose vehicle, a trailer, or a truck
loading with unusual shape of lug-
gage.
The ambient light is too high or low.
The front view camera is contami-
nated by front glass tinting, attach-
ing film, water proof coating, dam-
aged, foreign material such as a
sticker, worm, etc.

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Driving your vehicle
When the front view camera
(including lens) or front radar is
damaged.
If not using headlamp or using
weak light in the night or in a tun-
nel.
Backlight is shining in the driving
direction of the vehicle. (Including
oncoming vehicle headlights.)
When the rear part of the front
vehicle is small or low.
When a trailer or other vehicle is
towing the front vehicle.
When the ground clearance of the
front vehicle is high.
When a front vehicle makes sud-
den lane changes unexpectedly.- Driving on a curve
The performance of Forward
Collision-Avoidance Assist may be
limited when driving on a curved
road.
The front view camera or front radar
sensor recognition function may not
detect the vehicle, pedestrian or
cyclist traveling in front on a curved
road.
This may result in no alarm and brak-
ing when necessary.
Always pay attention to road and
driving conditions, and if necessary,
depress the brake pedal to reduce
your driving speed in order to main-
tain a safe distance.
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Driving your vehicle
The field of view in front is
obstructed by sun glare
The windshield glass is fogged up;
a clear view of the road is obstruct-
ed
The adverse road conditions cause
excessive vehicle vibrations while
driving
When the pedestrian or cyclist
suddenly enters the path of travel
of the vehicle
When the cyclist in front is riding
perpendicular to the direction of
travel
When there is any electromagnetic
interference
When the cyclist is near areas con-
taining metal objects such as a
construction zone, railroad, etc.
If the bicycle material is not reflect-
ed well on the front radar
When a pedestrian or cyclist’s
height is small.
When a pedestrian or cyclist’s
behavior is unstable. When a pedestrian or cyclist sud-
denly interrupts in front of the vehi-
cle.
When there are many pedestrian
or cyclist.
When there is an object that
reflects front radar well. (such as a
guardrail or a nearby vehicle)
WARNING
Do not use Forward Collision
avoidance Assist when tow-
ing a vehicle. Application of
FCA while towing may
adversely affect the safety of
your vehicle or the towing
vehicle.
Use extreme caution when the
vehicle in front of you has
cargo that extends rearward
from the cab, or when the
vehicle in front of you has
higher ground clearance.
FCA is designed to detect and
monitor the vehicle ahead or
detect a pedestrian or cyclist
in the roadway through front
view camera recognition and
front radar signals. It may not
always detect bicycles, motor-
cycles, or smaller wheeled
objects such as luggage bags,
shopping carts, or strollers.
(Continued)

Driving your vehicle
92 5
✽
✽
NOTICE
• Even though the steering is assist-
ed by the function, the driver may
control the steering.
• The steering wheel may feel heav-
ier when the steering wheel is
assisted by the function than when
it is not.
Lane Keeping Assist malfunc-
tion
If there is a problem with the func-
tion a message will appear. If the
problem continues LKA failure indi-
cator will illuminate.
WARNING
The driver is responsible for
accurate steering.
Even though the steering is
assisted by the function, the
driver may control the steer-
ing wheel.
Turn off the function and drive
the vehicle in the below situa-
tions:
- In bad weather
- In bad road conditions
- When the steering wheel
needs to be controlled by the
driver frequently.
- When towing a vehicle or
trailer.
The steering wheel may feel
heavier when the steering
wheel is assisted by the func-
tion than when it is not.
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