trailer KIA Sportage 2015 QL / 4.G Owner's Manual

Introduction
61
A090000AEN
As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle correct-
ly may result in loss of control, an
accident or vehicle rollover.
Specific design characteristics (high-
er ground clearance, track, etc.) give
this vehicle a higher center of gravity
than other types of vehicles. In other
words they are not designed for cor-
nering at the same speeds as con-
ventional 2-wheel drive vehicles.
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers. Again, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of
control, an accident or vehicle
rollover.Be sure to read the
“Reducing the risk of a rollover”
driving guidelines, in section 5 of
this manual.
A030000AUN
No special break-in period is need-
ed. By following a few simple precau-
tions for the first 1,000 km (600
miles) you may add to the perform-
ance, economy and life of your vehi-
cle.
Do not race the engine.
While driving, keep your engine speed (rpm, or revolutions per
minute) between 2,000 rpm and
4,000 rpm.
Do not maintain a single speed for long periods of time, either fast or
slow. Varying engine speed is
needed to properly break-in the
engine.
Avoid hard stops, except in emer- gencies, to allow the brakes to seat
properly.
Don't tow a trailer during the first 2,000 km (1,200 miles) of opera-
tion.
VEHICLE BREAK-IN
PROCESS
VEHICLE HANDLING
INSTRUCTIONS

Features of your vehicle
80
4
This system will activate when the
indicator on the rear parking assist
OFF button is not illuminated. If
you desire to deactivate the Back
up warning system, press the rear
parking assist OFF button. (The
indicator on the button will illumi-
nate.) To turn the system on, press
the button again. (The indicator on
the button will go off.)
The sensing distance while the Back up warning system is in oper-
ation is approximately 120 cm (47
in.).
When more than two objects are sensed at the same time, the clos-
est one will be recognized first.Types of warning sound
When an object is 120 cm to 81 cm(47 in. to 32 in.) from the rear
bumper: Buzzer beeps intermit-
tently.
When an object is 80 cm to 41 cm (31 in. to 16 in.) from the rear
bumper: Buzzer beeps more fre-
quently.
When an object is within 40 cm (15 in.) of the rear bumper:
Buzzer sounds continuously.
Non-operational conditions of
Back up warning system
The Back up warning system may
not operate properly when:
1.Moisture is frozen to the sensor. (Itwill operate normally when the
moisture has been cleared.)
2.The sensor is covered with foreign matter, such as snow or water, or
the sensor cover is blocked. (It will
operate normally when the materi-
al is removed or the sensor is no
longer blocked.)
3.Driving on uneven road surfaces (unpaved roads, gravel, bumps,
gradient).
4.Objects generating excessive noise (vehicle horns, loud motorcy-
cle engines, or truck air brakes) are
within range of the sensor.
5.Heavy rain or water spray exists.
6.Wireless transmitters or mobile phones are within range of the
sensor.
7.The sensor is covered with snow.
8.Trailer towing

Driving your vehicle
Before driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Key positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
• Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Engine start/stop button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
. . . . . . . 5-8
. . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Manual transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Automatic transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Four wheel drive (4WD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
. . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Cruise control system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Active ECO system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Economical operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48Special driving conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-54
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-54
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-54
Winter driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-56
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-59
Vehicle load limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-67
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-67
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-70
Vehicle weight glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
. . . . . . . . . . . . 5-72
5

559
Driving your vehicle
E140000AFD
If you are considering towing with
your vehicle, you should first check
with your country's Department of
Motor Vehicles to determine their
legal requirements.
Since laws vary the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Ask
an authorized Kia dealer for further
details before towing.Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in
“Weight of the trailer” that appears
later in this section.Remember that trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in han-
dling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering requires
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
This section contains many time-
tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Please read this
section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transaxle, wheel assem-
blies, and tires are forced to work
harder against the load of the added
weight. The engine is required to
operate at relatively higher speeds
and under greater loads. This addi-
tional burden generates extra heat.
The trailer also adds considerably to
wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements.
TRAILER TOWING
WARNING- Weight
limits
Before towing, make sure the
total trailer weight, GCW (gross
combination weight), GVW
(gross vehicle weight), GAW
(gross axle weight) and trailer
tongue load are all within the
limits.
CAUTION- Trailer instal-lation
Follow instructions in this sec-
tion when pulling a trailer.Pulling a trailer improperly candamage your vehicle and resultin costly repairs not covered byyour warranty.
WARNING- Towing a trailer
Always check your towing
equipment to confirm correct
equipment size and installation
before use. Using incompatible
or incorrectly installed trailer
equipment can effect the vehi-
cle operation and endanger you
and your passengers.

Driving your vehicle
60
5
E140100AUN
Hitches
It's important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by, and rough roads are
a few reasons why you’ll need the
right hitch. Here are some rules to
follow:
Will you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly car-
bon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can get into your vehicle,
as well as dirt and water.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do not
attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
Kia trailer hitch accessory is avail- able at an authorized Kia dealer.
E140200AUN
Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trail-
er. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the hitch manufactur-
er or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recom-
mendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough
slack so you can turn with your trail-
er. And, never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
E140300AUN
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak-
ing system, make sure it conforms to
your state’s regulations and that it is
properly installed and operating cor-
rectly.
If your trailer weight exceeds the
maximum allowed weight without
trailer brakes, then the trailer will also
require its own brakes as well. Be
sure to read and follow the instruc-
tions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be
able to install, adjust and maintain
them properly.
Don’t tap into or modify your vehi-cle's brake system.
WARNING- Trailerbrakes
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolute-
ly certain that you have proper-
ly set up the brake system. This
is not a task for amateurs. Use
an experienced, competent
trailer shop for this work.

561
Driving your vehicle
E140400AUN
Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you must get
to know your trailer. Acquaint your-
self with the feel of handling and
braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that
the vehicle you are driving is now a
good deal longer and not nearly so
responsive as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check the trailer
hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector(s), lights, tires
and mirror adjustment. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start your vehicle
and trailer moving and then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets
you check your electrical connection
at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and any trailer
brakes are still working.
E140401AUN
Following distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sud-
den turns.
E140402AUN
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance
up ahead when you’re towing a trail-
er. And, because of the increased
vehicle length, you’ll need to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before you can return to your
lane. Due to the added load to the
engine when going uphill the vehicle
may also take longer to pass than it
would on flat ground.
E140403AUN
Backing up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, just move your
hand to the left. To move the trailer to
the right, move your hand to the
right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
E140404AUN
Making turns
When you’re turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal. Do
this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects near the edge of the
road. Avoid jerky or sudden maneu-
vers. Signal well in advance before
turning or lane changes.

Driving your vehicle
62
5
E140405AFD
Turn signals when towing a trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle
has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will
flash whenever you signal a turn or
lane change. Properly connected, the
trailer lights will also flash to alert
other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes, or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green
arrows on your instrument panel will
flash for turns even if the bulbs on the
trailer are burned out. Thus, you may
think drivers behind you are seeing
your signals when, in fact, they are
not. It’s important to check occasion-
ally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working. You must also check the
lights every time you disconnect and
then reconnect the wires.
Do not connect a trailer lighting sys-
tem directly to your vehicle’s lighting
system. Use only an approved trailer
wiring harness.
An authorized Kia dealer can assist
you in installing the wiring harness.
E140406AFD
Driving on grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get
hot and no longer operate efficiently.
On a long uphill grade, shift down
and reduce your speed to around 70
km/h (45 mph) to reduce the possi-
bility of engine and transaxle over-
heating.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trail-
er brakes and you have an automat-
ic transaxle, you should drive in D
(Drive) when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in D (Drive)
when towing a trailer will minimize
heat build up and extend the life of
your transaxle.
CAUTION
Always use an approved trailer
wiring harness. Failure to usean approved trailer wiring har-ness could result in damage tothe vehicle electrical system.

563
Driving your vehicle
Towing up hill
When towing a trailer on steepgrades (in excess of 6%) pay close
attention to the engine coolant
temperature gauge to ensure the
engine does not overheat. If the
needle of the coolant temperature
gauge moves across the dial
towards “H” (HOT), pull over and
stop as soon as it is safe to do so,
and allow the engine to idle until it
cools down. You may proceed once
the engine has cooled sufficiently.
You must decide driving speed depending on trailer weight and
uphill grade to reduce the possibil-
ity of engine and transaxle over-
heating
E140407AUN-EA
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer
attached to your vehicle, you should
not park your vehicle on a hill. People
can be seriously or fatally injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer
can be damaged if they unexpected-
ly roll downhill.
However, if you ever have to park
your trailer on a hill, here's how to do
it:
1.Pull the vehicle into the parkingspace. Turn the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb (right if
headed downhill, left if headed up
hill). 2.If the vehicle has a manual
transaxle, place the car in neutral.
If the vehicle has an automatic
transaxle, place the car in P (Park).
3.Set the parking brake and shut off the vehicle.
4.Place chocks under the trailer wheels on the down hill side of the
wheels.
5.Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift to neutral, release the parking
brake and slowly release the
brakes until the trailer chocks
absorb the load.
6.Reapply the brakes, reapply the parking brake and shift the vehicle
to R (Reverse) for manual
transaxle or P (Park) for automatic
transaxle.
7. Shut off the vehicle and release the vehicle brakes but leave the
parking brake set.

Driving your vehicle
64
5
When you are ready to leave after
parking on a hill
1.With the manual transaxle in
Neutral or automatic transaxle in P
(Park), apply your brakes and hold
the brake pedal down while you:

and

2.Slowly remove your foot from the brake pedal.
3.Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4.Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.E140500AUN
Maintenance when trailer towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trail-
er. Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil, auto-
matic transaxle fluid, axle lubricant
and cooling system fluid. Brake con-
dition is another important item to
frequently check. Each item is cov-
ered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you
start your trip.
Don’t forget to also maintain your
trailer and hitch. Follow the mainte-
nance schedule that accompanied
your trailer and check it periodically.
Preferably, conduct the check at the
start of each day’s driving. Most
importantly, all hitch nuts and bolts
should be tight. When towing check transaxle fluid
more frequently.
CAUTION- Air condition
Do not use the A/C while using
your vehicle to tow uphill. Dueto higher load during trailerusage, overheating might occuron hot days or during uphilldriving.

565
Driving your vehicle
E140600BFD
If you do decide to pull a trail-
er
Here are some important points if you
decide to pull a trailer:
Consider using a sway control. Youcan ask a hitch dealer about sway
control.
Do not do any towing with your car during its first 2,000 km (1,200 miles)
in order to allow the engine to prop-
erly break in. Failure to heed this cau-
tion may result in serious engine or
transaxle damage.
When towing a trailer, be sure to con- sult an authorized Kia dealer for fur-
ther information on additional require-
ments such as a towing kit, etc.
Always drive your vehicle at a moder- ate speed (less than 100 km/h (60
mph)).
On a long uphill grade, do not exceed 70 km/h (45 mph) or the posted tow-
ing speed limit, whichever is lower.
The chart contains important consid- erations that have to do with weight:
Engine
Item 2.0L/2.4L Gasoline Engine
2WD 4WD
Maximum trailer
weight
Without brake system 454
(1000) 454
(1000)
With brake system 907
(2000) 907
(2000)
Maximum tongue weight 91
(200) 91
(200)
kg (lbs.)
2WD : 2-Wheel drive
4WD : 4-Wheel drive
To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the
information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section.