ESP KIA STINGER 2021 Owner's Guide

Features of your vehicle
170 4
WARNING- Distracted
driving
Driving while distracted can
result in a loss of vehicle control
that may lead to an accident,
severe personal injury, and death.
The driver's primary responsibili-
ty is in the safe and legal opera-
tion of a vehicle, and use of any
handheld devices, other equip-
ment, or vehicle systems which
take the driver's eyes, attention
and focus away from the safe
operation of a vehicle or which
are not permissible by law should
never be used during operation
of the vehicle.

55
Driving your vehicle
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights are
clean.
Check the condition of the tires.
Check under the vehicle for any
sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles
behind you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, at the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in chapter 7,
“Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all con-
trols are easily reached.
Buckle your seat belt.
Adjust the inside and outside
rearview mirrors.
Be sure that all lights work.
Check all gauges.
Check the operation of warning
lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
Release the parking brake and
make sure the brake warning light
goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING - Distracted
driving
Focus on the road while driving.
The driver's primary responsi-
bility is in the safe and legal
operation of the vehicle. Use of
any handled devices, other
equipment or vehicle systems
that distract the driver should
not be used during vehicle
operation.

Driving your vehicle
6 5
WARNING- Check sur-
roundings
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for peo-
ple, especially children, before
putting a vehicle into D (Drive)
or R (Reverse).
WARNING- Fire risk
When you intend to park or stop
the vehicle with the engine on,
be careful not to depress the
accelerator pedal for a long
period of time. It may overheat
the engine or exhaust system
and cause fire.WARNING- Loose
objects
Securely store items in your
vehicle. When you make a sud-
den stop or turn the steering
wheel rapidly, loose objects
may drop on the floor and it
could interfere with the opera-
tion of the foot pedals, possibly
causing an accident.WARNING- Driving while
intoxicated
Do not drive while intoxicated.
Drinking and driving is danger-
ous. Even a small amount of
alcohol will affect your reflexes,
perceptions and judgment.
Driving while under the influ-
ence of drugs is as dangerous
as or more dangerous than driv-
ing drunk.
WARNING- Proper
footwear
Always wear appropriate shoes
when operating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski
boots, sandals, etc.) may inter-
fere with your ability to use the
brake and accelerator pedals.

Driving your vehicle
20
5
Limited use of Launch Control (3)
A warning message will pop up on
the screen if the transmission fluid
temperature is above a certain
level while using Launch Control.
Also, Launch Control will be auto-
matically deactivated.
To address the issue as above, a driver should cool down the trans-
mission fluid temperature by driv-
ing the vehicle. (Driving at a con-
stant speed over 37 mph (60 km/h)
is highly recommended, but this
should only be done if traffic and
road conditions permit the driver to
do so safely.)
✽ ✽ NOTICE
Launch performance can vary
depending on fuel, environment,
tire, and loading conditions.
CAUTION
Constant use of Launch Control
can put enormous stress ontransmission, engine, and driveshafts and can result in vehicledamage. It is highly recom-mended that Launch Control isused after completion of thevehicle brake-in process.
WARNING
It is the responsibility of the
driver to make sure it is safe
before using Launch Control.
Do not use Launch Control on
public roads or when pedestrian
congestion is present. Doing so
could result in an accident that
causes serious injuries.
OCK047158L

Driving your vehicle
22 5
Transmission ranges
The indicator in the instrument clus-
ter displays the shift lever position
when the engine start/stop button is
in the ON position.
However, if the gear is in N (Neutral)
or P (Park), the position is displayed
on the instrument cluster when the
engine start/stop button is in the OFF
or ACC position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park).
To shift the gear from R (Reverse), N
(Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual mode
to P (Park), press the [P] button.
If you turn off the engine in D (Drive)
or R (Reverse), the shifting automat-
ically changes to P (Park).
When you park the vehicle, press the
[P] button while depressing the brake
pedal and then apply the parking
brake.WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious
injury or death:
ALWAYS check the surround-
ing areas near your vehicle for
people, especially children,
before shifting a vehicle into D
(Drive) or R (Reverse).
Before leaving the driver’s
seat, always make sure the
shift lever is in the P (Park)
position, then set the parking
brake, and place the engine
start/stop button in the OFF
position. Unexpected and sud-
den vehicle movement can
occur if these precautions are
not followed.
Do not use engine braking
(rapidly shifting from a high
gear to lower gear) on slippery
roads. The vehicle may slip
causing an accident.
OCK057009N
CAUTION - Transmission
To avoid damage to your trans-
mission, do not accelerate the
engine in R (Reverse) or any for-
ward gear position with the
brakes on. The transmission
may be damaged if you shift
into P (Park) while the vehicle is
in motion.

Driving your vehicle
32
5
• 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.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
Kia recommends you follow all post-
ed speed limits.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS
INJURY or DEATH:
• When driving uphill or down-
hill, always shift to D (Drive)
for driving forward or shift to
R (Reverse) for driving back-
wards, and check the gear
position indicated on the clus-
ter before driving.
(Continued)
(Continued)Driving in the opposite direc-
tion of the selected gear can
lead to a dangerous situation
by shutting off the engine and
affecting the braking perform-
ance.
ALWAYS wear your seatbelt. In a collision, an unbelted
occupant is significantly more
likely to be seriously injured
or killed than a properly belt-
ed occupant.
Avoid high speeds when cor- nering 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.
(Continued)(Continued)
Loss of control often occurs iftwo 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.
Do not attempt sudden or abrupt driving maneuvers on
slippery surfaces. Attempting
such maneuvers can result in
loss of vehicle control and
accidents.

535
Driving your vehicle
✽ ✽
NOTICE
Launch performance can vary
depending on fuel, environment,
tire, and loading conditions.
CAUTION
Constant use of Launch Control
can put enormous stress on
transmission, engine, and drive
shafts and can result in vehicle
damage. It is highly recom-
mended that Launch Control is
used after completion of the
vehicle brake-in process.
WARNING
It is the responsibility of the
driver to make sure it is safe
before using Launch Control.
Do not use Launch Control on
public roads or when pedestrian
congestion is present. Doing so
could result in an accident that
causes serious injuries.

557
Driving your vehicle
When you press the [AUTO HOLD]
switch, if the driver's door and engine
hood are not closed or the driver's
seat belt is unfastened, a warning
will sound and a message will
appear on the LCD display. At this
moment, press the [AUTO HOLD]
button after closing the driver's door
and engine hood and fastening the
seat belt.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS (or ESC) will not prevent acci-
dents 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. Vehicle speeds
should always be reduced during
extreme road conditions. The vehicle
should be driven at reduced speeds
in the following circumstances:
When driving on rough, gravel or
snow-covered roads
When driving with tire chains
installed
When driving on roads where the
road surface is pitted or has differ-
ent surface heights.
Driving in these conditions increases
the stopping distance for your vehicle.The ABS continuously senses the
speed of the wheels. If the wheels
are going to lock, the ABS system
repeatedly modulates the hydraulic
brake pressure to the wheels.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’
sound from the brakes, or feel a cor-
responding sensation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and it means
your ABS is active.
In order to obtain the maximum benefit
from your ABS in an emergency situa-
tion, do not attempt to modulate your
brake pressure and do not try to pump
your brakes. Press your brake pedal as
hard as possible to allow the ABS to
control the force being delivered to the
brakes.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
A click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the vehi-
cle begins to move after the engine is
started. These conditions are normal
and indicate that the anti-lock brake
system is functioning properly.
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559
Driving your vehicle
Electronic stability control
(ESC)
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system is designed to stabi-
lize the vehicle during cornering
maneuvers. ESC checks where you
are steering and where the vehicle is
actually going. ESC applies the
brakes on individual wheels and
intervenes with the engine manage-
ment system to stabilize the vehicle.Electronic Stability Control (ESC) will
not prevent accidents. Excessive
speed in turns, abrupt maneuvers
and hydroplaning on wet surfaces
can still result in serious accidents.
Only a safe and attentive driver can
prevent accidents by avoiding
maneuvers that cause the vehicle to
lose traction. Even with ESC
installed, always follow all the normal
precautions for driving - including
driving at safe speeds for the condi-
tions.The Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system is an electronic system
designed to help the driver maintain
vehicle control under adverse condi-
tions. It is not a substitute for safe driv-
ing practices. Factors including speed,
road conditions and driver steering
input can all affect whether ESC will be
effective in preventing a loss of control.
It is still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the wheels,
you may hear a “tik-tik’’ sound from the
brakes, or feel a corresponding sensa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal
and it means your ESC is active.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
A click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the vehi-
cle begins to move after the engine is
started. These conditions are normal
and indicate that the Electronic
Stability Control System is function-
ing properly.
OCK057151NWARNING
For maximum protection, always
wear your seat belt. No system,
no matter how advanced, can
compensate for all driver error
and/or driving conditions.
Always drive responsibly.

563
Driving your vehicle
Vehicle stability management
(VSM)
This system provides further
enhancements to vehicle stability
and steering responses when a vehi-
cle is driving on a slippery road or a
vehicle detects changes in coeffi-
cient of friction between right wheels
and left wheels when braking.
VSM operation
When the VSM is in operation, ESC
indicator light ( ) blinks.
When the vehicle stability manage-
ment is operating properly, you can
feel a slight pulsation in the vehicle
and/or abnormal steering responses
EPS (Electric Power Steering). This
is only the effect of brake and EPS
control and indicates nothing unusu-
al.
The VSM does not operate when:
Driving on a sloping road such as a
gradient or incline
Driving in reverse
ESC OFF indicator light ( )
remains on the instrument cluster
EPS (Electric Power Steering) indi-
cator light remains on the instru-
ment cluster
VSM operation off
If you press the ESC OFF button to
turn off the ESC, the VSM will also
cancel and the ESC OFF indicator
light ( ) illuminates.
To turn on the VSM, press the button
again. The ESC OFF indicator light
goes out.
WARNING- Tire/
Wheel size
When replacing tires and wheels,
make sure they are the same size
as the original tires and wheels
installed. Driving with varying
tire or wheel sizes may diminish
any supplemental safety benefits
of the VSM system.WARNING- Vehicle stabili-
ty management
Drive carefully even though your
vehicle has Vehicle stability man-
agement. It can only assist you in
maintaining control under cer-
tain circumstances.