Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while driving. Follow these tips:
- 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.
- Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge.
- Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Off-Road Driving
Warning: This vehicle is neither rated nor equipped for full off-road use. Attempting to drive in off-road conditions may be unsafe and can result in vehicle damage or personal injury.
If equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), this vehicle may be used for light recreational driving away from paved roads. It should not be used in off-road conditions, as the AWD system is not the same as a traditional 4x4 system. See All-Wheel Drive.
This vehicle is equipped with all-season tires. Vehicles not equipped with all-terrain or On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not be driven off-road except on a level, solid surface.
Preparing to Drive Away from Paved Roads
- Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels, and check inflation pressure in all tires, including the spare, if equipped.
- Select Off-Road on the Driver Mode Control switch.
Driving Guidelines
- Use only established trails, roads, and areas reserved for public off-road recreational driving. Obey all posted regulations. Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees, grasses, or disturb wildlife.
- Do not drive up or down off-road inclines. Do not drive through mud, loose sand, packed snow, or deep water.
- After driving away from paved roads, switch out of Off-Road mode to return to normal driving.
Hill and Mountain Roads
- Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape.
- Check all fluid levels, brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission.
- Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills.
- Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross the center line.
- Be alert on top of hills and pay attention to special road signs such as falling rocks, winding roads, long grades, and passing/no-passing zones.
Warning: Using brakes to slow the vehicle on a long downhill slope can cause brake overheating, reduce brake performance, and result in a loss of braking. Shift to a lower gear to let the engine assist the brakes. Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous; it can cause overheating of the brakes and loss of steering assist.
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode
See All-Wheel Drive for details.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how much weight the vehicle can carry (vehicle capacity weight), including occupants, cargo, and nonfactory-installed options. Labels on the vehicle indicate proper weight limits: Tire and Loading Information label and Certification/Tire label.
Warning: Do not load the vehicle heavier than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or maximum front/rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Overloading can damage systems, reduce stopping performance, and cause loss of control.
Tire and Loading Information Label
The Tire and Loading Information label (usually on the B-pillar) shows:
- Number of occupant seating positions
- Maximum vehicle capacity weight (kg/lbs)
- Original equipment tire sizes
- Recommended cold tire inflation pressures
Certification/Tire labels show GVWR and GAWR for front and rear axles.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
- Locate the statement: "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s placard.
- Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers.
- Subtract this from XXX kg or XXX lbs to find available cargo and luggage load capacity.
- Determine combined weight of luggage and cargo. It may not exceed available capacity.
- If towing a trailer, load transferred from the trailer reduces available cargo capacity.
- Add weight of any aftermarket accessories (e.g., rooftop carrier) to combined cargo weight.
Starting and Operating
Shifting
