KIA Niro Plug-in Hybrid (2018 year). Manual — part 26

Driving your vehicle

76

6

The color of indicator will change
depend on the condition of LKAS.
- White : Sensor does not detect the

lane marker or vehicle
speed is less than 40 mph
(64 km/h).

- Green : Sensor detects the lane

marker and system is able
to control the steering.

LKAS activation

• To see the LKAS screen on the

LCD display in the cluster, Tab to
the Assist mode (

).

• After LKAS is activated, if both lane

markers are detected, vehicle
speed is over 40 mph (64 km/h)
and all the activation conditions are
satisfied, a green steering wheel
indicator will illuminate and the
steering wheel will be controlled.

WARNING

The Lane Keeping Assist
System is a system to help pre-
vent the driver from leaving the
lane. However, the driver should
not solely rely on the system
but always check the road con-
ditions when driving.

ODE056098L

6 77

Driving your vehicle

• If the speed of the vehicle is over

40 mph (64 km/h) and the system
detects lane markers, the color
changes from gray to white.

When the conditions below are met,
LKAS will be enable to assist steer-
ing.
• Vehicle speed is above 40 mph (64

km/h).

• Both lane markers are detected by

LKAS.

• The vehicle is between the lane

markers.

If LKAS can assist steering, a green
steering wheel indicator will illumi-
nate.

Warning

• If the vehicle leaves a lane, the

lane marker you cross will blink on
the LCD display.

• If the vehicle moves out its lane

because steering torque for assis-
tance is not enough, the line indi-
cator of deviation direction will
blink.

ODE056070L/ODE056098L

■

Lane undetected

■

Lane detected

ODE056096L/ODE056097L

■

Left lane

■

Right lane

Driving your vehicle

78

6

If the driver takes hands off the steer-
ing wheel for several seconds while
the LKA is activated, the system will
warn the driver.

• The warning message may appear

late according to road conditions.
Therefore, always have your hands
on the steering wheel while driving.

• If you hold the steering wheel light-

ly, the system would generate
hands off warning because LKAS
can treat the situation as you do
not grab the wheel.

If the driver still does not have their
hands on the steering wheel after
several seconds, the system will not
control the steering wheel and warn
the driver only when the driver cross-
es the lane markers.
However, if the driver has their hands
on the steering wheel again, the sys-
tem will start controlling the steering
wheel.

Warning light and message

The LKA failure indicator (yellow) will
illuminate if the LKA is not working
properly. Take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer and have the
system checked.

ODE056099L

ODE056100L

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Driving your vehicle

✽

✽

NOTICE

The steering wheel may feel heavier
when the steering wheel is assisted
by the system than when it is not.

The system will be cancelled when:
• You change lanes with the turn sig-

nal.

- Using the turn signal to change

lanes.

- If you change lanes without the

turn signal on, the steering wheel
might be controlled.

• LKAS can transit to steering assist

mode when the car is near to mid-
dle of the lane after system on or
the lane was changed. LKAS can
not assist steering if the vehicle fol-
lows lane marker too close contin-
uously before transition to steering
assist mode.

• The control of ESC (Electronic

Stability Control) or VSM (Vehicle
Stability Management) is activated.

• The steering will not be assisted

when your drive fast on a sharp
curve.

• The steering will not be assisted

when vehicle speed is below 40
mph (64 km/h) and over 110 mph
(177 km/h).

• The steering will not be assisted

when you change lanes fast.

• The steering will not be assisted

when you brake suddenly.

• The steering will not be assisted

when the lane is very wide or nar-
row.

• The steering will not be assisted

when only one side lane marker is
detected.

• There are more than two lane

markers such as a construction
area.

• Radius of a curve is too small.
• When you turn steering wheel sud-

denly, the LKAS will be disabled
temporarily.

• Driving on a steep slope or hill.

WARNING

• The driver is responsible for

accurate steering.

• Even though the steering is

assisted by the system, the
driver may control the steer-
ing wheel.

• Turn off the system and drive

the vehicle in below situa-
tions.
- In bad weather
- In bad road condition
-

When the steering wheel

needs to be controlled by the
driver frequently.

Driving your vehicle

80

6

DRIVER’S ATTENTION

The driver must be cautious in the
below situations may not work
properly when recognition of the
lane marker is poor or limited :

When lane and road condition is
poor

- It is difficult to distinguish the

lane marker from road when the
lane marker is covered with dust
or sand.

- It is difficult to distinguish the

color of the lane marker from
road.

- There is something looks like a

lane marker.

- The lane marker is indistinct or

damaged.

- The number of lanes increases/

decreases or the lane lines are
crossing (Driving through a toll
plaza/toll gate, merged/divided
lane).

- There are more than two lane

markers.

- The lane marker is very thick or

thin.

- The lane marker is not visible

due to snow, rain, stain, a puddle
or other factors.

- A shadow is on the lane marker

because of a median strip,
guardrail, noise barriers and
others.

- When the lane markers are com-

plicated or a structure substi-
tutes for the lines such as a
construction area.

- There are crosswalk signs or

other symbols on the road.

- The lane suddenly disappears

such as at the intersection.

- The lane marker in a tunnel is

covered with dirt or oil and etc

.

When external condition is inter-
vened

- The brightness of outside

changes suddenly when enter-
ing/existing a tunnel or passing
under a bridge.

- The headlamps are not on at

night or in a tunnel, or light level
is low.

- There is a boundary structure in

the roadway.

- The light of street, sun, oncom-

ing vehicle and so on reflects
from the water on the road.

- When light shines brightly in the

reverse direction you drive.

- The distance from the vehicle

ahead is very short or the vehi-
cle ahead drives hiding the lane
line.

- You drive on a steep grade or a

sharp curve.

- The vehicle vibrates heavily.
- The temperature near inside mir-

ror is very high due to direct sun
light and etc.

6 81

Driving your vehicle

When front visibility is poor

- The lens or windshield is cov-

ered by strange materials.

- The sensor cannot detect the

lane because of fog, heavy rain
or snow.

- The windshield is fogged by

humid air in the vehicle.

- Putting something on the crash

pad and etc.

LKAS Function Change

The driver can change LKA to Lane
Departure Warning System (LDWS)
or change the LKAS mode between
Standard LKA and Active LKA from
the User Settings Mode on the LCD
display.

Lane Departure

LDWS alerts the driver with a visual
and acoustic warning when the sys-
tem detects the vehicle leaving the
lane. In this mode, the steering wheel
will not be controlled. When the vehi-
cle’s front wheel contacts the inside
edge of lane line, LKAS issues the
lane departure warning.

Standard LKA

The Standard LKA mode guides the
driver to keep the vehicle within the
lanes. It rarely controls the steering
wheel, when the vehicle drives well
inside the lanes. However, it starts to
control the steering wheel, when the
vehicle is about to deviate from the
lanes.

Active LKA

The active LKA mode provides more
frequent steering wheel control in
comparison with the Standard LKA
mode. Active LKA can reduce the dri-
ver’s fatigue to assist the steering for
maintaining the vehicle in the middle
of the lane.

WARNING

The Lane Keeping Assist
System is a system to help pre-
vent the driver from leaving the
lane. However, the driver should
not solely rely on the system
but always take the necessary
actions for safe driving prac-
tices.

Driving your vehicle

82

6

The Driver Attention Alert (DAA) sys-
tem displays the condition of the dri-
ver's fatigue level and inattention.

System setting and activation

System setting

• The Driver Attention Alert system

is set to be in the OFF position,
when your vehicle is first delivered
to you from the factory.

• To turn ON the Driver Attention

Alert system, turn on the engine,
and then select 'User Settings

→

Driving Assist

→ Driver Attention

Alert

→ Normal/Early' on the LCD

display.

• The Driver can select mode of the

Driver Attention Alert System.
- Normal : The Driver Attention

Alert system alerts the driver of
his/her fatigue level or inattentive
driving practices.

- Early : The Driver Attention Alert

system alerts the driver of his/her
fatigue level or inattentive driving
practices faster than Normal
mode.

• The set-up of the Driver Attention

Alert system will be maintained, as
selected, when the engine is re-
started.

DRIVER ATTENTION ALERT SYSTEM (DAA) (IF EQUIPPED)

ODE057134L

6 83

Driving your vehicle

Drivers’ Attention level

• The driver can monitor their driving

conditions on the LCD display.
The DAA screen will appear when
you select the Assist mode tab
(

) on the LCD display if the

system is activated.

(For more

information,

refer to “LCD

Modes” in chapter 4.)

• The driver's attention level is dis-

played on the scale of 1 to 5. The
lower the number is, the more inat-
tentive the driver is.

• The number decreases when the

driver does not take a break for a
certain period of time.

• The number increases when the

driver attentively drives for a cer-
tain period of time.

• When the driver turns on the sys-

tem while driving, it displays ‘Last
Break time’ and level reflected that.

Take a break

• The “Consider taking a break”

message appears on the LCD dis-
play and a warning sounds in order
to suggest the driver to take a
break, when the driver’s attention
level is below 1.

• The Driver Attention Alert system

does not suggest the driver to take
a break, when the total driving time
is shorter than 10 minutes.

ODE057135L

■ System off

ODE057133L

■ Attentive driving

ODE057136L

■ Inattentive driving

ODE057137L

Driving your vehicle

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6

Resetting the system

• The last break time is set to 00:00

and the driver's attention level is
set to 5 (very attentive) when the
driver resets the Driver Attention
Alert system.

• The Driver Attention Alert system

resets in the following situations.
- The engine is turned OFF.
- The driver unfastens the seat belt

and then opens the driver’s door.

- Stop lasting more than 10 min-

utes.

• The Driver Attention Alert system

operates again, when the driver
restarts driving.

System disabled

The Driver Attention Alert system
enters the ready status and displays
the 'Disabled' screen in the following
situations.
- The camera sensor keeps failing to

detect the lanes.

- Driving speed remains under 40

mph (64 km/h) or over 110 mph
(177 km/h).

System malfunction

When the “Check Driver Attention
Alert” warning message appears, the
system is not working properly. In this
case, have the vehicle inspected by
an authorized Kia dealer.

ODE057138L

ODE057139L

6 85

Driving your vehicle

WARNING

• The Driver Attention Alert

system is not a substitute for
safe driving practices, but a
convenience function only. It
is the responsibility of the
driver to always drive cau-
tiously to prevent unexpected
and sudden situations from
occurring. Pay attention to the
road conditions at all times.

• The system may suggest a

break according to the dri-
ver’s driving pattern or habits
even if the driver doesn’t feel
fatigue.

• The driver, who feels fatigued,

should take a break, even
though there is no break sug-
gestion by the Driver
Attention Alert system.

CAUTION

The Driver Attention Alert sys-
tem utilizes the camera sensor
on the front windshield for its
operation.
To prevent potential damage to
the camera and keep the camera
sensor operating under optimal
conditions, observe the follow-
ings:
• Do not disassemble camera

temporarily for tinted window
or attaching any types of coat-
ings and accessories. If you
disassemble a camera and
assemble it again, take your
vehicle to an authorized Kia
dealer and have the system
checked to need a calibration.

• Do not locate any reflective

objects (i.e. white paper, mir-
ror) over the dashboard. Any
light reflection may cause a
mal-function of the Driver
Attention Alert (DAA) system.

(Continued)

(Continued)
• Pay extreme caution to keep

the camera sensor out of
water.

• Do not arbitrarily disassemble

the camera assembly, nor
apply any impact on the cam-
era assembly.

• Playing the vehicle audio sys-

tem at high volume may offset
the Driver Attention Alert sys-
tem warning sounds.

Driving your vehicle

86

6

✽

✽

NOTICE

The Driver Attention Alert system
may not properly operate with limit-
ed alerting in the following situa-
tions:
• Not properly recognize lane (For

more information, refer to “Lane
Keeping Assist System (LKAS)” in
this chapter.)

• Rough or intentionally evasive

driving

• Large tire pressure deviation,

uneven wear, poor wheel align-
ment, etc.

• Severe winding road
• Uneven road surface condition
• Windy road
• The vehicle drives through a

windy area.

• The vehicle is controlled by the

following driving assist systems:
-

Lane Keeping Assist System
(LKAS)

- Blind Spot Detection System
- Autonomous

Emergency

Braking (AEB) System

- Smart Cruise Control (SCC)

System

6 87

Driving your vehicle

Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a

moderate rate. Don't make "jack-
rabbit" starts or full-throttle shifts
and maintain a steady cruising
speed. Don't race between stop-
lights. Try to adjust your speed to
the traffic so you don't have to
change speeds unnecessarily.

• Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-

sible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you
can avoid unnecessary braking.
This also reduces brake wear.

• Drive at a moderate speed. The

faster you drive, the more fuel your
vehicle uses. Driving at a moderate
speed, especially on the highway,
is one of the most effective ways to
reduce fuel consumption.

• Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This

can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these com-
ponents. In addition, driving with
your foot resting on the brake pedal
may cause the brakes to overheat,
which reduces their effectiveness
and may lead to more serious con-
sequences.

• Take care of your tires. Keep them

inflated to the recommended pres-
sure. Incorrect inflation, either too
much or too little, results in unnec-
essary tire wear. Check the tire
pressures at least once a month.

• Be sure that the wheels are

aligned correctly. Improper align-
ment can result from hitting curbs
or driving too fast over irregular
surfaces. Poor alignment causes
faster tire wear and may also result
in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption.

• Keep your vehicle in good condi-

tion. For better fuel economy and
reduced maintenance costs, main-
tain your vehicle in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
chapter 8. If you drive your vehicle
in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see
chapter 8 for details).

• Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi-

mum service, your vehicle should
be kept clean and free of corrosive
materials. It is especially important
that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be
allowed to accumulate on the
underside of the vehicle. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel
consumption and also contribute to
corrosion.

• Travel lightly. Don't carry unneces-

sary weight in your vehicle. Weight
reduces fuel economy.

• Don't let the engine idle longer

than necessary. If you are waiting
(and not in traffic), turn off your
engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.

ECONOMICAL OPERATION

Driving your vehicle

88

6

• Remember, your vehicle does not

require extended warm-up. After
the engine has started, allow the
engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds
prior to placing the vehicle in gear.
In very cold weather, however, give
your engine a slightly longer warm-
up period.

• Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.

Lugging is driving too slowly in a
very high gear resulting in engine
bucking. If this happens, shift to a
lower gear. Over-revving is racing
the engine beyond its safe limit.
This can be avoided by shifting at
the recommended speed.

• Use your air conditioning sparingly.

The air conditioning system is
operated by engine power so your
fuel economy is reduced when you
use it.

• Open windows at high speeds can

reduce fuel economy.

• Fuel economy is less in crosswinds

and headwinds. To help offset
some of this loss, slow down when
driving in these conditions.

Keeping a vehicle in good operating
condition is important both for econ-
omy and safety. Therefore, have an
authorized Kia dealer perform
scheduled inspections and mainte-
nance.

WARNING

- Engine off

during motion

Never turn the engine off to
coast down hills or anytime the
vehicle is in motion. The power
steering and power brakes will
not function properly without the
engine running. In addition, turn-
ing off the engine start/stop but-
ton while driving could engage
the steering wheel lock resulting
in loss of vehicle steering. Keep
the engine on and downshift to
an appropriate gear for an
engine braking effect.

6 89

Driving your vehicle

Hazardous driving conditions

When hazardous driving conditions
are encountered such as water,
snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar haz-
ards, follow these suggestions:
• Drive cautiously and allow extra

distance for braking.

• Avoid sudden braking or steering.
• When braking with non-ABS

brakes pump the brake pedal with
a light up-and-down motion until
the vehicle is stopped.

Do not pump the brake pedal on a
vehicle equipped with ABS.

• If stalled in snow, mud, or sand,

use the second gear. Accelerate
slowly to avoid spinning the drive
wheels.

• Use sand, rock salt, or other non-

slip material under the drive
wheels to provide traction when
stalled in ice, snow, or mud.

Reducing the risk of a rollover

This multi-purpose passenger vehi-
cle is defined as a Sports Utility
Vehicle (SUV). Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. SUV's have
higher ground clearance and a nar-
rower track to make them capable of
performing in a wide variety of off-
road applications. Specific design
characteristics give them a higher
center of gravity than ordinary vehi-
cles. An advantage of the higher
ground clearance is a better view of
the road, which allows you to antici-
pate problems.

They are not

designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger
vehicles, any more than low-slung
sports vehicles are designed to per-
form satisfactorily in off-road condi-
tions. Due to this risk, driver and pas-
sengers are strongly recommended
to buckle their seat belts. In a rollover
crash, an unbelted person is signifi-
cantly more likely to die than a per-
son wearing a seat belt. There are
steps that a driver can make to
reduce the risk of a rollover.

SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

WARNING

- Downshifting

Do not downshift with a dual
clutch transmission while driv-
ing on slippery surfaces. The
sudden change in tire speed
could cause the tires to skid
and result in an accident.

Driving your vehicle

90

6

If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers, do not load your
roof rack with heavy cargo, and
never modify your vehicle in any way.

WARNING

Your vehicle is equipped with
tires designed to provide safe
ride and handling capability. Do
not use a size and type of tire
and wheel that is different from
the one that is originally
installed on your vehicle. It can
affect the safety and perform-
ance of your vehicle, which
could lead to steering failure or
rollover and serious injury.
When replacing the tires, be
sure to equip all four tires with
the tire and wheel of the same
size, type, tread, brand and
load-carrying capacity. If you
nevertheless decide to equip
your vehicle with any tire/wheel
combination not recommended
by Kia for off road driving, you
should not use these tires for
highway driving.

WARNING

- Rollover

Reduce speed when you turn
corners. The center of gravity of
AWD vehicles is higher than
that of conventional FWD vehi-
cles, making them more likely to
roll over when you turn corners
too fast.

WARNING

- Rollover

As with other Sports Utility
Vehicle (SUV), failure to operate
this vehicle correctly may result
in loss of control, an accident or
vehicle rollover.
• Utility vehicles have a signifi-

cantly higher rollover rate
than other types of vehicles.

• Specific design characteris-

tics (higher ground clearance,
narrower track, etc.) give this
vehicle a higher center of
gravity than ordinary vehicles.

• A SUV is not designed for cor-

nering at the same speeds as
conventional vehicles.

• Avoid sharp turns or abrupt

maneuvers.

(Continued)

(Continued)
• In a rollover crash, an unbelt-

ed person is significantly
more likely to die than a per-
son wearing a seat belt. Make
sure everyone in the vehicle is
properly buckled up.

6 91

Driving your vehicle

Rocking the vehicle

If it is necessary to rock the vehicle
to free it from snow, sand, or mud,
first turn the steering wheel right and
left to clear the area around your
front wheels. Then, shift back and
forth between R (Reverse) and any
forward gear in vehicles equipped
with a dual clutch transmission. Do
not race the engine, and spin the
wheels as little as possible. If you are
still stuck after a few tries, have the
vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to
avoid engine overheating and possi-
ble damage to the transaxle.

The ESC system should be turned
OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.

Smooth cornering

Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are
wet. Ideally, corners should always
be taken under gentle acceleration. If
you follow these suggestions, tire
wear will be held to a minimum.

CAUTION

- Vehicle rocking

Prolonged rocking may cause
engine overheating, transaxle
damage or failure, and tire dam-
age.

CAUTION

- Spinning tires

Do not spin the wheels, espe-
cially at speeds more than 35
mph (56 km/h). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the
vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat which
could result in tire damage that
may injure bystanders.

WARNING

- Sudden

Vehicle Movement

Do not attempt to rock the vehi-
cle if people or objects are near-
by. The vehicle may suddenly
move forward or backwards as it
becomes unstuck.