KIA Niro Plug-in Hybrid (2018 year). Instruction — part 23

Driving your vehicle

28

6

The ABS warning light will stay on for
approximately 3 seconds after the
engine start/stop button is ON.
During that time, the ABS will go
through self-diagnosis and the light
will go off if everything is normal. If
the light stays on, you may have a
problem with your ABS. Contact an
authorized Kia dealer as soon as
possible.

• When you drive on a road having

poor traction, such as an icy road,
and have operated your brakes
continuously, the ABS will be active
continuously and the ABS warning
light may illuminate. Pull your vehi-
cle over to a safe place and stop
the engine.

• Restart the engine. If the ABS

warning light goes off, then your
ABS system is normal. Otherwise,
you may have a problem with the
ABS. Contact an authorized Kia
dealer as soon as possible.

✽

✽

NOTICE

When you jump start your vehicle
because of a drained battery, the
engine may not run as smoothly and
the ABS warning light may turn on at
the same time. This happens because
of low battery voltage. It does not
mean your ABS has malfunctioned.
• Do not pump your brakes!
• Have the battery recharged before

driving the vehicle.

W-78

6 29

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.

ODE057016N

Driving your vehicle

30

6

ESC operation

ESC ON condition

• When the engine start/stop

button is turned ON, ESC
and ESC OFF indicator
lights illuminate for approxi-
mately 3 seconds, then
ESC is turned on.

• Press the ESC OFF but-

ton for at least half a sec-
ond after turning the igni-
tion ON to turn ESC off.
(ESC OFF indicator will
illuminate). To turn the
ESC on, press the ESC
OFF button (ESC OFF
indicator light will go off).

• When starting the engine,

you may hear a slight tick-
ing sound. This is the ESC
performing an automatic
system self-check and does
not indicate a problem.

When operating

When the ESC is in opera-
tion, the ESC indicator light
blinks.
•

When the Electronic

Stability Control is operat-
ing properly, you can feel a
slight pulsation in the vehi-
cle. This is only the effect
of brake control and indi-
cates nothing unusual.

• When moving out of the

mud or driving on a slip-
pery road, pressing the
accelerator pedal may not
cause the engine rpm
(revolutions per minute) to
increase.

ESC operation off

ESC OFF state

This car has 2 kinds of ESC
off states.
If the engine stops when
ESC is off, ESC remains off.
Upon restarting the engine,
the ESC will automatically
turn on again.

-

6 31

Driving your vehicle

“Traction Control disabled”
•

ESC off state 1

To cancel ESC operation, press the
ESC OFF button (ESC OFF

) short-

ly (ESC OFF indicator light (ESC OFF

) illuminates). At this state, the

engine control function does not oper-
ate. It means the traction control func-
tion does not operate. Brake control
function only operates.

“Traction & Stability Control disabled”

• ESC off state 2

To cancel ESC operation, press the
ESC OFF button (ESC OFF

) for

more than 3 seconds. ESC OFF indi-
cator light (ESC OFF

) illuminates

and ESC OFF warning chime will
sound. At this state, the engine con-
trol function and brake control func-
tion do not operate. It means the car
stability control function does not
operate any more.

Indicator light

When engine start/stop button is
turned to ON, the indicator light illu-
minates, then goes off if the ESC
system is operating normally.
The ESC indicator light blinks when-
ever ESC is operating or illuminates
when ESC fails to operate.
The ESC OFF indicator light comes
on when the ESC is turned off with
the button.

■ ESC indicator light

■ ESC OFF indicator light

WARNING

- Electronic sta-

bility control

Drive carefully even though your
vehicle has Electronic Stability
Control. It can only assist you in
maintaining control under cer-
tain circumstances.

Driving your vehicle

32

6

ESC OFF usage

When driving
• ESC should be turned on for daily

driving whenever possible.

• To turn ESC off while driving, press

the ESC OFF button while driving
on a flat road surface.

✽

✽

NOTICE

• When operating the vehicle on a

dynamometer, ensure that the
ESC is turned off (ESC OFF light
illuminated). If the ESC is left on,
it may prevent the vehicle speed
from increasing, and result in false
diagnosis.

• Turning the ESC off does not

affect ABS or brake system opera-
tion.

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.

WARNING

- Operating

ESC

Never press the ESC OFF but-
ton while ESC is operating (ESC
indicator light blinks).
If ESC is turned off while ESC is
operating, the vehicle may slip
out of control.

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.

6 33

Driving your vehicle

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- Electronic Power Steering).
This is only the effect of brake and
EPS control and indicates nothing
unusual.

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 indicator light remains on the

instrument 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.

Malfunction indicator

The VSM can be deactivated even if
you don’t cancel the VSM operation
by pressing the ESC OFF button. It
indicates that a malfunction has
been detected somewhere in the
Electric Power Steering system or
VSM system. If the ESC indicator
light (

) or EPS warning light

remains on, take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer and have the
system checked.

✽

✽

NOTICE

• The VSM is designed to function

above approximately 13 mph (22
km/h) on curves.

• The VSM is designed to function

above approximately 6 mph (10
km/h) when a vehicle is braking on
a split-mu surface. A split-mu sur-
face is made of two surfaces which
have different friction forces.

Driving your vehicle

34

6

• The Vehicle Stability Management

system is not a substitute for safe
driving practices but a supplemen-
tary function only. It is the responsi-
bility of the driver to always check
the speed and the distance to the
vehicle ahead. Always hold the
steering wheel firmly while driving.

• Your vehicle is designed to activate

according to the driver’s intention,
even with installed VSM. Always fol-
low all the normal precautions for
driving at safe speeds for the condi-
tions – including driving in clement
weather and on a slippery road.

✽

✽

NOTICE

For maximum protection, always
wear your seat belt. No system, no
matter how advanced, can compen-
sate for all driver error and/or driv-
ing conditions. Always drive respon-
sibly.

Hill-start assist control (HAC)

A vehicle has the tendency to roll
back on a steep hill when it starts to
go after stopping. The Hill-start
Assist Control (HAC) prevents the
vehicle from rolling back by applying
the brakes automatically for about 2
seconds. The brakes are released
when the accelerator pedal is
depressed or after about 2 seconds.
The HAC is activated only for about 2
seconds, so when the vehicle is
starting off always depress the accel-
erator pedal.

Good braking practices

• Check to be sure the parking brake

is not engaged and the parking
brake indicator light is out before
driving away.

• Driving through water may get the

brakes wet. They can also get wet
when the vehicle is washed. Wet
brakes can be dangerous! Your
vehicle will not stop as quickly if the
brakes are wet. Wet brakes may
cause the vehicle to pull to one side.
To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action
returns to normal, taking care to
keep the vehicle under control at all
times. If the braking action does not
return to normal, stop as soon as it
is safe to do so and call an author-
ized Kia dealer for assistance.

• Don't coast down hills with the

vehicle out of gear. This is extreme-
ly hazardous. Keep the vehicle in
gear at all times, use the brakes to
slow down, then shift to a lower
gear so that engine braking will
help you maintain a safe speed.

WARNING

- Maintaining

Brake Pressure on Incline

HAC does not replace the need
to apply brakes while stopped on
an incline. While stopped, make
sure you maintain brake pres-
sure sufficient to prevent your
vehicle from rolling backward
and causing an accident. Don’t
release the brake pedal until you
are ready to accelerate forward.

6 35

Driving your vehicle

• Don't "ride" the brake pedal.

Resting your foot on the brake
pedal while driving can be danger-
ous because the brakes might
overheat and lose their effective-
ness. It also increases the wear of
the brake components.

• If a tire goes flat while you are driv-

ing, apply the brakes gently and
keep the vehicle pointed straight
ahead while you slow down. When
you are moving slowly enough for it
to be safe to do so, pull off the road
and stop in a safe place.

• If your vehicle is equipped with a

dual clutch transmission, don't let
your vehicle creep forward. To
avoid creeping forward, keep your
foot firmly on the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped.

• Be cautious when parking on a hill.

Firmly engage the parking brake
and place the shift lever in P (Dual
clutch transmission). If your vehicle
is facing downhill, turn the front
wheels into the curb to help keep
the vehicle from rolling.

If your vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb to help keep the vehicle from
rolling. If there is no curb or if it is
required by other conditions to
keep the vehicle from rolling, block
the wheels.

• Under some conditions your park-

ing brake can freeze in the
engaged position. This is most like-
ly to happen when there is an
accumulation of snow or ice
around or near the rear brakes or if
the brakes are wet. If there is a risk
that the parking brake may freeze,
apply it only temporarily while you
put the shift lever in P (Dual clutch
transmission) and block the rear
wheels so the vehicle cannot roll.
Then release the parking brake.

• Do not hold the vehicle on an

incline with the accelerator pedal.
This can cause the transaxle to
overheat. Always use the brake
pedal or parking brake.

Driving your vehicle

36

6

AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) (IF EQUIPPED)

The AEB system is to reduce or to
avoid accident risk. It recognizes the
distance from the vehicle ahead or
the pedestrian through the sensors
(i.e. radar and camera), and, if nec-
essary, warns the driver of accident
risk with the warning message or the
warning alarms.

✽

✽

NOTICE

Take the following precautions when
using the Autonomous Emergency
Braking (AEB):
• This system is only a supplemental

system and it is not intended to,
nor does it replace the need for
extreme care and attention of the
driver. The sensing range and
objects detectable by the sensors
are limited. Pay attention to the
road conditions at all times.

• NEVER drive too fast in accor-

dance with the road conditions or
while cornering.

• Always drive cautiously to prevent

unexpected and sudden situations
from occurring. AEB does not stop
the vehicle completely and does
not avoid collisions.

System setting and activation

System setting

The driver can activate the AEB by
placing the engine start/stop button
to the ON position and by selecting
'User Settings', 'Driving Assist', and
'Autonomous Emergency Braking
System'. The AEB deactivates, when
the driver cancels the system setting.

WARNING

-

Autonomous Emergency
Braking (AEB) Limitations

The AEB system is a supple-
mental system and is not a sub-
stitute for safe driving prac-
tices. It is the responsibility of
the driver to always check the
speed and distance to the vehi-
cle ahead to ensure it is safety
to use the AEB system.

6 37

Driving your vehicle

The warning light illumi-
nates on the LCD display,
when you cancel the AEB
system. The driver can

monitor the AEB ON/OFF status on
the LCD display. When the warning
light remains ON with the AEB acti-
vated, have your vehicle inspected
by an authorized Kia dealer.

The driver can select the initial warn-
ing activation time in the User
Settings in the instrument cluster
LCD display. The options for the ini-
tial Forward Collision Warning
include the following:

•

EARLY

-

When this condition is
selected, the initial
Forward Collision Warning
is activated earlier than
normal. This setting maxi-
mizes the amount of dis-
tance between the vehicle
or pedestrian ahead before
the initial warning occurs.
The driver feels it is too
sensitive to activate than
expectation, change it to
Normal. If the vehicle in
front stops abruptly, the
driver can notice the warn-
ing alarm is late even
though the early option is
selected.

• NORMAL - When this condition is

selected, the initial
Forward Collision
Warning is activated nor-
mally. This setting allows
for a nominal amount of
distance between the
vehicle or pedestrian
ahead before the initial
warning occurs.

•

LATE

-

When this condition is

selected, the initial Forward
Collision Warning is activat-
ed later than normal. This
setting reduces the amount
of distance between the
vehicle or pedestrian ahead
before the initial warning
occurs. The driver can use it
when the traffic is not busy
on the road and driving
speed is lower.

Driving your vehicle

38

6

Prerequisite for activation

The AEB will activate activated when
the AEB is selected on the LCD dis-
play, and when the following prereq-
uisites are satisfied:
- The ESC (Electronic Stability

Control) is activated.

- The driving speed is over 6 mph

(10 km/h). (The AEB only works
within a certain range of vehicle
speeds)

- When the AEB recognizes a vehi-

cle or the pedestrian in front. (The
AEB may not recognize every
obstacle or provide warnings and
braking in every situation, so do
not rely on the AEB to stop the
vehicle in instances where the driv-
er sees an obstacle and has the
ability to apply the brakes)

• The AEB automatically activates

when you turn the vehicle on.
The driver can deactivate the AEB
by canceling the in the system set-
ting on the LCD display.

• The AEB automatically deactivates

when canceling the ESC. When the
ESC is canceled, the AEB cannot
be activated on the LCD display.

WARNING

To avoid driver distractions, do
not attempt to set or cancel the
AEB while operating the vehicle.

6 39

Driving your vehicle

AEB warning message and
system control

The AEB produces warning mes-
sages, warning alarms, and emer-
gency braking based on the level of
risk of a frontal collision, such as
when a vehicle ahead suddenly
brakes, when there is no following dis-
tance from the vehicle in front, or
when it detects a collision with a
pedestrian is imminent.

Forward Warning (1st warning)

The warning message appears on
the LCD display with the warning
alarms.

Collision Warning (2nd warning)

• The warning message appears on

the LCD display with the warning
alarms.

• The AEB applies the brakes within

certain limit to reduce the impact
from a collision.

ODE056075L

ODE056076L

Driving your vehicle

40

6

Emergency braking (3

rd

warning)

• The warning message appears on

the LCD display with the warning
alarms.

• The AEB controls the brakes with-

in certain limit to release shock
from the collision.
The AEB controls the maximum
brakes just before the collision.

Brake operation

• In an urgent situation, the braking

system enters into the ready status
for prompt reaction against the dri-
ver’s depressing the brake pedal.

• The AEB provides additional brak-

ing power for optimum braking per-
formance, when the driver
depresses the brake pedal.

• The braking control is automatical-

ly deactivated, when the driver
sharply depresses the brake pedal,
or when the driver abruptly turns
the steering wheel.

• The braking control is automatical-

ly canceled, when risk factors dis-
appear.

The driver should always exercise
caution when operating the vehicle,
even though there is no warning
message or warning alarm.

✽

✽

NOTICE

The AEB operates in accordance
with the risk levels, such as the dis-
tance from the vehicle/passer-by in
front, the speed of the vehicle/pass-
er-by in front, and the driver's vehi-
cle operation.

ODE056077L

WARNING

The AEB cannot avoid all colli-
sions. The AEB might not com-
pletely stop the vehicle before
collision, due to ambient weath-
er and road conditions. The
driver has the responsibility to
drive safely and control the
vehicle.

6 41

Driving your vehicle

Sensor to detect the distance
from the vehicle in front
(front radar)

The sensor is to maintain a certain
distance from the vehicle in front.
However, the smudged sensor lens
with foreign substances, such as
snow and rain, adversely affects the
sensing performance. It may even
temporarily cancel the AEB. Always
keep the sensor lens clean.

Warning message and warning
light

When the sensor is covered or the
sensor lens is dirty with foreign sub-
stances, such as snow or rain, the
AEB operation may temporarily stop.
In this case, a warning message will
appear to notify the driver.

This is not a malfunction with the
AEB. To operate the AEB again,
remove the foreign substances.

✽

✽

NOTICE

• Do not install any accessories, such

as a license plate bracket or
bumper sticker near the sensor
area. Do not replace the bumper
by yourself. Doing so may adverse-
ly affect the sensing performance.

• Always keep the sensor/bumper

area clean.

• Use only a soft cloth to wash the

vehicle. Also, do not spray highly
pressurized water on the sensor
installed on the bumper.

• Be careful not to apply unneces-

sary force on the frontal sensor
area. When the sensor moves out
of the correct position due to
external force, the system may not
operate correctly even without the
warning light or message. In this
case, have your vehicle inspected
by an authorized Kia dealer.

• Use only the genuine Kia sensor

cover. Do not arbitrarily apply
paint on the sensor cover.

ODE056017

ODE057078L

Driving your vehicle

42

6

System malfunction

• When the AEB is not working prop-

erly, the AEB warning light (

) will

illuminate and the warning mes-
sage will appear for a few seconds.
After the message disappears, the
master warning light (

) will illu-

minate. In this case, have your vehi-
cle inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer.

• The AEB warning message may

appear along with the illumination
of the ESC warning light.

• The AEB may unnecessarily pro-

duce warning messages and warn-
ing alarms. Due to the sensing lim-
itation, the AEB may not produce
warning messages or warning
alarm at all.

• When there is a malfunction with

the AEB, the braking control does
not operate upon detecting a colli-
sion risk even with other braking
systems normally operating.

• The AEB operates only for the

vehicle / pedestrian in front, while
driving forward. It does not operate
for any animals or vehicles in the
opposite direction.

• The AEB can not recognize cross-

traffic or parked vehicles present-
ing a side-profile.

• If the vehicle ahead makes a sud-

den stop, the braking system will
not be activated sufficiently, which
could lead to a collision. Always be
aware of dangerous situations
when driving.

• Sudden braking of the vehicle

while the system is ON might
cause the passenger or materials
inside to move and lead to injuries.

• If the brake is depressed when a

collision is about to occur, the sys-
tem may not be activated.

ODE056079L

WARNING

The AEB is only a supplemental
system for the driver’s conven-
ience.
The driver still maintains
responsibility to control the
vehicle. Do not solely depend
on the AEB system. Rather,
maintain a safe braking dis-
tance,

and,

if necessary,

depress the brake pedal to
lower the driving speed.

6 43

Driving your vehicle

Limitation of the system

The AEB is an assistant system for a
driver in a certain risky driving condi-
tion and it does not take every
responsibility for all risks from driving
condition.
The AEB monitors the driving situa-
tions through the radar and the cam-
era sensor. For any vehicle activity
occurring outside the sensor range,
the AEB may not function. The driver
should exercise caution in the follow-
ing situations, as the AEB operation
may be limited:

Recognizing vehicles

- The radar or the camera is contam-

inated with foreign substances.

- It heavily rains or snows.
- There is electromagnetic interfer-

ence.

- Something in the path of travel

deflects the radar waves.

- The vehicle in front has a narrow

body. (i.e. motorcycles and bicycles)

- The driver’s view is degraded by

driving towards sunlight, reflected
light, or darkness.

- The camera cannot see the full

profile of the vehicle in front.

- The vehicle in front is a special

vehicle, such as a heavily-loaded
truck or a trailer.
The vehicle in front does not turn
ON the rear lights, does not have
rear lights, has asymmetric rear
lights, or has rear lights out of angle.

- The outside brightness is greatly

changed, such as entering/exiting
the tunnel.

- The vehicle driving is unstable.
- The radar/camera sensor recogni-

tion is limited.

- When driving on uneven surfaces

or roads with sudden gradient
changes

- The vehicle driving indoors or in an

underground parking lot.