Driving tips
Introduction to the subject
In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:
Always stow heavy objects in the luggage compartment and make sure that the rear seat backrests are securely latched. Always use the tie-downs in the luggage compartment and secure the objects with suitable straps. Never overload the vehicle. Remember that the vehicle load, as well as how it is distributed, can affect vehicle handling and braking .
More information:
- Rear hatch
- Lights
- Luggage compartment
- Roof rack
- Trailer towing
- Tires and wheels
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
- Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle.
- Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
- Do not stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in open bins in the vehicle or on top of the instrument panel.
- Remove hard, heavy, and sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle interior and stow securely. Always put heavy items in the luggage compartment.
- Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that they cannot move into the deployment area of a side or front airbag during braking, in a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
- Always make sure that there is nothing on the front passenger seat when the backrest is folded forward.
- Passengers must never ride in an incorrect seating position because objects are being transported in the vehicle.
- Never let anybody sit in a seat that is blocked by objects being carried in the vehicle.
WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances. Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and serious injury.
- Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
- Always remember when transporting heavy objects that a change in the center of gravity also changes the way your vehicle handles:
- Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
- Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
- Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps using the tie-downs in the luggage compartment.
- Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
- Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and handle differently.
- Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
- Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
- Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Stowing luggage
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Always stow all luggage securely in the vehicle
- Distribute the load in the vehicle, on the roof, and in the trailer as evenly as possible.
- Put heavy objects as far forward as possible in the luggage compartment and securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
- Secure luggage in the luggage compartment to the tie-downs with suitable straps .
- Have the headlight range adjusted, if necessary .
- Check the pressure in all 4 tires when the tires are still cold. Never reduce air pressure in warm tires to match cold tire inflation pressure. Heed the information on the tire pressure label .
- Pay especially close attention to your vehicle's Tire Pressure Monitoring System when driving with a heavy load .
NOTE
The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that rub against them.
Please review the information on loading a trailer and a roof rack .
Driving with an open rear hatch
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Driving with an open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury. If you have to drive with an open rear hatch, make sure that all objects and the hatch itself are properly secured and take appropriate measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with an unlatched or open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury.
- Never transport objects larger than those that fit completely in the luggage compartment, because the rear hatch cannot be fully closed properly.
- After closing the rear hatch, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed and cannot open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
- Always stow all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out of the luggage compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
- Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.
- Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering, or braking, because the unlatched rear hatch can move suddenly.
- Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see. Obey all applicable legal requirements.
- Never use the rear hatch to clamp or hold objects that stick out of the luggage compartment.
- Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on the rear hatch (along with any luggage on the rack) before driving with an open rear hatch.
WARNING
Driving with an open rear hatch can cause poisonous carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust to get into the passenger compartment.
- Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of consciousness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.
- Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust fumes from being drawn into the vehicle.
- Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because then the rear hatch cannot be fully closed.
- If you absolutely must drive with an open rear hatch, do the following to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Close all windows and the power sunroof.
- Switch off the climate control system's air recirculation feature.
- Open all air vents in the instrument panel.
- Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
NOTE
The open rear hatch changes the vehicle length and height.
Driving a loaded vehicle
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
For good handling when driving a loaded vehicle, please observe the following:
- Securely stow all luggage .
- Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
- Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
- Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
- If applicable, observe information about driving with a trailer .
- If applicable, observe information about driving with a roof rack .
WARNING
Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances. Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing loss of control and serious injury.
- Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
- Always remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center of gravity and also the way it handles.
- Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
- Secure heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
- Use your vehicle's luggage compartment tie-downs with suitable straps.
- Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps.
- Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
- Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and handle differently.
- Always adapt speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
- Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
- Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Weights and axle weights
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
The actual gross weight of any vehicle depends on the engine, basic equipment, any factory-installed optional equipment for the given model, and any accessories that have been installed. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross front and Rear Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) for a given vehicle are printed on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver door jamb .
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating includes the weight of the vehicle itself with all of its factory-installed equipment, plus a full tank of gasoline, the engine oil and coolant, all vehicle occupants (150 lbs/68 kg per seating position) and cargo.
The Gross Axle Weight Ratings specify the maximum allowable load for each axle.
The cargo payload may not be increased by using a roof rack without commensurately reducing the weight from vehicle occupants . Determining the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating .
Vehicle payload consists of the combined weight of the following:
- Passengers.
- Total luggage and other cargo.
- Roof load including the roof rack system.
- Factory-installed or retrofitted accessories.
- Hitch weight and tongue weight for trailer towing.
Please refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross front and rear Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) for your vehicle, which are printed on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver door jamb.
WARNING
Exceeding maximum permissible weight ratings can result in vehicle damage, accidents, and serious personal injury.
- Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed the permissible Gross Axle Weight Rating. Also, never let the total of these actual weights exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
- Always remember that the vehicle's handling and braking will be affected by extra load and the distribution of this load. Adjust your speed accordingly.
NOTE
- Always distribute the load evenly and as low as possible in the vehicle. The vehicle capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers and luggage).
- When transporting a heavy load in the luggage compartment, carry the load as close to the rear axle (as far forward) as possible so that the vehicle's handling and braking are affected as little as possible.
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