Kia Sportage Hybrid 2024 Owner's Manual page 232

Driving your vehicle
Trailer towing (if equipped)
If you are considering towing with your
vehicle, you should first check with your
country's Department of Motor Vehicles
to determine their legal requirements.
Since laws vary the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Kia
recommends to ask an authorised Kia
dealer/service partner.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, refer to "Weight of the
trailer" on page 6-42 that appears later
in this section.
Remember that trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling,
durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering requires correct equip -
ment, and it has to be used properly.
This section contains many timetested,
important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your
safety and that of your passengers.
Please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tyres are forced to work harder
against the load of the added weight.
The engine is required to operate at rela -
tively higher speeds and under greater
loads. This additional burden generates
extra heat. The trailer also considerably
adds wind resistance, increasing pulling
requirements.
WARNING
僅 If you don't use the correct equipment
and drive improperly, you can lose
control when you pull a trailer. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
6 36
brakes may not work well - or even at
all. You and your passengers could be
seriously or fatally injured. Pull a
trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section.
僅 Before towing, make sure the total
trailer weight, gross combination
weight, gross vehicle weight, gross
axle weight and trailer tongue load
are all within the limits.
CAUTION
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by your warranty. To pull a
trailer correctly, follow the advice in this
section.
NOTICE
僅 The mounting hole for hitches are
located on both sides of the under -
body behind the rear tyres.
僅 For Europe
- The technically permissible maxi -
mum load on the rear axle(s) may
be exceeded by not more than 15%
and the technically permissible
maximum laden mass of the vehi -
cle may be exceeded by not more
than 10% or 100 kg (220.4 lbs),
whichever value is lower. In this
case, do not exceed 100 km/h (62.1
mph).
- When towing a trailer, the addi -
tional load imposed at the trailer
coupling device may cause the rear
tyre maximum load ratings to be
exceeded, but not by more than
15%. In such a case, do not exceed
100km/h, and the rear tyre pres -
sure should be at least 20 kPa(0.2
bar) above the tyre pressure(s) as
Trailer towing