Kia Sportage: Weight of the vehicle - Driving tips - Kia Sportage Owner's ManualKia Sportage: Weight of the vehicle

This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of the vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle's weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle's Specifications and the Vehicle Certification Label: Base curb weight This is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or optional equipment. Vehicle curb weight This is the weight of your new vehicle when you picked it up from your dealer plus any aftermarket equipment. Cargo weight This figure includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight, including cargo and optional equipment. When towing, trailer tongue load or king pin weight also is part of the Cargo Weight. GAW (Gross axle weight) This is the total weight placed on each axle (front and rear) - including vehicle curb weight and all payload. GAWR (Gross axle weight rating) This is the maximum allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear). These numbers are shown on the Vehicle Certification Label. The total load on each axle must never exceed its GAWR. GVW (Gross vehicle weight) This is the Base Curb Weight plus actual Cargo Weight plus passengers. GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating) This is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle (including all options, equipment, passengers and cargo). The GVWR is shown on the Vehicle Certification Label located on the driver's door pillar.

    Using four-wheel drive
    Driving on snow- or Ice-covered roads (“4WD LOCK” for full-time 4WD operation) • Use snow tires. See “Tires” in this section for more information. • Keep an adequate distance between y ...

    Trailer towing
    WARNING - Towing a trailer If you don't use the correct equipment and drive properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not ...

    See also:

    Bag hooks
    The bag hook can bear a maximum load of 11 lbs (5 kg). Do not use it to secure a load. There is one bag hook on the left side wall in the cargo compartment and there are two hooks on the right ...

    Instrument brightness control
    The instrument brightness control operates when the headlight switch is in the or position. Turn the control A to adjust the brightness of the meter panel and the instrument panel lights. ...

    Conditions affecting operation
    The smart key system uses weak radio waves. In the following situations, the communication between the electronic key and the vehicle may be affected, preventing the smart key system and wireless re ...