Kia Telluride: Automatic Transmission (AT) / Good driving practices
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Never shift from P (Park) or N (Neutral) into another gear while pressing the accelerator pedal.
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Never move the transmission into P (Park) while the Kia Telluride is still in motion.
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Always bring the vehicle to a complete stop before selecting R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
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Never coast downhill with the transmission in Neutral. Always keep the transmission engaged while the vehicle is moving to maintain proper control and engine braking.
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Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving. Continuous brake application can overheat the braking system and reduce braking performance. When descending long grades, reduce speed and select a lower gear so engine braking can help control vehicle speed.
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Reduce vehicle speed before selecting a lower gear. Attempting to downshift at excessive speed may prevent the transmission from engaging the requested gear.
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Slow down when driving in strong crosswinds to maintain better stability and steering control.
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Use extra caution on wet, icy, snowy, or otherwise slippery road surfaces. Sudden acceleration, hard braking, or abrupt gear changes may cause the drive wheels to lose traction and reduce vehicle control.
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Operate the accelerator pedal smoothly to achieve the best balance of driving comfort, performance, and fuel efficiency in your Kia Telluride.
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Whenever you park, always apply the parking brake. Do not rely solely on the transmission being in P (Park) to prevent the vehicle from moving.
WARNING
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When driving on steep uphill or downhill grades, always select D (Drive) for forward travel or R (Reverse) when backing up. Verify the selected gear on the instrument cluster before moving. Driving in the wrong gear direction could stall the engine and reduce braking performance.
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Always wear your seat belt and ensure every passenger is properly restrained. Occupants wearing seat belts are significantly better protected during a collision.
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Avoid entering corners at excessive speeds.
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Do not make sudden steering inputs, including abrupt lane changes or sharp turns, especially at higher speeds.
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The risk of rollover increases considerably if control of the Kia Telluride is lost while traveling at high speed.
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Loss of control frequently occurs when two or more wheels leave the roadway and the driver overcorrects while attempting to return to the pavement.
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If your vehicle leaves the roadway, avoid making abrupt steering corrections. Instead, slow down gradually before carefully steering back onto the road to reduce the risk of losing control.
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Always observe posted speed limits and adjust your driving speed to match road, weather, and traffic conditions.
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If the Kia Telluride becomes stuck in snow, mud, sand, or similar terrain, you may carefully rock the vehicle by alternating between forward and reverse movement. Never attempt this if people or obstacles are close to the vehicle, as it may suddenly move when traction is regained.
Moving up a steep grade from a standing start
When starting on a steep incline, keep the brake pedal applied and follow these steps to move away smoothly and safely:
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Select the appropriate driving gear according to the vehicle load and the steepness of the hill. Release the parking brake, then gradually release the service brake while applying the accelerator smoothly to move the Kia Telluride forward without excessive wheel spin or rollback.
Shift lock system
For added safety, the Kia Telluride is equipped with a shift lock system that prevents the transmission from being shifted out of P (Park) into R (Reverse) unless the brake pedal is firmly depressed...
Paddle shifter
The paddle shifter function allows you to manually select gears while the Kia Telluride remains in D (Drive), providing greater control during acceleration, overtaking, or when driving on winding roads and steep grades...
Other information:
Kia Telluride (LQ2, 2027-2026) Owner's Manual: Windshield defrosting and defogging
Frost, condensation, or moisture on the windshield can significantly reduce visibility and should always be removed before driving the Kia Telluride. WARNING Windshield heating Do not use the or setting while operating the air conditioner (A/C) in extremely humid weather.
Kia Telluride (LQ2, 2027-2026) Owner's Manual: Children always in the rear
Children younger than 13 years of age should always ride in the rear seats and be properly restrained. Keeping children in the rear seating area significantly reduces the risk of injury during a collision, emergency braking, or sudden evasive maneuver.