Kia Telluride 2023 TOW Mode, Economical Operation, Special Driving Conditions, and Winter Driving 

The 2023 Kia Telluride is a versatile and adaptable SUV with a lot of great features. The TOW mode, the commitment to fuel efficiency, and the ability to handle different driving situations really show how good this car is. The TOW mode is a great example of how useful it is because it provides a specific setting that improves the vehicle’s performance when pulling a trailer, making sure that trailering experiences are safe and secure. The 2023 Telluride is built to handle rough terrain and tow loads, but it is also very fuel-efficient, thanks to a number of engineering improvements, such as an engine design that uses less fuel and transmission systems that are more advanced. This SUV is also very flexible, as it can easily handle a wide range of driving conditions, from city streets to rough off-road trails. It gives the driver a great mix of comfort, capability, and efficiency that fits perfectly with the constantly changing driving landscapes of today.

2023 Kia Telluride Specs, Price, Features and Mileage (Brochure)

TOW mode

Press TOW mode button on the left side of the crash pad to activate TOW mode. The vehicle will adjust the power output, transmission, braking, and ESC to assist towing. TOW mode indicator will be shown on the LCD display.
The maximum towing capacity can be adjusted in 3 stages.

• Heavy
• Medium
• Light

NOTICE

•  In order to maximize driving comfort, ISG will not be activated.
•  When accelerating in uphill, the vehicle will adjust the brake pressure to avoid rolling back.
•  When TOW mode is on, some driver assistance systems may be limited.
•  Drive mode is deactivated when TOW  mode is on.

Economical operation

Your vehicle’s fuel economy depends mainly on your style of driving, where you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how many miles (kilometers) you can get from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate your vehicle as economically as possible, use the following driving suggestions to help save money in both fuel and repairs:

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moderate rate. Don’t make “jackrabbit” starts or full-throttle shifts and maintain a steady cruising speed. Don’t race between stoplights. Try to adjust your speed to the traffic so you don’t have to change speeds unnecessarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever possible. Always maintain a safe distance from other vehicles so you can avoid unnecessary braking. This also reduces brake wear.
•  Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your vehicle uses. Driving at a moderate speed, especially on the highway, is one of the most effective ways to reduce fuel consumption.
• Don’t “ride” the brake pedal. This can increase fuel consumption and also increase wear on these components. In addition, driving with your foot resting on the brake pedal may cause the brakes to overheat, which reduces their effectiveness and may lead to more serious consequences.
•  Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure. Incorrect inflation, either too much or too little, results in unnecessary tire wear. Check the tire pressures at least once a month.
•  Be sure that the wheels are aligned correctly. Improper alignment can result from hitting curbs or driving too fast over irregular surfaces. Poor alignment causes faster tire wear and may also result in other problems as well as greater fuel consumption.
•  Keep your vehicle in good condition. For better fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs, maintain your vehicle in accordance with “Scheduled maintenance service” on page 8-8. If you drive your vehicle in severe conditions, more frequent maintenance is required (Refer to “Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions” on page 8-11 for details).
•  Keep your vehicle clean. For maximum service, your vehicle should be kept clean and free of corrosive materials. It is especially important that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be allowed to accumulate on the underside of the vehicle. This extra weight can result in increased fuel consumption and also contribute to corrosion.
•  Travel lightly. Don’t carry unnecessary
  weight in your vehicle. Weight reduces fuel economy.
•  Don’t let the engine idle longer than necessary. If you are waiting (and not in traffic), turn off your engine and restart only when you’re ready to go.
•  Remember, your vehicle does not require an extended warm-up. After the engine has started, allow the engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to placing the vehicle in gear. In very cold weather, however, give your engine a slightly longer warm-up period.
•  Don’t “lug” or “over-rev” the engine. Lugging is driving too slowly in a very high gear resulting in engine bucking. If this happens, shift to a lower gear. Over-revving is racing the engine beyond its safe limit. This can be avoided by shifting at the recommended speed.
• Use your air conditioning sparingly. The air conditioning system is operated by engine power so your fuel economy is reduced when you use it.
•  Open windows at high speeds can reduce fuel economy.
•  Fuel economy is less in crosswinds and headwinds. To help offset some of this loss, slow down when driving in these conditions.

Keeping a vehicle in good operating condition is important both for economy and safety. Therefore, have an authorized Kia dealer perform scheduled inspections and maintenance.

WARNING
Engine off during motion
Never turn the engine off to coast down hills or anytime the vehicle is in motion. The power steering and power brakes will not function properly without the engine running. Keep the engine on and downshift to an appropriate gear for engine braking effect.

Special driving conditions

If driving conditions deteriorate due to poor weather or road conditions, you should pay even more attention than usual to your driving.
Hazardous driving conditions
When hazardous driving conditions are encountered such as water, snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar hazards, follow these suggestions:

• Drive cautiously and allow extra distance for braking.
•  Avoid sudden braking or steering.
• When braking with non-ABS brakes pump the brake pedal with a light up-and-down motion until the vehicle is stopped.
• Do not pump the brake pedal on a vehicle equipped with ABS.
•  If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use the second gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid spinning the drive wheels.
•  Use sand, rock salt, or other nonslip material under the drive wheels to provide traction when stalled in ice, snow, or mud.

Reducing the risk of a rollover
This multi-purpose passenger vehicle is defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. SUV’s have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications.
Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary vehicles. An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road, which allows you to anticipate problems.
They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional passenger vehicles, any more than low-slung sports vehicles are designed to perform satisfactorily in off-road conditions. Due to this risk, driver and passengers are strongly recommended to buckle their seat belts.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. There are steps that a driver can take to reduce the risk of a rollover.
If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, do not load your roof rack with heavy cargo, and never modify your vehicle in any way.

WARNING
Rollover
As with other Sports Utility vehicles (SUV), failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control, an accident or vehicle rollover.

• Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
• Specific design characteristics (higher ground clearance, narrower track, etc.) give this vehicle a higher center of gravity than ordinary vehicles.
•  An SUV is not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional vehicles.
•  Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
• In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly buckled up.

WARNING
Your vehicle is equipped with tires designed to provide safe ride and handling capability. Do not use tires and wheels that are different in size and type from the originally installed ones. It can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could lead to steering failure or rollover and serious injury. When replacing the tires, be sure to equip all four tires with the tire and wheel of the same size, type, tread, brand and load-carrying capacity.

Rocking the vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the steering wheel right and left to clear the area around your front wheels. Then, shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and any forward gear. Do not race the vehicle, and spin the wheels as little as possible. If you are still stuck after a few tries, have the vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid vehicle overheating and possible damage to the reduction gear.

WARNING
Sudden Vehicle Movement
Do not attempt to rock the vehicle if people or objects are nearby. The vehi-cle may suddenly move forward or backward as it becomes unstuck.

CAUTION
Vehicle rocking
Prolonged rocking may cause vehicle overheating, reduction gear damage or failure, and tire damage.

CAUTION
Spinning tires
Do not spin the wheels, especially at speeds more than 35 mph (56 km/h). Spinning the wheels at high speeds when the vehicle is stationary could overheat and damage tires, and the rotating wheels may fly away and injure bystanders.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) should be turned OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.

Smooth cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should always be taken under gentle acceleration. If you follow these suggestions, tire wear will be held to a minimum.

Driving at night
Because night driving presents more hazards than driving in the daylight, here are some important tips to remember:

• Slow down and keep more distance between you and other vehicles, as it may be more difficult to see at night, especially in areas where there may not be any street lights.
•  Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare from other driver’s headlights.
•  Keep your headlights clean and properly aimed. (On vehicles not equipped with the automatic headlight aiming feature.) Dirty or improperly aimed headlights will make it much more difficult to see at night.
•  Avoid staring directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. You could be temporarily blinded, and it will take several seconds for your eyes to readjust to the darkness.

Driving in the rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving dangerous, especially if you’re not prepared for the slick pavement.
Here are a few things to consider when driving in the rain:

• A heavy rainfall will make it harder to see and will increase the distance needed to stop your vehicle, so slow down.
•  Keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape. Replace your windshield wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield.
•  If your tires are not in good condition, making a quick stop on wet pavement can cause a skid and possibly lead to an accident. Be sure your tires are in good shape.
•  Turn on your headlights to make it easier for others to see you.
•  Driving too fast through large puddles can affect your brakes. If you must go through puddles, try to drive through them slowly.
•  If you believe you may have gotten your brakes wet, apply them lightly while driving until normal braking operation returns.

Driving in flooded areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is no higher than the bottom of the wheel hub. Drive through any water slowly. Allow adequate stopping distance because brake performance may be affected.
After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while the vehicle is moving slowly.

Driving on unpaved roads
Drive carefully on unpaved roads because your vehicle may be damaged by rocks or roots of trees. Become familiar with the on unpaved roads conditions where you are going to drive before you begin driving.

Highway driving
Tires
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to specification. Low tire inflation pressures will result in overheating and possible failure of the tires. Avoid using worn or damaged tires which may result in reduced traction or tire failure. Never exceed the maximum tire inflation pressure shown on the tires.

WARNING
Under/overinflated tires
Always check the tires for proper inflation before driving. Underinflated or overinflated tires can cause poor handling, loss of vehicle control, and sudden tire failure leading to accidents, injuries, and even death. For proper tire pressures, refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 9-4.

WARNING
Tire tread
Always check the tire tread before driving your vehicle. Worn-out tires can result in loss of vehicle control. Worn-out tires should be replaced as soon as possible. For further information and tread limits, refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 9-4.

Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil
High-speed travel consumes more fuel than urban motoring. Do not forget to check both the engine coolant and engine oil.

Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may result in overheating of the engine.

2023 Kia Telluride Specs, Price, Features and Mileage (Brochure)

Winter driving

Severe weather conditions in the winter result in greater wear and other problems. To minimize the problems of winter driving, you should follow these suggestions:

Snowy or icy conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be necessary to use snow tires or to install tire chains on your tires.
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size and type of the original equipment tires. Failure to do so may adversely affect the safety and handling of your vehicle. Furthermore, speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use vehicle braking to the fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on snowy or icy roads may cause skids to occur. You need to keep sufficient distance between the vehicle in operation in front of your vehicle. Also, apply the brake gently. It should be noted that installing tire chains on the tire will provide a greater driving force, but will not prevent side skids. Tire chains are not legal in all states. Check state laws before fitting tire chains.

Snow tires
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle, make sure they are radial tires of the same size and load range as the original tires. Mount snow tires on all four wheels to balance your vehicle’s handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind that the traction provided by snow tires on dry roads may not be as high as your vehicle’s original equipment tires. You should drive cautiously even when the roads are clear. Check with the tire dealer for maximum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without first checking local, state and municipal regulations for possible restrictions against their use.

WARNING
Snow tire size
Snow tires should be equivalent in size and type to the vehicle’s standard tires. Otherwise, the safety and handling of your vehicle may be adversely affected.

Tire chains

Since the sidewalls on some radial tires are thinner than other types of tires, they may be damaged by mounting certain types of tire chains on them. Therefore, the use of snow tires is recommended instead of tire chains. Do not mount tire chains on vehicles equipped with aluminum wheels; if unavoidable, use wire-type chains with a thickness of less than 0.59 in (15mm). Install the tire chain after reviewing the instructions provided with the tire chains.
Damage to your vehicle caused by improper tire chain use is not covered by your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.

NOTICE

•  Install wire-type chain on the front tires for FWD vehicles or for AWD vehicles. It should be noted that installing wire-type chain on the tires will provide a greater driving force, but will not prevent side skids.
•  Do not install studded tires without first checking local and municipal regulations for possible restrictions against their use.

CAUTION
When using a wire-type chain:

• Wrong size chains or improperly installed chains can damage your vehicle’s brake lines, suspension, body and wheels.
• If you hear noise caused by chains contacting the body, retighten the chain to prevent chain contact with the vehicle body.
•  To prevent body damage, retighten the chains after driving 0.3~0.6 miles (0.5~1.0 km).

Chain installation
When using tire chains, chains should be installed on the front wheels. This also applied to all four-wheel vehicle.
When installing wire-type chain, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and mount them as tightly as possible. Drive slowly (less than 20 mph (30 km/h)) with chains installed. If you hear the chains contacting the body or chassis, stop and tighten them. If they still make contact, slow down until the noise stops. Remove the wire-type chain as soon as you begin driving on cleared roads.

WARNING
Mounting chains
When mounting snow chains, park the vehicle on level ground away from traffic. Turn on the vehicle Hazard Warning flashers and place a triangular emergency warning device behind the vehicle if available. Always place the vehicle in P (Park), apply the parking brake and turn off the engine before installing snow chains.

WARNING
Tire chains

• The use of chains may adversely affect vehicle handling.
•  Do not exceed 20 mph (30 km/h) or the chain manufacturer’s recommended speed limit, whichever is lower.
•  Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and other road hazards, which may cause the vehicle to bounce.
•  Avoid sharp turns or locked wheel braking.

CAUTION

•  Chains that are the wrong size or improperly installed can damage your vehicle’s brake lines, suspension, body and wheels.
•  Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear them hitting the vehicle.
•  Wrong size chains or improperly installed chains can damage your vehicle’s brake lined, suspension, body and wheels. Use SAE “S” class or wire chains.

Use high-quality ethylene glycol coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high-quality ethylene glycol coolant in the cooling system. It is the only type of coolant that should be used because it helps prevent corrosion in the cooling system, lubricates the water pump, and prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish your coolant refer to “Normal maintenance schedule” on page 8-9. Before winter, have your coolant tested to assure that its freezing point is sufficient for the temperatures anticipated during the winter.

Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the battery system. Visually inspect the bat-tery and cables (refer to “For best battery service” on page 8-24). The level of charge in your battery can be checked by an authorized Kia dealer or a service station.

Change to “winter weight” oil if necessary
In some climates, it is recommended that a lower viscosity “winter weight” oil be used during cold weather. Refer to “Recommended lubricants and capacities” on page 9-5 for recommendations. If you aren’t sure what weight oil you should use, consult an authorized Kia dealer.

Check spark plugs and ignition system
Inspect your spark plugs as described in “Scheduled maintenance service” on page 8-8 and replace them if necessary. Also check all ignition wiring and components to be sure they are not cracked, worn or damaged in any way.

To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an approved deicer fluid or glycerin into the key opening. If a lock is covered with ice, squirt it with an approved de-icing fluid to remove the ice. If the lock is frozen internally, you may be able to thaw it out by using a heated key. Handle the heated key with care to avoid injury.

Use approved window washer anti-freeze in the system
To keep the water in the window washer system from freezing, add an approved window washer anti-freeze solution in accordance with the instructions on the container. Window washer anti-freeze is available from an authorized Kia dealer and most auto parts outlets. Do not use vehicle coolant or other types of anti-freeze as these may damage the paint finish.

Don’t let your parking brake freeze
Under some conditions, your parking brake can freeze in the engaged position. This is most likely 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 the parking brake may freeze, apply it only temporarily while you put the gear shift lever in P (Park) and block the rear wheels so the vehicle cannot roll. Then release the parking brake.

Don’t let ice and snow accumulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice can build up under the fenders and interfere with the steering. In severe winter conditions, you should periodically check underneath the vehicle to be sure the movement of the front wheels and the steering components are not obstructed.

Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the weather, you should carry appropriate emergency equipment. Some of the items you may want to carry include tow straps or chains, flashlights, emergency flares, sand, shovel, jumper cables, window scraper, gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, blankets, etc.

Drive your vehicle when water vapor condenses and accumulates inside the exhaust pipes
When the vehicle is stopped for a long time in winter while the engine is running, water vapor may condense and accumulate inside the exhaust pipes. Water in the exhaust pipes may cause noise, etc., but it is drained driving at medium to high speed.

FAQ