Kia Sorento: AWD. Switching from/to Terrain Mode: (if equipped)

The sophisticated AWD architecture helps your Kia Sorento maintain peak driving performance by continuously monitoring and coordinating all 4 wheels, engine output, transmission ratios, and braking systems based on live road conditions like snow, mud, sand, and rain.

Advantages of AWD

• Enhances active safety when driving straight on slick or uneven highways.

• Improves cornering performance and dynamic stability when turning.

• Ensures reliable operability and forward momentum in tough driving conditions, such as deep snow, heavy rain, or loose sand.

Switching from/to Terrain Mode: (if equipped)

You can effortlessly switch from standard DRIVE MODE to specialized TERRAIN mode in your Kia Sorento by pressing the central DRIVE/TERRAIN mode button, then selecting SNOW, MUD, or SAND mode by turning the dedicated TERRAIN MODE rotary knob. If you press the DRIVE/TERRAIN mode button again, the vehicle will go back to DRIVE MODE.

NOTE

Even though you turned off the vehicle while it was operating in TERRAIN mode, standard DRIVE mode will be automatically set when you restart the vehicle.

AWD transfer mode selection

Transfer mode	Selection mode	Description
	-	DRIVE MODE is used when driving on roads in normal conditions, roads in urban areas, and on highways. All wheels are in operation when a vehicle travels at a constant speed. Required tractions applying on front and rear wheels vary depending on road driving conditions and driving conditions, which will be automatically controlled by the computing system. When the cluster’s DRIVE MODE display mode is selected, the cluster displays the status of how four wheels' traction forces are distributed.
SNOW		SNOW mode is used to appropriately distribute the vehicle’s traction forces and prevent wheel slippage when driving on snowy or slippery road.
MUD		MUD mode is used to ensure safe driving by appropriately distributing the vehicle’s traction forces when driving on muddy, unpaved or rough roads.
SAND		SAND mode is used to ensure safe driving by appropriately distributing the vehicle’s traction forces when driving on sandy, graveled or unpaved off-roads.

SNOW↔MUD↔SAND

CAUTION

Maintain DRIVE mode when driving on roads in normal conditions. Driving in TERRAIN mode on normal roads may damage the AWD system and cause mechanical vibration or noise.

When driving (especially when cornering) under normal road conditions in TERRAIN mode, a driver may find minor mechanical vibration or noise, which is extremely normal phenomenon, not a malfunction. When TERRAIN mode is released, such noise or vibration will be immediately gone. When you turn off TERRAIN mode, it can lead to little shocks but this is a normal phenomenon that lasts until the traction forces on the front and rear wheels of the vehicle are released.