If your vehicle has cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 24 mph (39 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below 24 mph (39 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, or the clutch pedal if you have a manual transaxle, the cruise control turns off.
Caution: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and you could lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.Setting Cruise Control
Caution: If you leave your cruise control on when you are not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise when you do not want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switch off until you want to use cruise control.
Four-Door Models
Five-Door Models
The cruise control pad is located on the right side of the steering wheel.
- Press the ON OFF button to turn cruise control on. An indicator light on the instrument panel cluster will come on to show you that the cruise control is on. See Cruise Control Light .
- Accelerate to the speed you want.
- Press the SET button and release it.
- Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed and then you apply the brake pedal, or the clutch pedal if you have a manual transaxle. This, of course, shuts off the cruise control. But you do not need to reset it. Once you are going about 24 mph (39 km/h) or more, you can briefly press the RESUME button.
You will go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there.
If you hold in the RESUME button longer, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the button or apply the brake pedal. So unless you want to go faster, do not hold in the RESUME button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
| • | Use the accelerator pedal to get to a higher speed. Press the SET button, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You will now cruise at the higher speed. |
| • | Press the RESUME button. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the button. To increase your speed in very small amounts, briefly press the RESUME button and then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. |
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on the cruise control by pressing the SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using cruise control:
| • | Press the SET button until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it. |
| • | To slow down in very small amounts, briefly press the SET button. Each time you do this, you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. |
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake pedal takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
| • | Step lightly on the brake pedal, or press the clutch pedal, if you have a manual transaxle. |
| • | Press the ON OFF button on the cruise control pad. |
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
