2009 Honda Element Owner's Manual - Page 218

Main Menu Table Of Contents Driving Guidelines Your vehicle has a higher ground clearance that allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier. Because your vehicle rides higher off the ground, it has a high center of gravity that can cause it to roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher roll over rate than other types of vehicles. To prevent rollovers or loss of control: ● ● Do not modify your vehicle in any way that would raise the center of gravity. Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof. Four-wheel drive models ● Your vehicle is equipped with a fourwheel drive (4WD) system. When the system senses a loss of frontwheel traction, it automatically transfers some power to the rear wheels. This gives you better traction and mobility. You still need to exercise the same care when accelerating, steering, and braking that you would in a twowheel drive vehicle. See page 238 for off-highway driving guidelines. Take corners at slower speeds than you would with a passenger vehicle. Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers whenever possible. ● 214 2009 Element