Driving Your Vehicle

Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)

~1min read

The Hill-start Assist Control is a convenience feature. Its primary purpose is to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on an uphill slope. HAC maintains the brake pressure applied by the driver when stopping for 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released.

During the pressure holding period, the driver has sufficient time to depress the accelerator pedal to start moving.

Brake pressure is reduced as soon as the system detects the driver's intention to drive away.

WARNING

HAC is normally active for only 2 seconds. The driver should be careful of rolling backward, which may cause an accident with objects or a person behind the vehicle, when the driver may feel unintended rolling backward when starting on a hill due to insufficient brake holding force applied by the driver when stopping.

NOTICE

  • The HAC system does not operate when the shift lever is in the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.
  • HAC activates even when ESC is turned off, but does not activate if the ESC is malfunctioning.

Test yourself

A quick Kia Soul Owner's Manual quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.