Kia EV2: Highway Driving Assist operation / Highway Driving Assist

Kia EV2 (QV1, 2026-2026) Owner's Manual / Driver assistance guide / Highway Driving Assist (HDA): (if equipped) / Highway Driving Assist operation / Highway Driving Assist

Display and control

The operational status of Highway Driving Assist is clearly visible within the dedicated Driving Assist cluster view on your Kia EV2 instrument panel. For comprehensive details regarding visual indicators, refer to the LCD display modes section.

Kia EV2 digital instrument cluster showing Highway Driving Assist in standby state with gray indicators — Figure 1. Standby State

Kia EV2 digital instrument cluster showing Highway Driving Assist actively operating with green indicators — Figure 2. Operating State

The real-time operational status of Highway Driving Assist on your Kia EV2 appears on the instrument cluster according to the following intuitive layout:

Highway Driving Assist system indicator, indicating whether a vehicle ahead is detected and displaying the currently selected following distance level.
- Green: Operating normally
- Gray: Standby mode
- White blinking: Accelerator pedal is currently engaged by the driver
- Unlit: System is completely OFF
Pre-set cruising speed value
Detection status of a preceding vehicle and the chosen headway interval
Real-time lane detection status on the roadway
Lane Following Assist operational indicator

TIP

For more in-depth information concerning specific display icons, symbols, and color codes, refer to the Lane Following Assist (LFA) and Smart Cruise Control (SCC) sections.

The visual graphics, icons, or color palettes may vary slightly depending on your specific instrument cluster specifications, theme settings, or firmware version.

Turning on Highway Driving Assist

Highway Driving Assist engages and operates seamlessly under the following specific driving conditions:

Press the dedicated Drive Assist steering wheel button to turn Highway Driving Assist ON while cruising along designated controlled-access roads.
When transitioning onto a main highway roadway while Smart Cruise Control is active, Highway Driving Assist will not activate if the underlying Lane Following Assist function is turned OFF.

Hands-off warning

Keep hands on steering wheel

If you remove your hands from the steering wheel of your Kia EV2 for a few consecutive seconds, a progressive safety warning message appears accompanied by an audible alert delivered in two distinct stages:

First stage: Visual warning message prompting steering input
Second stage: Escalated visual warning (featuring a red steering wheel icon) combined with a continuous audible chime

CAUTION

If the Emergency Stop (ES) feature initiates and the driver continues to keep hands off the steering wheel, the complete Emergency Stop protocol will be executed. For further details, refer to the Emergency Stop (ES) section within this chapter.

After your Kia EV2 comes to a complete halt due to an Emergency Stop event and the stop state is subsequently released, the vehicle must be manually restarted to reactivate Highway Driving Assist.

When your vehicle is equipped with an in-cabin camera, Highway Driving Assist operation may be restricted if the driver's attention or facial orientation cannot be reliably detected.

Kia EV2 instrument display indicating that Highway Driving Assist has been deactivated due to prolonged driver unresponsiveness

Highway Driving Assist deactivated

If you fail to return your hands to the steering wheel after the initial hands-off warning sequence is issued, Highway Driving Assist will automatically deactivate and cancel itself for safety.

Driving the speed limit

Kia EV2 instrument cluster showing speed limitation warning because the driver's grasp was not detected

Driver’s grasp not detected. Driving speed will be limited.

The overall driving speed of your Kia EV2 is automatically restricted when a hands-off warning timeout causes Highway Driving Assist to cancel.

When this Driving Speed Limit safety function is actively operating, a warning notification flashes on the instrument cluster while an audible alarm sounds continuously to alert the driver.

Driving to one side within lane: (if equipped)

Kia EV2 exterior side view illustrating lane offset positioning assist during close proximity passing

If an adjacent vehicle is traveling at an uncomfortably close lateral distance while your vehicle speed exceeds 60 km/h (40 mph), your Kia EV2 will dynamically adjust steering toward the opposite side of the lane to enhance travel safety. Note that if neighboring vehicles are driving closely on both sides simultaneously, this offsetting function will hold its central position rather than shifting.

Highway Driving Assist standby

If Smart Cruise Control is temporarily paused or cancelled while Highway Driving Assist is active, Highway Driving Assist shifts into a standby state while Lane Following Assist continues regular operation.

NOTE

The Driving Speed Limit feature helps you maintain a safe velocity below 60 km/h (40 mph) during specific events. Your vehicle smoothly decelerates to match traffic ahead, though automatic re-acceleration may be restricted until driver input is registered.

The Driving Speed Limit restriction is cancelled under any of the following user actions:

When you firmly grip the steering wheel again.

When you turn Lane Following Assist ON by pressing the Lane Driving Assist button.

When you operate the ( ), ( ), or () switch or () button, or depress either the accelerator or brake pedal.

Highway Driving Assist operation

Highway Lane Change Assist: (if equipped)

Display and control The current operational status of the Highway Lane Change Assist function is clearly displayed on the instrument cluster of your Kia EV2...

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