7.5. On-road and off-road driving precautions

Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.

They have higher ground clearance than passenger cars to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of on-road and off-road applications. This gives them a higher centre of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of higher ground clearance is a better view of the road, allowing you to anticipate problems. However, they are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel drive (2WD) vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt manoeuvres, particularly at high speeds. As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. In a rollover accident an unbelted person is significantly more likely to be injured than a person who is wearing a seat belt.