Transmission Ranges

The indicator in the instrument cluster shows the position of the shift lever when the ignition switch is in the ON position.

P (Park)

Always come to a complete stop before shifting into P (Park).

To shift out of P (Park), you must firmly depress the brake pedal and make sure your foot is not on the accelerator pedal.

If you have done all of the above but still cannot move the shift lever out of P (Park), refer to "Shift Lock Release" in this section.

The shift lever must be in P (Park) before turning off the engine.

WARNING

• Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is moving may cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
• Do not use P (Park) in place of the parking brake. Always make sure the shift lever is locked in P (Park) and fully apply the parking brake.
• Never leave a child unattended in the vehicle.

R (Reverse)

Use this position to drive the vehicle in reverse.

NOTICE

Always come to a complete stop before shifting into or out of R (Reverse). You may damage the transmission if you shift into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is moving.

N (Neutral)

The wheels and transmission are not engaged.

Use N (Neutral) if you need to restart a stalled engine. Shift into P (Park) if you must leave the vehicle for any reason.

Always depress the brake pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) into another position.

WARNING

Do not shift into gear while your foot is not firmly on the brake pedal. Shifting into gear while the engine is running at high speed may cause the vehicle to move very quickly. You may lose control of the vehicle and collide with people or objects.

D (Drive)

This is the normal driving position. The transmission shifts automatically to provide the best fuel economy and performance.

For additional power when passing another vehicle or driving uphill, press the accelerator pedal further until you feel the transmission shift to a lower gear.

The DRIVE MODE switch, located on the shift lever console, allows the driver to change from NORMAL mode to SPORT mode.

For more information, refer to "Integrated Drive Mode Control System" later in this chapter.

S (Sport) Mode

• To shift into S mode, move the shift lever from the D (Drive) position to the center manual shift gate. The engine and transmission control logic is automatically optimized for sporty driving.
• In S mode, if you move the shift lever to the + (up) or - (down) position, the transmission will shift in manual shift mode. If the shift lever is returned to the D (Drive) position, it will change back to D (Drive). The vehicle will operate according to the selected drive mode (NORMAL, SPORT, SMART).

Manual Shift Mode

Whether the vehicle is stopped or moving, manual shift mode is selected by moving the shift lever from the D (Drive) position into the manual shift gate. To return to D (Drive) range operation, push the shift lever back into the main shift gate.

In manual shift mode, moving the shift lever forward and back allows you to select the desired gear range for the current driving conditions.

+ (Up): Push the lever forward once to shift up one gear.

- (Down): Pull the lever backward once to shift down one gear.

Information

• Only eight forward gears can be selected. To drive in reverse or park the vehicle, move the shift lever to the R (Reverse) or P (Park) position as required.
• Downshifting occurs automatically when the vehicle decelerates. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear is automatically engaged.
• When the engine speed approaches the red zone, the transmission upshifts automatically.
• If the driver pushes the lever to the + (Up) or - (Down) position, the transmission may not perform the requested shift if the next gear is outside the permissible engine speed range. The driver should shift to higher gears according to road conditions and keep the engine speed below the red zone.
• When accelerating from a standstill on a slippery road, push the shift lever forward to the + (Up) position. This allows the transmission to shift to 2nd gear, which is better suited for smooth driving on slippery roads. Push the shift lever toward - (Down) to shift back to 1st gear.
• When driving in manual shift mode, reduce vehicle speed before shifting to a lower gear. Otherwise, the downshift may not engage if the engine speed is outside the permissible range.