Automatic Transmission Operation

The automatic transmission has eight forward speeds and one reverse speed.

The individual speeds are selected automatically in the D (Drive) position.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:

• ALWAYS check the area around your vehicle for people, especially children, before shifting the vehicle into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).
• Before leaving the driver's seat, always make sure the shift lever is in P (Park), then apply the parking brake and place the engine Start/Stop button in the OFF position. Unexpected and sudden vehicle movement may occur if these precautions are not observed.
• Do not use engine braking (downshifting from a high gear to a lower gear) abruptly on slippery roads. The vehicle may skid, causing an accident.

The indicator in the instrument cluster shows the position of the shift lever when the engine Start/Stop button 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 and still cannot move the shift lever out of P (Park), refer to "Shift-Lock Release" on page 5-16.

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

WARNING

• Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is moving may cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
• After the vehicle has stopped, always make sure the shift lever is in P (Park), apply the parking brake, and turn the engine off.
• Do not use P (Park) in place of the parking brake.

R (Reverse)

Use this position to drive the vehicle in reverse.

CAUTION

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 disengaged.

Use N (Neutral) if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if you need to stop with the engine running. Shift into P (Park) if you need to leave your vehicle for any reason.

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

WARNING

Do not shift into gear while your foot is 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 could lose control of the vehicle and strike people or objects.

D (Drive)

This is the normal driving position. The transmission will shift automatically through a sequence of 8 forward gears, providing better fuel economy and power.

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

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

When driving on ice or snow, it is recommended to switch to SNOW mode. Press and hold the DRIVE MODE switch for 2 to 3 seconds until "SNOW" is displayed in the center of the instrument cluster. To cancel SNOW mode, press the DRIVE MODE switch once to select NORMAL mode.