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Driving Your Vehicle

Transmission Ranges

In this manual: Driving Your Vehicle
Your Vehicle at a Glance — 6Safety Features of Your Vehicle — 58Vehicle Specifications — 387Driving Your Vehicle — 142What to Do in an Emergency — 34Maintenance — 106Specifications and Consumer Information — 16
~5min read

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). This position locks the transmission and prevents the front wheels from rotating.

WARNING

  • Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is moving will cause the drive wheels to lock, which may result in loss of vehicle control.
  • Do not use P (Park) instead 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.

CAUTION

The transmission may be damaged if you shift into P (Park) while the vehicle is moving.

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, except as described in the "Rocking the Vehicle" section of this manual.

N (Neutral)

The wheels and transmission are disengaged. The vehicle will roll freely even on the slightest incline unless the parking brake or service brakes are applied.

WARNING

Do not drive with the shift lever in N (Neutral). The engine brake will not operate and an accident may result.

- Parking in N (Neutral)

Follow the instructions below when parking and you want the vehicle to move when pushed.

1. After parking the vehicle, depress the brake pedal and shift the shift lever to [P] with the ignition switch in the [ON] position or with the engine running.

2. If the parking brake is applied, release the parking brake.

- For vehicles equipped with EPB (Electric Parking Brake), depress the brake pedal with the ignition switch in the [ON] position or with the engine running to release the parking brake. If [AUTO HOLD] is used while driving (if the [AUTO HOLD] indicator is illuminated in the cluster), press the [AUTO HOLD] switch. The [AUTO HOLD] function should be turned off.

3. While depressing the brake pedal, turn the ignition switch to [OFF].

- For vehicles equipped with a smart key, the ignition switch can be turned to the [OFF] position only when the shift lever is in the [P] position.

4. Shift the shift lever to [N] (Neutral) while depressing the brake pedal and press the [SHIFT LOCK RELEASE] button or insert a tool (such as a flat-blade screwdriver) into the [SHIFT LOCK RELEASE] access hole at the same time. The vehicle can then be moved by applying an external force.

CAUTION

  • Except when parking in neutral, always park the vehicle in [P] (Park) and apply the parking brake for safety.
  • Before parking in [N] (Neutral), first make sure the parking surface is level and flat. Do not park in [N] on any slopes or gradients.
    If the vehicle is parked and left in [N], it may move and cause serious damage and injury.
  • After the ignition switch is turned off, the electric parking brake cannot be released.
  • For vehicles with EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) and [AUTO HOLD], if the ignition button is turned off while driving with [AUTO HOLD] in use, the electronic parking brake will apply automatically.
    Therefore, the [AUTO HOLD] function must be turned off before the ignition button is turned off.

D (Drive)

This is the normal forward driving position. The transmission will automatically shift through a 6-speed sequence, providing the best fuel economy and performance.

For additional power when passing another vehicle or climbing a hill, press the accelerator pedal fully (more than 80%) until the kickdown mechanism engages with a click. At this time, the transmission will automatically downshift to the next lower gear.

✽ NOTICE

  • Always come to a complete stop before shifting into D (Drive).
  • A clicking sound from the kickdown mechanism when the accelerator pedal is fully depressed is normal.

Sport Mode

Regardless of whether the vehicle is stationary or moving, Sport mode is selected by moving the shift lever from the D (Drive) position into the manual gate. To return to the D (Drive) range, move the shift lever back into the main gate.

In Sport mode, moving the shift lever back and forth allows you to shift gears quickly. Unlike a manual transmission, Sport mode allows you to shift gears while the accelerator pedal is depressed.

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

Down (-): pull the lever back once to downshift by one gear.

✽ NOTICE

  • In Sport mode, the driver should shift gears according to the road and driving conditions, keeping engine speed below the red zone.
  • In Sport mode, only forward gears 1 to 6 can be selected. To reverse or park the vehicle, move the shift lever to the R (Reverse) or P (Park) position as required.
  • In Sport mode, downshifts are performed automatically when the vehicle decelerates. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear is selected automatically.
  • In Sport mode, upshifts are performed automatically when engine speed approaches the shift points in the red zone.
  • To maintain the required driving performance and vehicle safety, the system may not perform certain gear shifts when the shift lever is operated.
  • When driving on slippery roads, push the shift lever forward to the + (Up) position. This causes the transmission to shift to 2nd gear, which is better for smooth driving on slippery roads. Push the shift lever to the - (Down) side to return to 1st gear.

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