Automatic Transmission

Automatic Transmission Operation

The automatic transmission has 6 or 8 forward speeds and one reverse speed.

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 the vehicle for people, especially children, before shifting 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 turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF position. Unexpected and sudden vehicle movement may occur if these precautions are not followed.
• When using manual shift mode, 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 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" on page 5-25.

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.
• After stopping the vehicle, always make sure the shift lever is in P (Park), apply the parking brake, and turn off the engine.
• Do not use P (Park) as a substitute for 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 not engaged.

Use N (Neutral) if you need to restart a stalled engine or if you need to stop with the engine running. Shift to P (Park) if you need to exit 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 will shift automatically through the 6- or 8-speed sequence, providing 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 or ECO mode.

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 the 6th or 8th forward gear can be selected. To drive in reverse or park the vehicle, move the shift lever to R (Reverse) or P (Park) 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.