Page 436 of 595

435
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■Shift lever positions*:Models with the smart entry system have an  ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an 
ignition switch.Automatic transmission (CVT) models without paddle shifters
1 Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK 
(0*1 
and remove the key unless the shift lever is in 
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in 
(N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary, 
apply the parking brake.
When shifting positions in extremely low 
temperatures (-22°F/-30°C), there may be a short 
delay before the shift position is displayed. Always 
confirm you are in the correct shift position before 
driving.
Reverse
Used when reversingDrive
Used for normal drivingPark
Used when parking or starting the engine
Neutral
Used when idling
Release ButtonDrive (S)
Used:●For better acceleration●To increase engine braking●When going up or down hills
Low●Used to further increase engine braking●Used when going up or down hills 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 437 of 595

uuWhen Driving uShifting
436Driving
■Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from 
(D to 
(R and 
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the 
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come 
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the 
lever position before pulling away.
If the transmission indicator blinks when driving, in 
any shift position, there is a problem with the 
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine 
speeds in or over the tachometer's red zone (engine 
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a 
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the 
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release 
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and 
press the shift lever release 
button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift 
lever release button.
Press the shift lever release 
button and shift. Tachometer’s red zone 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 438 of 595

437
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■Shift lever positions*1: Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP  button instead of an 
ignition switch.Automatic transmission (CVT) models with paddle shifters
1 Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK 
(0*1 
and remove the key unless the shift lever is in 
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in 
(N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary, 
apply the parking brake.
When shifting positions in extremely low 
temperatures (-22°F/-30°C), there may be a short 
delay before the shift position is displayed. Always 
confirm you are in the correct shift position before 
driving.
Reverse
Used when reversingDrive
Used:●For normal driving●When temporarily driving in the 7-speed 
manual shift modePark
Used when parking or starting the engine
Neutral
Used when idling
Release ButtonDrive (S)
Used:●For better acceleration●To increase engine braking●When going up or down hills●When driving in the 7-speed manual 
shift mode 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 439 of 595

uuWhen Driving uShifting
438Driving
■Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from 
(D to 
(R and 
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the 
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come 
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the 
lever position before pulling away.
If the transmission indicator blinks when driving, in 
any shift position, there is a problem with the 
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine 
speeds in or over the tachometer's red zone (engine 
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a 
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the 
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release 
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and press the 
shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever 
release button.
Press the shift lever release button 
and shift. Tachometer’s red zoneM (7-Speed Manual Shift Mode) 
Indicator/Shift Indicator 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 440 of 595

Continued
439
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change between 1st and 7th speeds without removing 
your hands from the steering wheel. The transmission switches to the 7-speed  manual shift mode when you pull a paddle shifter while driving. This mode is useful 
when engine braking is needed.■When the shift lever is in 
(D:
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed manual shift mode temporarily, and the 
number is displayed in the shift indicator.
The 7-speed manual shift mode is canceled automatically if you drive at constant 
speed or accelerate, and the number in the shift indicator goes off.
You can cancel this mode by pulling the 
(+ paddle shifter for a few seconds.
The 7-speed manual shift mode is especially useful when reducing the vehicle speed 
temporarily before making a turn.
■When the shift lever is in 
(S:
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed manual shift mode. The  M indicator and the 
speed number are displayed in the shift indicator. As the vehicle speed slows down, 
the transmission automatically shifts down accordingly. When the vehicle comes to 
a stop, it automatically shifts down into 1st.
If the vehicle speed increases and the engine speed reaches near the tachometer’s 
red zone, the transmission automatically shifts up.
You can only pull away in 1st speed.
When canceling the 7-speed manual shift mode, move the shift lever from 
(S to 
(D. When the 7-speed manual shift mode is canceled, the  M indicator and shift 
indicator go off.
■7-Speed Manual Shift Mode
1 7-Speed Manual Shift Mode
To improve fuel economy, the transmission may shift 
up to a higher speed than the seventh under certain 
circumstances. In this case, the number in the shift 
indicator remains as  7.
In the 7-speed manual shift mode, the transmission 
shifts up or down by operating either paddle shifter 
under the following conditions:
Shift Up: The engine speed reaches the lowest 
threshold of the higher speed position.
Shift Down: The engine speed reaches the highest 
threshold of the lower speed position.
When the engine speed reaches near the 
tachometer’s red zone, the transmission shifts up 
automatically.
When the engine speed reaches the lowest threshold 
of the selected speed position, the transmission shifts 
down automatically.
Operating the paddle shifters on slippery surfaces 
may cause the tires to lock up. In this case, the 7-
speed manual shift mode is canceled and goes back 
to the normal D driving mode. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 442 of 595

441
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■Shift lever positionsAutomatic transmission models
1Shifting
You cannot change the power mode from ON to 
VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) unless the shift lever is in 
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in 
(N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary, 
apply the parking brake.
When shifting gears in extremely low temperatures 
(-22°F/-30°C), there may be a short delay before the 
shift is indicated in the display. Always confirm you 
are in the correct gear before driving.
Reverse
Used when reversingDrive
Used for normal driving (gears change 
between 1st and 6th automatically)Park
Used when parking or starting the engine
Neutral
Used when idling
Release ButtonDrive (S)●Automatically changing gears between 
1st and 5th (5th gear is used only at 
high speed)●Used when towing a trailer in hilly 
terrain●Used to increase engine braking 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 443 of 595

uuWhen Driving uShifting
442Driving
■Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from 
(D to 
(R and 
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the 
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come 
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the 
lever position before pulling away.
If the transmission indicator blinks when driving, in 
any shift position, there is a problem with the 
transmission.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine 
speeds in or over the tachometer’s red zone (engine 
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a 
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the 
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release 
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone
Shift Lever Position 
Indicator
Models with information display
Models with multi-information display
Depress the brake pedal and press the 
shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever 
release button.
Press the shift lever release button 
and shift. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 444 of 595
443
uuWhen Driving uShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingFully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then 
slowly release the pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into 
(R, or 
shift into one of the forward gears for a moment. This stops the gears so they do not 
“grind.”
■Shift Lever OperationManual transmission models
1 ShiftingNOTICEDo not shift to 
(R before the vehicle comes to a 
complete stop.
Shifting to 
( R before stopping can damage the 
transmission.
NOTICEBefore downshifting, make sure the engine will not 
go into the tachometer's red zone. Should this occur, 
it can severely damage your engine.
There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you leave 
the vehicle parked outside for a long time on a hot 
day, be careful before moving the shift lever. Because 
of heat, the shift lever may be extremely hot. If the 
outside temperature is low, the shift lever may feel 
cold.