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uuWhen Driving uShifting
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Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICE
When 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 be fore the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position befo re pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
( D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut of f if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the ta chometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happe ns, 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 pressed.
Depress the brake pedal first.
READY
Tachometer's
Red Zone
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. M
(7-Speed Manual Shift Mode) Indicator/
Shift Indicator
P
R
N
D
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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.
You can cancel this mode by pressing any of the three driving mode buttons, or
pulling the
(+ paddle shifter for a few seconds.
■When the driving mode is in ECON or NORMAL
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed ma nual 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.
The 7-speed manual shift mode is especial ly useful when reducing the vehicle speed
temporarily before making a turn.
■When the driving mode is in SPORT
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 engi ne speed reaches near the tachometer’s
red zone, the transmission automatically shifts up.
■7-Speed Manual Shift Mode1 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 shif t mode, the transmission
shifts up or down by opera ting either paddle shifter
under the following conditions:
Shift Up: The engine sp eed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher speed position.
Shift Down: The engine sp eed 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 positi on, the transmission shifts
down automatically.
Operating the paddle shifte rs 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.
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uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
Shifting
Fully 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.” When you are not shifting, do not rest your
foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out faster.
■Shift Lever Operation
Manual transmission models
1Shifting
NOTICE
Do not shift to (R before the vehicle comes to a
complete stop.
Shifting to
( R before stopping can damage the
transmission.
Recommended Shift Points
Driving in the highest gear that allows the engine to
run and accelerate smoothly helps to optimize fuel
economy and effective emissions control. The
following shift points are recommended:
If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you
are in, the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. When this happens, you may
experience a slight jolt.
NOTICE
Before downshifting, make su re 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 th e 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 extr emely hot. If the outside
temperature is low, the sh ift lever may feel cold.
Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 25 mph (40 km/h)
3rd to 4th40 mph (64 km/h)
4th to 5th 47 mph (76 km/h)
5th to 6th52 mph (84 km/h)
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uuWhen Driving uShifting
Driving
The manual transmission has a lockout mech anism that stops you from accidentally
shifting into
(R from a forward gear while the ve hicle is moving above a certain
speed.
If you cannot shift to
(R when the vehicle is stopped, do the following: 1.Depress the clutch pedal, move the shift
lever all the way to the left, and shift to
(R.
2. If you still cannot shift into
(R, apply the
parking brake, and turn the ignition switch
to ACCESSORY
(q or LOCK (0.
3. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into
(R.
4. Keep depressing the clutch pedal and start
the engine.
Have the vehicle checked by a dealer if you
have to go through this procedure repeatedly.
■Reverse Lockout
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uuWhen Driving uAuto Idle Stop
Continued
Driving
Auto Idle Stop
To help maximize fuel economy, Auto Id le Stop shuts off the engine when the
vehicle comes to a stop, depending on environmental and vehicle operating
conditions. The AUTO STOP indicator blinks at this time.
The engine then restarts once the vehicle is
about to move again, and the indicator goes
off.
If the driver’s door is opened while the
indicator is blinking, a buzzer sounds to notify
you that the Auto Idle Stop function is in
operation.
Automatic transmission (CVT) models
1Auto Idle Stop
The duration of the Au to Idle Stop operation:
•Increases in the ECON mode, compared to normal
or sport mode, with climate control in use.
•Decreases if you operate the wipers and climate
control simultaneously.
AUTO STOP
Indicator
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Driving
The vehicle stops with the shift lever in (D and the brake pedal depressed.
■Auto Idle Stop does not activate when:
• The low temperature indicator is on.
• The IMA battery charge is low.
• The bars of the ASST/CHRG indicators do not move when accelerating or
decelerating.
• The transmission fluid temperature is low.
• The vehicle comes to a stop again be fore the vehicle speed reaches 9 mph
(15 km/h) after the engine starts.
• Stopped on a steep incline.
• The shift lever is in a position other than
(D or (N.
• Airflow from the climate con trol system increases. (Except when in ECON mode)
u If you have selected the fan speed manually:
The display shows more than five vertical bars.
• Shift mode is in the L mode.
• is on (indicator on).
■Auto Idle Stop may not activate when:
• The climate control system is in use, and there is a significant difference between
the set temperature and the actual interi or temperature. (Except when in ECON
mode).
• When humidity in the interior is high.
• The vehicle is stopped by braking suddenly.
■Auto Idle Stop Activates When:1Auto Idle Stop Activates When:
The Auto Idle Stop may also activate when the brake
pedal is depressed, and th e vehicle slows down to a
speed below 6 mph (10 km/h).
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uuWhen Driving uAuto Idle Stop
Driving
Auto Idle Stop
To help maximize fuel econ omy, the engine automatica lly stops when the vehicle
comes to a stop, depending on environmental and vehicle operating conditions. The
AUTO STOP indicator blinks at this time. The engine then restarts once the vehicle
is about to move again when you depress the clutch pedal fully, and the indicator
goes off. If the driver’s door is opened while the
indicator is blinking, a buzzer sounds to notify
you that the Auto Idle Stop function is in
operation.
Manual transmission models
1Auto Idle Stop
If the Auto Idle Stop ope rating time lasts long enough
to lower the 12 volt battery charge or the IMA battery
charge, the engine may not restart automatically.
Manually turn off the engine when you leave your
vehicle.
The duration of Auto Idle Stop operation:
•Increases in the ECON mode, compared to normal
or sport mode, with climate control in use.
•Decreases if you operate the wipers and climate
control simultaneously.
AUTO STOP
Indicator
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uuWhen Driving u3-Mode Drive System
Driving
3-Mode Drive System
Driving mode is in NORMAL when you turn the ignition switch to ON (w.
To change driving modes, press the desired mode button. The corresponding mode
indicator comes on in the in strument panel, and the mode icon appears briefly on
the multi-information display.1 3-Mode Drive System
To keep the system in the ECON mode the next time
the ignition switch is turned to ON
(w, change the
customized setting on the multi-information display.
2 Customized Features P. 90
The ECON mode helps y ou improve your fuel
economy by changing the engine, transmission,
climate control system, cr uise control, and IMA
system performances.
While in the ECON mode, the climate control system
has greater temperat ure fluctuations.
■Select a driving mode
and press the button.
SPORT Mode Button
■The selected driving mode
indicator comes on.
NORMAL
Mode Button
ECON Mode Button