
57
Driving your vehicle
Starting the engine
✽✽  
NOTICE -  Kick down mecha- nism (if equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with a kick down mechanism in the accelerator
pedal, it prevents you from driving at
full throttle unintentionally by making
the driver require increased effort to
depress the accelerator pedal. However,
if you depress the pedal more than
approximately 80%, the vehicle can be
at full throttle and the accelerator pedal
will be easier to depress. This is not amalfunction but a normal condition.
Starting the petrol engine (if equipped)
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Manual Transaxle - Depress the
clutch pedal fully and shift the 
transaxle into Neutral. Keep the clutch
pedal and brake pedal depressed
whilst turning the ignition switch to the
start position. 
Automatic Transaxle - Place the
transaxle shift lever in P (Park). 
Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when
the shift lever is in the N (Neutral)position.
3. Turn the ignition switch to START and hold it there until the engine starts (a 
maximum of 10 seconds), then
release the key.
4. In extremely cold weather (below  -18°C / 0°F) or after the vehicle has
not been operated for several days, let
the engine warm up without depress-
ing the accelerator.
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it
should be started  without depressing
the accelerator.
CAUTION
If the engine stalls whilst you are in motion, do not attempt to move the
shift lever to the P (Park) position. Iftraffic and road conditions permit,you may put the shift lever in the N (Neutral) position whilst the vehicle
is still moving and turn the ignitionswitch to the START position in an attempt to restart the engine.
CAUTION
Do not engage the starter for morethan 10 seconds. If the engine stallsor fails to start, wait 5 to 10 seconds
before re-engaging the starter.Improper use of the starter maydamage it.
WARNING
Always wear appropriate shoes 
when operating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski
boots,etc.) may interfere with yourability to use the brake and acceler-
ator pedal, and the clutch (ifequipped).
EL(FL) Aust 5.QXP  7/26/2013  2:08 PM  Page 7  

Driving your vehicle
8
5
Starting the diesel engine
(if equipped)
To start the diesel engine when the engine is cold, it has to be pre-heated
before starting the engine and then have
to be warmed up before starting to drive. 
1. Make sure the parking  brake is applied.
2. Manual Transaxle - Depress the
clutch pedal fully and shift the 
transaxle into Neutral. Keep the clutch
pedal and brake pedal depressed
whilst turning the ignition switch to the
start position.
Automatic Transaxle - Place the
transaxle shift lever in P(park).
Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when the
shift lever is in the N(neutral) position.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion to pre-heat the engine. Then the
glow indicator light will illuminate.
4. If the glow indicator light goes out, turn the ignition switch to the START posi-tion and hold it there until the engine
starts (a maximum of 10 seconds),
then release the key.
✽✽  
NOTICE
If the engine were not started within 10 
seconds after the preheating is complet-
ed, turn the ignition key once more tothe LOCK position during 10 seconds,
and then to the ON position, in order to
preheat again. 
Starting and stopping the engine for tur- 
bocharger intercooler 
1. Do not race or accelerate the engine immediately after starting.
If the engine is cold, idle for several 
seconds before sufficient lubrication isensured in the turbocharger unit.
2. After high speed or extended driving, requiring a heavy engine load, idle the
engine about 1 minute before turning it
off.
This idle time will allow the tur-bocharger to cool prior to shutting the
engine off.
W-60
Glow indicator light
CAUTION
Do not turn the engine off immedi-
ately after it has been subjected toa heavy load. Doing so may cause severe damage to the engine orturbo charger unit.
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59
Driving your vehicle
ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON (IF EQUIPPED)
Illuminated engine start/stop but- ton 
Whenever the front door is opened, the 
engine start/stop button will illuminate for
your convenience. The light will go offafter about 30 seconds when the door is
closed. It will also go off immediately
when the theft-alarm system is armed. Engine start/stop button position
OFF

Driving your vehicle
12
5
Starting the engineStarting the petrol engine 
(if equipped)
1. Carry the smart key or leave it inside the vehicle.
2. Make sure the parking brake is firmly applied.
3. Manual Transaxle - Depress the
clutch pedal fully and shift the 
transaxle into Neutral. Keep the clutch
pedal and brake pedal depressed
whilst starting the engine.
Automatic Transaxle - Place the
transaxle shift lever in P (Park). 
Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when
the shift lever is in the N (Neutral)position.
4. Press the engine start/stop button. 
5. In extremely cold weather (below - 18°C / 0°F) or after the vehicle has not 
been operated for several days, let the
engine warm up without depressing
the accelerator.
Whether the engine is cold or warm, it
should be started without depressing the
accelerator.
Starting the diesel engine  (if equipped)  
To start the diesel engine when the engine is cold, it has to be pre-heated
before starting the engine and then have
to be warmed up before starting to drive. 
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Manual Transaxle - Depress the
clutch pedal fully and shift the 
transaxle into Neutral. Keep the clutch
pedal and brake pedal depressed
whilst pressing the engine start/stop
button to the START position.
Automatic Transaxle - Place the
transaxle shift lever in P (Park).
Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when the
shift lever is in the N (Neutral) position.
WARNING
Always wear appropriate shoes 
when operating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski
boots,etc.) may interfere with yourability to use the brake and acceler-ator pedal.
WARNING
People with medical devices such 
as implanted pacemakers or car-
diac defibrillators should not carry
the smart key near the heart. The
smart key system may affect the
operation of such implanted med-
ical devices. Failure to do so may
result in interference with the med-
ical device, which could result in
serious injury.
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513
Driving your vehicle
3. Press the engine start/stop buttonwhilst depressing the brake pedal.
4. Continue depressing the brake pedal until the illuminated glow indicator 
goes off. (approximately 5 seconds)  
5. The engine starts running when the glow indicator goes off.
✽✽  
NOTICE
If the engine start/stop button is pressed 
once more whilst the engine is pre-heat-ing, the engine may start. 
Starting and stopping the engine for tur- 
bocharger intercooler 
1. Do not race or accelerate the engine immediately after starting.
If the engine is cold, idle for several 
seconds before sufficient lubrication isensured in the turbocharger unit.
2. After high speed or extended driving, requiring a heavy engine load, idle the
engine about 1 minute before turning it
off.
This idle time will allow the tur-bocharger to cool prior to shutting the
engine off.  Even if the smart key is in the vehicle,
if it is far away from you, the engine
may not start.
 When the engine start/stop button is in the ACC position or above, if any door
is opened, the system checks for the
smart key. If the smart key is not in the
vehicle, the " " indicator and the
“KEY OUT” indicator will blink. And ifall doors are closed, the chime will
sound for 5 seconds. The indicator or
warning will turn off whilst the vehicle is
moving. Always have the smart key
with you.
WARNING
The engine will start, only when the 
smart key is in the vehicle. 
Never allow children or any person 
who is unfamiliar with the vehicle
touch the engine start/stop button
or related parts.CAUTION
Do not turn the engine off immedi- ately after it has been subjected toa heavy load. Doing so may causesevere damage to the engine or tur-
bocharger unit.
W-60
Glow indicator light
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515
Driving your vehicle
Manual transaxle operation 
The manual transaxle has 6 forward 
gears. 
This shift pattern is imprinted on the shift 
knob. The transaxle is fully synchronized
in all forward gears so shifting to either a
higher or a lower gear is easily accom-plished. 
Press the clutch pedal down fully whilst 
shifting, then release it slowly. 
If your vehicle is equipped with an igni- 
tion lock system, the engine will not start
when starting the engine without
depressing the clutch pedal. (if equipped) 
The gearshift lever must be returned to 
the neutral position before shifting into R
(Reverse). The ring located immediately
below the shift knob must be pulled
upward whilst moving the shift lever tothe R position.
Make sure the vehicle is completelystopped before shifting into R (Reverse).
Never operate the engine with thetachometer (rpm) in the red zone. During cold weather, shifting may be difficult until the transaxle lubricant has
warmed up. This is normal and not
harmful to the transaxle.
 If you've come to a complete stop and it's hard to shift into 1st or R (Reverse),
put the shift lever in N (Neutral) posi-
tion and release the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down, and then shift
into 1st or R (Reverse) gear position.
MANUAL TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
OEL059009
The ring (1) must be pulled up whilst 
moving the shift lever.
The shift lever can be moved without
pulling the ring (1).
CAUTION
 When downshifting from fifth
gear to fourth gear, caution
should be taken not to inadver- tently press the gear shift leversideways in such a manner thatsecond gear is engaged. Such a
drastic downshift may cause theengine speed to increase to the point that the tachometer will
enter the red-zone. Such over-revving of the engine may possi- bly cause engine damage.
 Do not downshift more than 2 gears or downshift the gear when
the engine is running at high speed (5,000 RPM or higher).Such a downshifting may damage
the engine.
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Driving your vehicle
16
5
Using the clutch
The clutch should be pressed all the way 
to the floor before shifting, then released
slowly. The clutch pedal should always be
fully released whilst driving. Do not rest
your foot on the clutch pedal whilst driv-
ing. This can cause unnecessary wear.
Do not partially engage the clutch to hold
the vehicle on an incline. This causes
unnecessary wear. Use the foot brake or
parking brake to hold the vehicle on an
incline. Do not operate the clutch pedal
rapidly and repeatedly.CAUTION
 To avoid premature clutch wear
and damage, do not drive with
your foot resting on the clutch pedal. Also, don’t use the clutchto hold the vehicle stopped on anuphill grade, whilst waiting for a
traffic light, etc.
 Do not use the shift lever as a handrest during driving, as thiscan result in premature wear of
the transaxle shift forks.
 When operating the clutch pedal, press the clutch pedal down fully.If you don’t press the clutch pedal
fully, the clutch may be damagedor noise may occur.
 To prevent possible damage to the clutch system, do not startwith the 2nd (second) gear
engaged except when you start on a alippery road.WARNING
 Before leaving the driver’s seat, always set the parking brake fully 
and shut the engine off. Thenmake sure the transaxle is shifted
into 1st gear when the vehicle is
parked on a level or uphill grade,
and shifted into R (Reverse) on a
downhill grade. Unexpected and
sudden vehicle movement canoccur if these precautions are not
followed in the order identified.
 If your vehicle has a manual transaxle not equipped with a
ignition lock switch, it may moveand cause a serious accident
when starting the engine without
depressing the clutch pedalwhilst the parking brake is
released and the shift lever not inthe N(Neutral) position.
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517
Driving your vehicle
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy traf- 
fic or whilst driving up steep hills, down-
shift before the engine starts to labour.
Downshifting reduces the chance of
stalling and gives better acceleration
when you again need to increase your
speed. When the vehicle is travelling
down steep hills, downshifting helps
maintain safe speed and prolongs brake
life.Good driving practices 
 Never take the vehicle out of gear and
coast down a hill. This is extremely 
hazardous. Always leave the vehicle in
gear.
 Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause them to overheat and malfunction.
Instead, when you are driving down a
long hill, slow down and shift to a lower
gear. When you do this, engine braking
will help slow down the vehicle.
 Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. This will help avoid over-revving
the engine, which can cause damage.
 Slow down when you encounter cross winds. This gives you much better con-
trol of your vehicle.
 Be sure the vehicle is completely stopped before you attempt to shift into
reverse. The transaxle can be dam-
aged if you do not. To shift into reverse,
depress the clutch, move the shift lever
to neutral, wait three seconds, then
shift to the reverse position.
 Exercise extreme caution when driving on a slippery surface. Be especially
careful when braking, accelerating or
shifting gears. On a slippery surface,
an abrupt change in vehicle speed can
cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle to go out of control.WARNING
 Always buckle-up!  In a collision, an unbelted occupant is signifi- 
cantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a properlybelted occupant.
 Avoid high speeds when corner- ing or turning.
 Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.
 The risk of rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of
your vehicle at highway speeds.
 Loss of control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the
roadway and the driver over-
steers to reenter the roadway.
 In the event your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply.
Instead, slow down before pulling
back into the travel lanes.
 Never exceed posted speed lim- its.
EL(FL) Aust 5.QXP  7/26/2013  2:08 PM  Page 17