1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The NISSAN PUREDRIVE™ Hybrid Sys-
tem is designed not to operate if the
shift lever is in any of the driving posi-
tions.
3. Depress the brake pedal and push the igni-
tion switch to start the hybrid system. The
READY to drive indicator will illuminate on
the meter.
When starting the hybrid system at
very low outside temperatures, the
READY to drive indicator light will flash
and it may take longer for the READY
to drive indicator light to illuminate.
When the READY to drive indicator
light is flashing, it cannot be shifted
out of P (Park) .
NOTE:
Do not start the vehicle in the N (Neutral)
position (in cold conditions only) .
●The hybrid system may not start even with
the READY to drive indicator light illumi-
nated. Once the READY to drive indicator
light is illuminated you may begin driving the
vehicle.NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential 12-volt battery
discharge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1.Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume 12-
volt battery power when the engine is
not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
2.Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the 12-volt battery may
need to be charged to maintain 12-volt bat-
tery health.
REMOTE START (if so equipped)
Vehicles started with the remote start require the
ignition switch to be placed in the ON position
before the shift lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position. To place the ignition switch to the
ON position, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is on you.
2. Apply the brake.
3. Press the ignition switch once to the ON
position.For additional information, refer to “NISSAN In-
telligent Key®” in the “Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section of this manual.
STARTING THE NISSAN PUREDRIVE™
HYBRID SYSTEM
5-14Starting and driving
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT)
The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in
your vehicle is electronically controlled to pro-
duce maximum power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
This CVT is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any driving
position while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of
the other positions if the ignitionswitch is placed in the LOCK, OFF or
ACC position while the Ready Light il-
luminates.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
move the shift lever to a driving position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake
pedal, and then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive) position.
Always depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
●Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
●Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while vehicle is moving. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
CAUTION
●When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake should be used for this purpose.
●Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
●Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-15
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift lever may not be moved from the P (Park)
position even with the brake pedal depressed
and the shift lever button pushed. To move the
shift lever, perform the following procedure:
1. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or
LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover
Aus-
ing a suitable tool.
4. Push down the shift lock release
Busing a
suitable tool.5. Press the shift lever button
Cand move the
shift lever to the N (Neutral) position
D
while holding down the shift lock release.
The vehicle may be moved to the desired
location. Replace the removed shift lock re-
lease cover after the operation. If the shift
lever cannot be moved out of the P (Park)
position, have a NISSAN dealer check the
CVT system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the shift lever cannot be moved from the
P (Park) position while the engine is run-
ning and the brake pedal is depressed, the
stop lights may not work. Malfunctioning
stop lights could cause an accident injur-
ing yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperatures with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer) , engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed may be
limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated. For additional information, refer
to “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)” in the
“Instrument and controls” section of this
manual. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then
push the switch back to the ON position.
The vehicle should return to its normal op-
erating condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have a
NISSAN dealer check the transmission and
repair if necessary.
LSD2128
Starting and driving5-17
BSW SYSTEM OPERATION
If the radar sensors detect a vehicle in the detec-
tion zone, the Blind Spot Warning (BSW) indica-
tor light located by the outside mirrors illumi-
nates. If the turn signal is then activated, the
system chimes (twice) and the BSW indicator
light flashes. The BSW indicator light continues
to flash until the detected vehicles leave the
detection zone.
The BSW indicator light illuminates for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is placed in the
ON position.The brightness of the BSW indicator light is
adjusted automatically depending on the bright-
ness of the ambient light.
A chime sounds if the radar sensors have already
detected vehicles when the driver activates the
turn signal. If a vehicle comes into the detection
zone after the driver activates the turn signal, then
only the BSW indicator light flashes and no
chime sounds. For additional information, refer to
“BSW driving situations” in this section.
The BSW system automatically turns on every
time the engine is started, as long as it is acti-
vated using the settings menu on the vehicle
information display.
When the BSW and RCTA switch is turned off,
the indicator
1on the switch is off. The indicator
will also be off if the BSW/RCTA is deactivated.
How to enable/disable the BSW
system
Perform the following steps to enable or disable
the BSW system.
1. Press the
button until “Settings” dis-
plays in the vehicle information display. Use
the
button to select “Driver Assis-
tance”. Then press the ENTER button.
2. Select “Driver Aids”, and press the ENTER
button.
BSW indicator light
LSD2053LSD2208
5-20Starting and driving
●LOCK – To engage the LOCK mode, turn
the 4WD mode switch to the LOCK posi-
tion. The switch will return to the AUTO
position automatically and the 4WD LOCK
indicator light in the vehicle information dis-
play illuminates. To disengage the LOCK
mode, turn the switch to the LOCK position
again. The switch will return to the AUTO
position automatically, and the 4WD LOCK
indicator light turns into the AUTO indicator
light. The LOCK mode will automatically be
cancelled when the ignition switch is turned
to the OFF position.4WD mode Wheels driven4WD mode indicator
lightUse conditions
2WDFront only – This mode
is used when driving on
a normal road *12WDFor driving on dry paved
roads.
AUTODistribution of torque to
the front and rear
wheels changes auto-
matically depending on
road conditions
encountered. This re-
sults in improved driving
stability.AUTOFor driving on paved or
slippery roads.
LOCK4-Wheel Drive *2 *3
LOCKFor driving on rough
roads.
*1 The 2WD mode may change to the 4WD mode automatically depending on the driving conditions.
*2 The LOCK mode will change to the AUTO mode automatically when the vehicle has been driven at
a high speed. The 4WD LOCK indicator light turns into the AUTO indicator light.
*3 The LOCK mode will automatically be cancelled when the ignition switch is turned to the OFF
position.
Starting and driving5-37
4WD shift tips
●If the 4WD mode switch is operated while
making a turn, accelerating or decelerating,
or if the ignition switch is turned off while in
the AUTO or LOCK mode, you may feel a jolt.
This is normal.
●The oil temperature of power train parts will
increase if the vehicle is continuously oper-
ated under conditions where the difference
between the front and rear wheels is large
(wheel slip) , such as when driving the ve-
hicle on rough roads through sand or mud or
when freeing a stuck vehicle. In these cases,
the 4WD mode changes to the 2WD mode
to protect the powertrain parts.
●Brake distance in the 4WD mode is the
same as 2WD.
CAUTION
●Depending on the driving condition, the
4WD mode may automatically change
from 2WD to 4WD even when the 2WD
mode is selected. If this occurs while
driving, the 4WD mode indicator light
will not illuminate.
●Do not start the engine with the 4WD
mode switch in any mode in the follow-
ing cases:
– when the vehicle is placed on a fre-
eroller or jacking up the vehicle with
the front tires raised and the rear
tires on the ground.
– when towing the vehicle with the rear
tires raised from the ground.
●Operate the 4WD mode switch only
when driving straight. Do not operate
the 4WD mode switch when making a
turn or backing up.
●Do not operate the 4WD mode switch
with the front wheel spinning.
●Engine idling speed is high while warm-
ing up the engine. Be especially careful
when starting or driving on slippery sur-
faces with the 4WD mode switch set in
the AUTO mode.
4WD mode indicator lights
The 2WD, 4WD AUTO and LOCK mode indica-
tor lights are located in the vehicle information
display.
The 4WD mode indicator lights will display the
mode selected by the 4WD mode switch while
the engine is running.
The 4WD AUTO indicator light illuminates when
selecting the AUTO mode.
The 4WD LOCK indicator light illuminates when
selecting the LOCK mode and the 2WD indicator
light illuminates when selecting the 2WD mode.
5-38Starting and driving
WARNING
●Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
●Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) . Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and re-
sult in an accident. Make sure the shift
lever has been pushed as far forward as
it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.●Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
●Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.●HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
A
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
●HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
B
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
●HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
C
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK posi-
tion.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-39
When the VDC system operates, theindi-
cator in the instrument panel flashes so note the
following:
●The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help
keep the vehicle on the steered path.
●You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
●Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
For additional information, refer to “Slip indicator
light” and ”Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
indicator light” in the ”Instruments and controls”
section of this manual.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
andindicator lights come on in the instru-
ment panel. The VDC system automatically turns
off when these indicator lights are on.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The
indicator illuminates to indi-
cate the VDC system is off.
When the VDC switch is used to turn off the
system, the VDC system still operates to prevent
one drive wheel from slipping by transferring
power to a non slipping drive wheel. The
indicator flashes if this occurs. All other VDC
functions are off and the
indicator will not
flash.
The VDC system is automatically reset to on
when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position then back to the ON position.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
●The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not
prevent accidents due to abrupt steer-
ing operation at high speeds or by care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be especially
careful when driving and cornering on
slippery surfaces and always drive
carefully.●Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars,
bushings and wheels are not NISSAN
recommended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could
adversely affect vehicle handling per-
formance, and the
indicator may
flash or both the
andindica-
tor lights may illuminate.
●If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly and both the
and theindicator lights may
illuminate.
●If engine control related parts are not
NISSAN recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may illuminate.
Starting and driving5-43