
CAUTION
●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.
● To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, when stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and smooth
operation.
The CVT can operate in two different automatic
drive modes: ● D (Drive) mode - Move the shift lever to D
(Drive) , the transmission is in the normal
forward automatic driving mode. The posi-
tion indicator in the meter shows a “D”. ●
Ds (Drive Sport) mode - Move the shift lever
from D (Drive) to the Ds (Drive Sport) . The
position indicator in the meter shows a “Ds”.
In Ds (Drive Sport) mode, transmission op-
eration changes to Sporty” driving shift op-
eration, creating a more aggressive accel-
eration feeling than the D (Drive) mode and a
gear change sensation when the driver ac-
celerates or when using the shift paddles (if
so equipped) . During Ds (Drive Sport) mode
operation, the driver must move the shift
lever from Ds mode to D mode and back
again to re-select Ds (Drive Sport) mode.
● To cancel the Ds mode, return the shift lever
to the D (Drive) position. The transmission
returns to the automatic drive mode.
The CVT can operate in two manual drive modes: ● M (Manual) mode (if so equipped) - With the
shift lever in the Ds (Drive Sport) mode,
using the shift paddles (if so equipped) up
(+) or down (–) produces noticeable up-
shifts and downshifts. The position indicator
in the meter shows a “M”.
● To Ds (Drive Sport) mode return the shift
lever to the D (Drive) mode.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment. NOTE:
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
WARNING
●
Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) , or Ds
(Drive Sport) . Always depress the brake
pedal until shifting is completed. Fail-
ure 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.
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
5-14Starting and driving

●Never shift to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is re-
versing. This could cause an accident or
damage the transmission.
CAUTION
● 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.
● To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, when stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever into a driving gear.
3. Release the foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in motion. 4. Stop the vehicle completely before shifting
the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
The CVT is designed so the foot brake
pedal MUST be depressed before shifting
from P (Park) to any drive position while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park) and into any of the other gear posi-
tions if the ignition switch is pushed to the
LOCK position.
To move the shift lever:
Press the buttonAwhile depressing the
brake pedal
Press the buttonAto shift
Shift without pressing buttonA
Shifting
After starting the engine, fully depress the brake
pedal and move the shift lever from P (Park) to
any of the desired shift positions.
LSD2085
Starting and driving5-15

WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever is
in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll away
and result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
P (Park)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the P (Park) shift lever position when the
vehicle is parked or when starting the engine.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped.
The brake pedal should be depressed to
move the shift lever from N (Neutral) or any
drive position to P (Park) . Apply the parking
brake. When parking on a hill, apply the parking
brake first, then move the shift lever into the P
(Park) position. R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position. The brake
pedal must be depressed to move the shift
lever from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive
position to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward driving. Ds (Drive Sport)
When the shift selector is shifted from the D
(Drive) to Ds (Drive Sport) position, the transmis-
sion enters the Ds (Drive Sport) mode. Moving
the shift selector to the Ds (Drive Sport) position
allows you to enjoy “sporty” driving shift operation
on a winding road and feel smooth acceleration
or deceleration on a hilly road by moving in a
lower gear automatically. When canceling the DS
mode, return the shift selector to the D (Drive)
position. The transmission returns to the normal
driving mode.
5-16Starting and driving

●In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may shift up automatically to a
higher range than selected if the en-
gine speed is too high. When the ve-
hicle speed decreases, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down and
shifts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
● CVT operation is limited to automatic drive
mode when CVT fluid temperature is ex-
tremely low even if manual shift mode is
selected. This is not a malfunction. When
CVT fluid warms up, manual mode can be
selected.
● When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the
shift range may upshift in lower rpm than
usual. This is not a malfunction.
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.
It will be necessary to jump start or have your
battery charged. For additional information, refer
to “Jump starting” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this manual. Contact a NISSAN dealer
or a professional towing service.
To move the shift lever, complete the following
procedure:
1.
Push the ignition switch to the LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Using a protective cloth on the tip ofa3mm screwdriver, remove the shift lock release
cover.
● If available, a plastic trim tool can also be
used.
4. Insert the small screwdriver in the shift lock release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi- tion while holding down the shift lock re-
lease.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) ,
have the transmission checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
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.
LSD2087
5-18Starting and driving

1. To engage, firmly depress the foot brake.
2. To release:●Move the shift lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
● Firmly depress the parking brake pedal
and it will release.
● Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.
WARNING
● Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
● Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
● Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
● To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm
day can quickly become high enough to
cause a significant risk of injury or
death to people and pets.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and instruc-
tions for proper use of the BSW system
could result in serious injury or death.
● The BSW system is not a replacement
for proper driving procedures and is not
designed to prevent contact with ve-
hicles or objects. When changing lanes,
always use the side and rear mirrors
and turn and look in the direction your
vehicle will move to ensure it is safe to
change lanes. Never rely solely on the
BSW system.
The BSW system helps alert the driver of other
vehicles in adjacent lanes when changing lanes.
LSD2177
PARKING BRAKE BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) (if so
equipped)
5-20Starting and driving

CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 mph (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the
ON/OFF switch on. The
light in the instru-
ment panel will illuminate.
To set cruising speed, accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set speed.
● To pass another vehicle, depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
● The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, use one of the
following three methods.
● Push the CANCEL button.
● Tap the brake pedal.
● Push the ON/OFF switch off. The
light
in the instrument panel goes out. The cruise control is automatically canceled if:
● you depress the brake pedal while pushing
the ACCEL/RES or SET/COAST switch.
The preset speed is deleted from memory.
● the vehicle slows down more than 8 mph
(13 km/h) below the set speed.
● you move the shift lever to N (Neutral) .
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one of
the following three methods.
● Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
● Push and hold the ACCEL/RES switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you de-
sire, release the switch.
● Push and release the ACCEL/RES switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed in-
creases by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods.
● Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
● Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows to
the desired speed. ●
Push and release the COAST/SET switch.
Each time you do this, the set speed de-
creases by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle re-
turns to the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 mph (40 km/h).
To turn off the cruise control, use one of the
following three methods.
● Push the CANCEL button.
● Tap the brake pedal.
● Push the ON/OFF switch off. The
light in the instrument panel goes out.
5-40Starting and driving

For additional information, refer to “Approach
warning” in this section.
The following items are controlled in the ICC
system:● When there are no vehicles traveling ahead,
the ICC system maintains the speed set by
the driver. The set speed range is between
approximately 20 and 90 mph (32 and
144 km/h).
● When there is a vehicle traveling ahead, the
ICC system adjusts the speed to maintain
the distance, selected by the driver, from the
vehicle ahead. If the vehicle ahead comes to
a stop, the vehicle decelerates to a standstill
within the limitations of the system. The sys-
tem will cancel once it judges a standstill
with a warning chime.
● When the vehicle traveling ahead has moved
out from its lane of travel, the ICC system
accelerates and maintains vehicle speed up
to the set speed.
The ICC system does not control vehicle speed
or warn you when you approach stationary and
slow moving vehicles. You must pay attention to
vehicle operation to maintain proper distance
from vehicles ahead when approaching toll gates
or traffic congestion. When driving on the freeway at a set speed and
approaching a slower traveling vehicle ahead, the
ICC system will adjust the speed to maintain the
distance, selected by the driver, from the vehicle
ahead. If the vehicle ahead changes lanes or exits
the freeway, the ICC system will accelerate and
maintain the speed up to the set speed. Pay
attention to the driving operation to maintain con-
trol of the vehicle as it accelerates to the set
speed.Normally when controlling the distance to a ve-
hicle ahead, this system automatically acceler-
ates or decelerates your vehicle according to the
speed of the vehicle ahead. Depress the accel-
erator to properly accelerate your vehicle when
acceleration is required for a lane change. De-
press the brake pedal when deceleration is re-
quired to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle
ahead due to its sudden braking or if a vehicle
cuts in. Always stay alert when using the ICC
system.
SSD0254
Starting and driving5-43

●When the shift lever is not in the D (Drive) or
Manual mode
● When the parking brake is applied
● When the brakes are operated by the driver
When the COAST/SET switch is pushed under
the following conditions, the system cannot be
set.
A warning chime will sound and a message will
pop up:
● When the VDC system is off (To use the ICC
system, turn on the VDC system. Push the
CRUISE
switch to turn off the ICC
system and reset the ICC switch by pushing
the CRUISE
switch again.)
For additional information about the VDC
sytem, refer to “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system” in this section.
● When ABS or VDC (including the TCS) is
operating
● When a wheel is slipping (To use the ICC
system, make sure the wheels are no longer
slipping. Push the CRUISE
switch to
turn off the ICC system, and reset the ICC
system by pushing the
CRUISE
switch again.)
1System set display with vehicle ahead
2System set display without vehicle ahead
Vehicle detected ahead
When a vehicle is detected in the lane ahead, the
ICC system decelerates the vehicle by control-
ling the throttle and applying the brakes to match
the speed of a slower vehicle ahead. The system
then controls the vehicle speed based on the
speed of the vehicle ahead to maintain the driver
selected distance. NOTE:
● The stoplights of the vehicle come on
when braking is performed by the ICC
system.
● When the brake operates, a noise may
be heard. This is not a malfunction.
When a vehicle ahead is detected, the vehicle
ahead detection indicator comes on. The ICC
system will also display the set speed and se-
lected distance.
Vehicle ahead not detected
When a vehicle is no longer detected ahead, the
ICC system gradually accelerates your vehicle to
resume the previously set vehicle speed. The ICC
system then maintains the set speed.
When a vehicle is no longer detected, the vehicle
ahead detection indicator turns off.
If a vehicle ahead appears during acceleration to
the set vehicle speed or any time the ICC system
is in operation, the system controls the distance
to that vehicle.
When a vehicle is no longer detected under
approximately 15 mph (24 km/h), the system will
be canceled.
LSD2539
5-46Starting and driving