L (Low) (if so equipped)
Use this position for maximum engine braking on
steep downhill gradients/climbing steep slopes
and whenever approaching sharp bends. Do not
use the L (Low) position in any other circum-
stances.
Manual shift mode (if so equipped)
When the shift lever is in the manual shift gate,
the transmission is ready for the manual shift
mode. Shift ranges can be selected manually by
moving the shift lever up or down. To cancel
manual shift mode, return the shift lever to the D
(Drive) position. The transmission returns to au-
tomatic driving mode.
When the shift lever is shifted from D (Drive) to
the manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters the manual
shift mode. Shift ranges can be selected manu-
ally. In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the meter.
When shifting the shift lever to the manual shift
gate, the position indicator displays 1 (1st) up to
7 (7th) depending on vehicle speed.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
1⇔2⇔ 3⇔ 4⇔ 5⇔ 6⇔ 7 M7 (7th)
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
M6 (6th) and M5 (5th)
Use this position when driving up long slopes, or
for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
M4 (4th) , M3 (3rd) and M2 (2nd)
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on downhill
grades.
M1 (1st)
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly
or driving slowly through deep snow, sand or
mud, or for maximum engine braking on steep
downhill grades.
● Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 6
range. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up
Move the shift lever to the + (up) side. (Shifts to
higher range.)
When shifting down
Move the shift lever to the (down) side. (Shifts
to lower range.) ●
Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succession.
● The transmission will automatically down-
shift the gears. (For example, if you select the
3rd range, the transmission will shift down
between the 3rd and 1st gears.)
When canceling the manual shift mode
Return the shift lever to the D (Drive) position to
return the transmission to the normal driving
mode. ● In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving perfor-
mance and reduces the chance of ve-
hicle damage or loss of control.
● When this situation occurs, the CVT
position indicator light will blink and
the chime will sound.
● 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.
Starting and driving5-19
●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 pressed.
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 posi- tion.
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.
6. Push the ignition switch to the ON position to unlock the steering wheel. Now the ve-
hicle may be moved to the desired location.
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.
LSD2569
5-20Starting and driving
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 (Drive) 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.
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 Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) may come on to indi-
cate the fail-safe mode is activated. For
additional information, refer to “Malfunc-
tion Indicator Light (MIL)” in the “Instru-
ment 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 switchback to the ON position. The vehicle should
return to its normal operating condition. If
it does not return to its normal operating
condition, have the transmission checked
and repaired, if necessary. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal opera-
tion, or have it repaired if necessary.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
●
Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
● Do not over-rev the engine when shift-
ing to a lower gear. This may cause a
loss of control or engine damage. ●
Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position
while driving. Doing so may result in an
accident due to loss of engine braking.
CAUTION
● Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
● Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shifting to help prevent transmission
damage.
● Stop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse) .
● When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a stop
light) , shift to N (Neutral) and release
the clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
● Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position
while driving. Doing so may result in an
accident due to loss of engine braking.
Starting and driving5-21
Shifting
To change gears or when upshifting or down-
shifting, depress the clutch pedal fully, shift into
the appropriate gear, then release the clutch
slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully depress
the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever. If
the clutch pedal is not fully depressed before the
transmission is shifted, a gear noise may be
heard. Transmission damage may occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd, 3rd,
4th and 5th up to 6th gear in sequence according
to vehicle speed.To back up, lift up on the shift lever ring
1and
then move it to the R (Reverse) position after
stopping the vehicle completely.
The shift lever ring
1returns to its original posi-
tion when the shift lever is moved to the N (Neu-
tral) position.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (1st) , shift into N (Neutral) , then
release the clutch pedal. Depress the clutch
pedal again and shift into R (Reverse) or 1 (1st) .
Suggested up-shift speeds
The following are suggested vehicle speeds for
shifting into a higher gear. These suggestions
relate to fuel economy and vehicle performance.
Actual upshift speeds will vary according to road
conditions, the weather and individual driving
habits.
MRA8DE engine models (6 M/T)
GEAR Change mph (km/h)
1st to 2nd 8(13)
2nd to 3rd 17 (27)
3rd to 4th 25 (40)
4th to 5th 36 (58)
5th to 6th 51 (82)
MR16DDT engine models (6 M/T)
GEAR Change mph (km/h)
1st to 2nd 13 (21)
2nd to 3rd 22 (35)
3rd to 4th 30 (48)
4th to 5th 35 (56)
5th to 6th 42 (68)
Suggested maximum speed in each
gear
Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is not
running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed
(shown below) in any gear. For level road driving,
use the highest gear suggested for that speed.
Always observe posted speed limits, and drive
according to the road conditions, which will en-
sure safe operation. Do not over-rev the engine
when shifting to a lower gear as it may cause
engine damage or loss of vehicle control.
SSD0552
5-22Starting and driving
MRA8DE engine models (6 M/T)
GEARmph (km/h)
1st 30 (48)
2nd 52 (84)
3rd 73 (117)
4th 94 (152)
5th —
6th —
MR16DDT engine models (6 M/T)
GEARmph (km/h)
1st 29 (46)
2nd 47 (75)
3rd 68 (108)
4th 90 (145)
5th —
6th —
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. To engage:
Pull the lever up
A.
To release: 1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
CVT models:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
LSD2197
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-23
3. While pulling up on the parking brake leverslightly, push the button and lower com-
pletely
B.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
The SPORT mode switch adjusts the throttle
sensitivity and transmission points to enhance
performance. Push the SPORT switch on the
instrument panel to activate. The SPORT mode
indicator light (on the speedometer) will illumi-
nate. The SPORT mode indicator light will remain
lit while the mode is active.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced. The ECO mode helps to enhance the fuel
economy by controlling the throttle sensitivity and
transmission points.
To turn on the ECO mode, push the ECO mode
switch. The ECO mode indicator light (on the
meter or vehicle information display) will remain lit
while the mode is active.
To turn off the ECO mode, push the ECO mode
switch again. The ECO mode indicator light (on
the meter or vehicle information display) will turn
off.
LIC2417LIC2416
SPORT MODE SWITCH (if so
equipped)
ECO MODE SWITCH (if so equipped)
5-24Starting and driving
The ECO mode cannot be turned off while the
accelerator pedal is depressed, even if the ECO
mode switch is pushed to OFF. Release the
accelerator pedal to turn off the ECO mode.
The ECO mode will turn off automatically if a
malfunction occurs in the system.
Turn off the ECO mode, or depress the accelera-
tor pedal fully when:● Driving with a heavy load of passengers or
cargo in the vehicle
● Driving on a steep uphill slope
● ECO mode may affect air conditioner perfor-
mance
NOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not necessar-
ily improve fuel economy as many driving
factors influence its effectiveness.
SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR (MRA8DE
engine Manual Transmission models
only)
The shift lever indicator is used to support the
suitable timing of gear change. It operates only
when the ECO mode is in the “ON” state.
The shift indicator icon and recommended gear
position are displayed.
The shift indicator icon indicates when to upshift
or downshift for fuel economy. NOTE:
● The shift indicator is a guide for fuel
economy. Always pay attention to road con-
ditions and other traffic.
● Downshift indicator icon to the “1” (1st) po-
sition is not displayed.
● If the downshifting icon is displayed when
decreasing your vehicle speed, it indicates
that the engine speed is low compared to
the gear position.
LSD2143
Starting and driving5-25
●The system may not detect the vehicle
in front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. To avoid accidents, never
use the ICC system under the following
conditions:
– On roads where the traffic is heavy or there are sharp curves
– On slippery road surfaces such as on ice or snow, etc.
– During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the bumper around the distance sensor
– On steep downhill roads (the vehicle may go beyond the set vehicle speed
and frequent braking may result in
overheating the brakes)
– On repeated uphill and downhill roads
– When traffic conditions make it diffi- cult to keep a proper distance be-
tween vehicles because of frequent
acceleration or deceleration
– Interference by other radar sources. ●
Do not use the ICC system if you are
towing a trailer. The system may not
detect a vehicle ahead.
● In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection zone
and cause automatic braking. Always
stay alert and avoid using the ICC sys-
tem where not recommended in this
warning section.
The radar sensor will not detect the following
objects: ● Stationary and slow moving vehicles
● Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
● Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
● Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane
The following are some conditions in which the
sensor cannot properly detect a vehicle ahead
and the system may not operate properly: ● When snow or road spray from traveling
vehicles reduces the sensor’s detection.
● When excessively heavy baggage is loaded
in the rear seat or the trunk of your vehicle. The ICC system is designed to automatically
check the sensor’s operation within the limita-
tions of the system.
The detection zone of the ICC sensor is limited. A
vehicle ahead must be in the detection zone for
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detection mode
to maintain the selected distance from the vehicle
ahead.
A vehicle ahead may move outside of the detec-
tion zone due to its position within the same lane
of travel. Motorcycles may not be detected in the
same lane ahead if they are traveling offset from
the centerline of the lane. A vehicle that is enter-
ing the lane ahead may not be detected until the
vehicle has completely moved into the lane.
If this occurs, the ICC system may warn you
by blinking the system indicator and
sounding the chime. The driver may have to
manually control the proper distance away
from vehicle traveling ahead.
Starting and driving5-57