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2
When driving
Automatic transmission∗
Select a shift position appropriate for the driving conditions.
■Shifting the shift lever
While the engine switch is in the “ON” position, move the
shift lever with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped.
: If equipped
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146 2-1. Driving procedures
■Shift position uses
*: Shifting to the D position allows the system to select a gear suitable for
the driving conditions. Setting the shift lever to the D position is recom-
mended for normal driving.
Shift positionMulti-information displayFunction
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
D
Normal D position driving*
(gears between “1” and “6” are automatically selected)
(paddle shift switches acti- vated)
Temporary manual mode driv-
ing (→P. 150)
MManual mode driving ( →P. 148)
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2
When driving
■
Selecting a driving mode
By pressing the driving pattern selector switch the following
modes can be selected to suit driving and usage conditions:
Normal mode
Sport mode
The “SPORT” indicator comes on.
Use sport mode for sporty driving or when driving in mountainous
regions with lots of curves.
Snow mode
The “SNOW” indicator comes on.
Use snow mode for accelerating and driving on slippery road surfaces
such as snow.
To cancel sport mode or snow mo de, press the same side of the
switch again.
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148 2-1. Driving procedures
Manual mode drivingTo enter manual mode, shift the shift lever to the M position.
While the upshift/downshift indicator light is illuminated, gears can be
selected by operating the shift leve r or paddle shift switches, allowing
you to drive in the gear of your choosing.
Even if upshifting operations are performed, if vehicle speed is too low for
the requested gear, the gear will not change.
Upshift indicator
Downshift indicator
Upshifting (+)
Downshifting (-)
Each time the shift lever or pad-
dle shift switches are operated,
the gear changes up or down
one gear and the selected gear,
“1” through “6”, will be set.
The selected gear, from “1” to “6”,
and “M” will be displayed on the
shift position and shift range indi-
cator.
When in manual mode, the gear w ill not change unless the shift lever
or paddle shift switches are operated.
However, even when in manual mode, t he gears will be automatically
changed in the following situations:
● When vehicle speed drops (downshift only).
● When engine oil temperature is high and engine speed rises close
to the red zone.
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2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
■
When moving the shift lever out of P
If the shift lever is pushed sideways before the brake pedal is depressed,
shift lever operation may not be possible. Depress the brake pedal before
shifting the shift lever out of P.
■ Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer
If downshifting operations are performed at a vehicle speed by which down-
shifting is not possible (when downshifting will cause the engine speed to
enter the red zone), a buzzer will sound to warn the driver that downshifting
cannot be performed.
■ When driving with cruise control activated
Downshifting can be performed even when using cruise control. After down-
shifting, the set speed continues. ( →P. 148, 150)
■ Sport mode
●In sport mode, lower gears are used and gears change at a higher
engine speed.
● If sport mode is changed to while the shift lever is in the M position, the
“SPORT” indicator will come on but sport mode controls will not be car-
ried out. Shift the shift lever to the D position.
● Sport mode cannot be changed to when driving with cruise control acti-
vated.
■ Snow mode
To prevent slipping, 1
st gear cannot be selected when in snow mode.
■ Sport mode and snow mode automatic deactivation
In the following situations, the driving mode is automatically deactivated:
● When the engine is turned off after dr iving in sport mode or snow mode.
● When cruise control is activated while driving in sport mode.
■ If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
→P. 339
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150 2-1. Driving procedures
■Automatic gear selection when the vehicle is stopped
When the vehicle is idling at high rpm in order to warm up, and the vehicle is
on a slippery road, the transmission may automatically shift to 2
nd gear for
stopping and starting off.
■ Temporary manual mode driving
Temporary manual mode driving will be deactivated and normal D position
driving will be returned to in the following situations:
●When driving for longer than the set time (the set time differs according
to driving conditions).
● When the vehicle comes to a stop.
● When the accelerator pedal is continually depressed for longer than the
set time.
● When the accelerator pedal is fully, or near-fully, depressed.
Temporary manual mode driving can be
changed to by operating the paddle shift
switches while the shift lever is in the D
position.
When this occurs, the selected gear and
“D” are displayed on the shift position and
shift range indicator.
(When engine speed rises close to the
red zone, upshifting will be automatically
performed.)
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When driving
■
AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatically shifts the gear to the suitable position according
to the driver performance and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D posi-
tion. (Operating the paddle shift switches or shifting the shift lever to the M
position cancels the function.)
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and sudden acceleration, as this could result in
the vehicle skidding to the side or spinning.
■ To prevent incorrect operation
Do not attach items such as accessories to the paddle shift switches.
Doing so may unintentionally move the paddle shift switches.
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2-1. Driving procedures
Manual Transmission∗
∗: If equipped
■Shifting the shift lever
Fully depress the clutch pedal before operating the shift lever, and
then release it slowly.
■ Shifting the shift lever to R
Shift the shift lever to R while
lifting up the ring section.