
M4 (4th), M3 (3rd) and M2 (2nd) :
Use these positions 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 M7 range. This reduces fuel
economy.
. In the manual shift mode, the trans-
mission may not shift to the se-
lected range. This helps maintain
driving performance and reduces
the chance of vehicle damage or
loss of control.
. In the manual shift mode, the trans-
mission automatically shifts down
to 1st gear before the vehicle comes
to a stop. When accelerating again, it
is necessary to shift up to the
desired range.
. When the CVT fluid temperature is
extremely low, the manual shift mode
may not work and automatically shift
as a drive mode. This is not a mal-
function. In this case, return the shift
lever to the D (Drive) position and drive
for a while and then shift to the manual shift mode.
. When the CVT fluid temperature is
high, the shift range may upshift at a
lower engine speed than usual. This is
not a malfunction.Accelerator downshift — In D posi-
tion —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into a lower
gear, depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid
temperature becomes too high (for ex-
ample, when climbing steep grades in
high temperature with heavy loads), en-
gine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will be decreased automa-
tically to reduce the chance of transmis-
sion 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
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The MIL may illuminate to indicate the
fail-safe mode is activated. (See “Mal-
function Indicator Light (MIL)” (P.2-17).)
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 turn the switch back to the ON
position. The vehicle should return to its
normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating con-
dition, have the transmission checked
and repaired, if necessary. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature
protection mode or fail-safe opera-
tion 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
Starting and driving5-23

5-24Starting and driving
place and allow the transmission to
return to normal operation, or have it
repaired if necessary.
Adaptive Shift Control (ASC)
The Adaptive Shift Control automatically
operates when the transmission is in the
“D” (Drive) position and selects an appro-
priate gear depending on the road con-
ditions such as uphill or downhill.
Control on uphill and curving roads:
A low gear is maintained that suits the
degree of the slope to allow smooth
driving with a small number of shifts.
Control on downhill roads:
The Adaptive Shift Control shifts to a low
gear that suits the degree of the slope
when the accelerator pedal is depressed,
and uses the engine braking to help
driving in the downhill.
Control on winding roads:
A low gear is maintained on continuous
curves that involve repeated acceleration
and deceleration, so that smooth accel-
eration is available instantly when the
accelerator pedal is depressed.NOTE:
.
Adaptive Shift Control may not op-
erate when the transmission oil
temperature is low immediately
after the start of driving or when it
is very hot.
. During some driving situations, hard
braking for example, the Adaptive
Shift Control may automatically op-
erate. The transmission may auto-
matically shift to a lower gear for
engine braking. This increases en-
gine speed but not vehicle speed.
Vehicle speed is controlled by the
accelerator pedal when the vehicle
is in the Adaptive Shift Control
mode.
. When the Adaptive Shift Control
operates, the transmission some-
times maintains a lower gear for a
longer period of time than when
Adaptive Shift Control is not operat-
ing. Engine speed will be higher for a
specific vehicle speed while Adap-
tive Shift Control is operating than
when Adaptive Shift Control is not
operating.
JVS0392X
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 but-
ton 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 (shown in the illustration above) using
a suitable tool.

4. Insert the mechanical key and pushdown the shift lock release.
5. Push the shift lever button and move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position while holding down the shift
lock release.
Place the ignition switch in the ON posi-
tion. The vehicle may be moved to the
desired location.
Replace the removed shift lock release
cover after the operation.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position, have the CVT system
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended 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 running and the brake
pedal is depressed, the stop lights
may not work. Malfunctioning stop
lights could cause an accident injur-
ing yourself and others.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MT)
WARNING
. Do not downshift abruptly on
slippery roads. This may cause a
loss of control.
. Do not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
. When the high fluid temperature
protection mode or fail-safe op-
eration occurs, vehicle speed may
be gradually reduced. The re-
duced 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
operation, or have it repaired if
necessary.
CAUTION
.Do not rest your foot on the
clutch pedal while driving. This
may damage the clutch.
. Fully depress the clutch pedal
before shifting to help prevent
transmission damage.
. Stop your vehicle completely be-
fore shifting into R (Reverse).
. When the vehicle is stopped for a
period of time, for example at a
stop light, shift to N (Neutral) and
release the clutch pedal with the
foot brake applied.
Starting and driving5-25

5-26Starting and driving
SSD0552
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or
downshifting, fully depress the clutch
pedal, shift into the appropriate gear,
then slowly and smoothly release the
clutch pedal.
To ensure smooth gear changes, be sure
to 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 could
occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in
sequence according to vehicle speed.To back up, pull the shift lever ring
upward and then move it to the R
(Reverse) gear after stopping the vehicle
completely.
The shift lever ring returns to its original
position when the shift lever is moved to
the N (Neutral) position.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into
the R (Reverse) or 1st gear, shift to the N
(Neutral) position, and then release the
clutch pedal once. Fully depress the
clutch pedal again and shift into the R
(Reverse) or 1st gear.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 sug-
gested for that speed. Always observe
posted speed limits, and drive according
to the road conditions, which will ensure
safe operation. Do not over-rev the en-
gine when shifting to a lower gear as it
may cause engine damage or loss of
vehicle control.
Gear
MPH (km/h)
1st 28 (46)
2nd 50 (81)
3rd 70 (112)
4th 90 (145)
5th —
6th —

— When it is not possible to keepthe vehicle at a constant
speed
— When driving in heavy traffic
— When driving in traffic that varies speed
— When driving in windy areas
— When driving on winding or hilly roads
— When driving on slippery (rain, snow, ice, etc.) roads
CAUTION
On Manual Transmission (MT) model,
do not shift to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion without depressing the clutch
pedal when the cruise control is
operated. Should this occur, depress
the clutch pedal and turn the Cruise
ON/OFF switch off immediately. Fail-
ure to do so may cause engine
damage.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CON-
TROL
. If the cruise control system malfunc-
tions, it will cancel automatically. The
CRUISE indicator in the vehicle infor-
mation display will then blink to warn
the driver.
. If the CRUISE indicator blinks, turn the
Cruise ON/OFF switch off and have
the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
. The CRUISE indicator may blink when
the Cruise ON/OFF switch is turned
ON while pushing the RES/+, SET/-, or
CANCEL switch. To properly set the
cruise control system, perform the
following procedures.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at
speeds above 25 MPH (40 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
The cruise control will automatically be
canceled if the vehicle slows down more
than approximately 8 MPH (13 km/h)
below the set speed.
Moving the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position will cancel the cruise control.
Turning on cruise control
Push the Cruise ON/OFF switch. The
CRUISE indicator in the vehicle informa-
tion display will appear.
Setting cruising speed
1. Accelerate to the desired speed.
2. Push the SET/- switch and release it.
3. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal.
The vehicle will maintain the set speed.
Passing another vehicle:
Depress the accelerator pedal to accel-
erate. After releasing the accelerator
pedal, the vehicle will return to the pre-
viously set speed.
The vehicle may not maintain the set
speed when going up or down steep hills.
In such cases, drive without the cruise
control.
Resetting to slower speed:
Use any one of the following methods to
reset to a slower speed.
. Lightly tap the foot brake pedal. When
the vehicle reaches the desired speed,
push and release the SET/- switch.
. Push and hold the SET/- switch. When
the vehicle reaches the desired speed,
release the SET- switch.
Starting and driving5-65

5-140Starting and driving
to increased oil temperature. The driving
mode may change to Two-Wheel Drive
(2WD). If this warning is displayed, stop
the vehicle with the engine idling, as soon
as it is safe to do so. Then if the warning
turns off, you can continue driving.
The “Tire Size Incorrect” warning
may
appear if there is a large difference
between the diameters of front and rear
wheels. Pull off the road in a safe area,
with the engine idling. Check that all tire
sizes are the same, that the tire pressure
is correct and that the tires are not
excessively worn. Turn off the Intelligent
4x4 LOCK switch and do not drive fast.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked by a
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
. For AWD equipped vehicles, do
not attempt to raise two wheels
off the ground and shift the
transmission to any drive or re-
verse position with the engine
running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage
or personal injury. .
Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2–wheel
dynamometer (such as the dy-
namometers used by some
states for emissions testing) or
similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off
the ground. Make sure that you
inform the test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with
AWD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong
test equipment may result in
drive train damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
CAUTION
.Do not operate the engine on a
free roller when any of the wheels
raised.
. The power train may be damaged
if you continue driving with the
“AWD Error” warning on.
. If the warning message remains
on after the above operation,
have your vehicle checked as
soon as possible. It is recom- mended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
. If the “AWD Error” warning ap-
pears while driving, there may be
a malfunction in the AWD system.
Reduce the vehicle speed and
have your vehicle checked as
soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
. Never drive on dry, hard surface
roads in the LOCK mode, as this
will overload the powertrain and
may cause a serious malfunction.

SSD0488
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.
. Never leave the engine running
while the vehicle is unattended.
. Do not leave children unattended
inside the vehicle. They could
unknowingly activate switches
or controls. Unattended children
could become involved in serious
accidents. .
To help avoid risk of injury or
death through unintended opera-
tion of the vehicle and/or its
systems, do not leave children,
people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle.
Additionally, the temperature in-
side 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.
. Safe parking procedures require
that both the parking brake be
applied and the transmission placed into P (Park) for Continu-
ously Variable Transmission (CVT)
model or in an appropriate gear
for Manual Transmission (MT)
model. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unex-
pectedly or roll away and result in
an accident.
. Make sure the CVT shift lever has
been pushed as far forward as it
can go and cannot be moved
without depressing the foot
brake pedal.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission (MT) models:
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse)
gear. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the shift lever in the 1st gear.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from roll- ing into the street when parked on a
sloping drive way, it is a good practice
to turn the wheels as illustrated.
.HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
Starting and driving5-143
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS

5-150Starting and driving
scenes).
INTELLIGENT ENGINE BRAKE (Con-
tinuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models)
The Intelligent Engine Brake function
adds subtle deceleration by controlling
CVT gear ratio, depending on the corner-
ing condition calculated from driver’s
steering input and plural sensors. This
benefit to easier traceability and less
workload of adjusting speed with braking
at corners.
The Intelligent Engine Brake also adds
subtle deceleration with gear ratio con-
trol according to driver’s brake pedal
operation.
The Intelligent Engine Brake can be set to
ON (enabled) or OFF (disabled) through
the Vehicle Information Display “Settings”
page. See “Vehicle information display”
(P.2-19) for more information.
JVS0403X
When the Intelligent Engine Brake is
operated at corners and the “Chassis
Control” mode is selected in the trip
computer, the Intelligent Engine Brake
graphics are shown in the vehicle infor-
mation display. See “Trip computer” (P.2-
39) for more information.
If the chassis control warning message
appears in the vehicle information dis-
play, it may indicate that the Intelligent
Engine Brake is not functioning properly.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN dealer for this service.
WARNING
The Intelligent Engine Brake may not
be effective depending on the driv-
ing condition. Always drive carefully
and attentively.
When the Intelligent Engine Brake is
operating, the needle of the tachometer
will rise up and you may hear an engine
noise. This is normal and indicates that
the Intelligent Engine Brake is operating
properly.