2020 INFINITI QX50 transmission

– Moving the shift lever to the D (Drive)position when reversing.
If these operations are attempted, a chime
sounds and the vehicle shifts to the N (Neu-
tral) position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
∙ To prevent transmission damage, use the P (Park) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
∙ Do not slide the shift lever while pressing the Park button. This may damage the
shift control system.
Use this position when the vehicle is parked
or starting the engine. Always make sure that
the vehicle is completely stopped before
pressing the Park button
1to engage the P
(Park) position. For maximum safety, the
brake pedal must be depressed before en-
gaging the P (Park) position. Use this position
together with the parking brake. When park-
ing on a hill, first depress the brake pedal,
apply the parking brake and then engage the
P (Park) position. The parking lock should not
be used as a brake when parking. In order to secure the vehicle, always apply the elec-
tronic parking brake in addition to the parking
lock.
In the event of a malfunction of the vehicle’s
electronics, the transmission may lock in the
P (Park) position. Have the vehicle’s electron-
ics checked immediately. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
The P (Park) position is automatically en-
gaged if:
∙ You switch off the ignition switch.
∙ You unfasten the driver’s seat belt and open the driver’s door when the vehicle is
stationary or driving at a very low speed
and the transmission is in the D (Drive)
position or R (Reverse) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the 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 and the shift lever
button pressed to move the shift lever from
the idle position to R (Reverse).
If the vehicle is placed in the R (Reverse)
position while forwarding, the chime will
sound and the vehicle will switch into the N
(Neutral) position.
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. You can
select this position to hold the shift lever at
this position for 0.5 seconds.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward driv-
ing. The CVT changes gears automatically. All
forward gears are available. If the vehicle is
placed in the D (Drive) position while revers-
ing, the chime will sound and the vehicle will
switch into the N (Neutral) position.
Starting and driving5-21

Manual shift mode
The transmission enters the manual shift
mode by moving the shift lever again to the D
(Drive) position when the vehicle is in the D
range.
You can select the manual shift range by
pulling the right side or left side paddle shifter
AandB. To cancel the manual shift mode,
move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position
again. The transmission returns to the auto-
matic drive mode.
When the shift lever is shifted from D (Drive)
to the manual shift mode with the vehicle stopped or while driving, the transmission
enters the manual shift mode. Shift ranges
can be selected manually. Shift ranges can
also be selected using the paddle shifters on
the steering wheel. When you pull the paddle
shifter while in the D (Drive) position, the
transmission will shift to the upper or lower
range temporarily. If the paddle shifters are
not used for about 5–10 seconds, the trans-
mission will automatically return to the D
(Drive) position. If you want to return to the D
(Drive) position manually, pull and hold either
paddle shifter for about 1.5 seconds.In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the me-
ter. When moving the shift lever to the
manual shift mode, the position indicator dis-
plays 1 (1st) up to 8 (8th) depending on ve-
hicle speed.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as fol-
lows:
1⇔
2⇔ 3⇔ 4⇔ 5⇔ 6⇔ 7⇔ 8
8 (8th)
Use this position for all normal forward driv-
ing at highway speeds.
7 (7th), 6 (6th) and 5 (5th)
Use this position when driving up long slopes,
or for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
4 (4th), 3 (3rd) and 2 (2nd)
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
1 (1st)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or when driving slowly, or for maxi-
mum engine braking on steep downhill
grades.
Manual shift gate
LSD2822
Paddle shifters
LSD2914
5-22Starting and driving

∙ Remember not to drive at high speeds forextended periods of time in lower than
8th gear. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up
Use the + (up) side paddle shifter. (Shifts to
higher range.)
When shifting down
Use the (down) side paddle shifter. (Shifts
to lower range.)
∙ The transmission will automatically downshift the gears. (For example, if you
select the 3rd range, the transmission will
shift down between the 3rd and 1st
gears.)
∙ Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
When canceling the manual shift mode
Move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position
to return the transmission to the normal driv-
ing mode. ∙ In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance
and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control. ∙
When this situation occurs, the Continu-
ously Variable Transmission (CVT) posi-
tion indicator 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 engine
speed is too high. When the vehicle
speed decreases, the transmission auto-
matically 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 extremely low even if manual shift
mode is selected. This is not a malfunc-
tion. 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.
Accelerator downshift
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the ac-
celerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into a lower gear, de-
pending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tempera-
ture protection mode. If the fluid temperature
becomes too high (for example, when climb-
ing 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 dam-
age. Vehicle speed can be controlled with the
accelerator pedal, but the engine and vehicle
speed may be limited.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, the
Continuously Variable Transmission will not
be shifted into the selected driving position.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme condi-
tions, such as excessive wheel spinning and
subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe sys-
tem may be activated. The Malfunction Indi-
cator Light (MIL) may come on to indicate
the fail-safe mode is activated. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL)” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual. This will oc-
cur even if all electrical circuits are function-
ing properly. In this case, place the ignition
Starting and driving5-23

switch in the OFF position and wait for
10 seconds. Then place the ignition switch
back in 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 recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs, ve-
hicle 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 re-
turn to normal operation, or have it re-
paired if necessary.
WARNING
∙ Be sure the parking brake is fully releasedbefore 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 ve-
hicle 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.
The electronic parking brake can be applied
or released automatically or by operating the
parking brake switch.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
The electronic parking brake will apply auto-
matically if the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold function.
The electronic parking brake is automatically
released as soon as the vehicle starts and the
accelerator pedal is depressed.
The driver’s seat belt needs to be fastened.
LSD2915
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE
5-24Starting and driving

Four driving modes can be selected by using
the Drive Mode Selector switch: STAN-
DARD, SPORT, ECO and PERSONAL.
NOTE:∙ When the Drive Mode Selector switch
selects a mode, the mode may not switch
quickly. This is not a malfunction.
∙ Select the STANDARD mode center for
normal driving.
STANDARD MODE
STANDARD mode is recommended for nor-
mal driving. Push the Drive Mode Selector
switch until “STANDARD” appears in the ve-
hicle information display. STANDARD mode
will also be displayed in the upper display.
SPORT MODE
The SPORT mode adjusts the engine and
transmission to enhance performance. Push
the Drive Mode Selector switch to the
SPORT position. “SPORT” appears in the ve-
hicle information display. SPORT mode will
also be displayed in the upper display.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced.
PERSONAL MODE
PERSONAL mode is used for adjusting the
steering mode and drive modes. Turn the
PERSONAL mode off for normal driving.
Push the Drive Mode Selector switch until
“PERSONAL” appears in the vehicle informa-
tion display. PERSONAL mode will also be
displayed in the upper display. For additional
information, refer to the INFINITI InTouch™
Owner’s Manual.
How to set the PERSONAL mode
Perform the following steps to set the PER-
SONAL mode:
1. Press the MENU button
1and select
“Drive Mode Selector” on the lower dis-
play.
2. Select “Engine/Transmission,” “Steer- ing,” “Active Trace Control” or “Active
Engine Brake” and select each item. (See
“Engine/Transmission,” “Steering,” “Ac-
tive Trace Control” or “Active Engine
Brake” about the feature of each item.)
Drive Mode Selector switch
LSD2917LSD2982
INFINITI DRIVE MODE SELECTOR
Starting and driving5-29

3. Select “Back” or press the MENU buttonto finish the PERSONAL mode setting.
Engine/Transmission:
“Engine/Transmission” can be set to “Stan-
dard,” “Sport” or “Eco.”
Steering (models with Direct Adaptive
Steering®):
Four combinations of steering mode and
steering response can be set.
Mode Response
Sport Dynamic+
Dynamic
Default
Standard Default
Steering (models without Direct Adaptive
Steering®):
“Steering” can be set to “Sport” or “Standard.”
Active Trace Control:
“Active Trace Control” can be set to ON (en-
abled) or OFF (disabled). For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Active Trace Control” in this
section. Active Engine Brake:
“Active Engine Brake” can be set to ON (en-
abled) or OFF (disabled). For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Active Engine Brake” in this
section.
Reset Settings:
Select “Reset Settings” and select “OK” to
restore all the PERSONAL mode settings to
default.
ECO MODE
The ECO mode adjusts the engine and trans-
mission to enhance fuel economy.
NOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not necessarily
improve fuel economy as many driving fac-
tors influence its effectiveness.
Operation
Push the Drive Mode Selector switch to the
ECO position. “ECO” appears in the vehicle
information display and the ECO drive indi-
cator light illuminates on the instrument
panel. ECO mode will also be displayed in the
upper display.When the accelerator pedal is depressed
within the range of economy drive, the ECO
drive indicator light illuminates in green.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed
above the range of economy drive, the ECO
drive indicator light turns off. For ECO pedal
system equipped models, refer to “ECO pedal
system” in this section.
The ECO drive indicator light will not illumi-
nate in the following cases:
∙ When the shift lever is in the R (Reverse) position.
∙ When the vehicle speed is below 3 mph (4.8 km/h) or over 90 mph (144 km/h).
∙ When the Intelligent Cruise Control sys- tem (if so equipped) is operated.
ECO pedal system (if so equipped)
The ECO pedal system helps assist the driver
to improve fuel economy by increasing the
reaction force of the accelerator pedal. When
the ECO drive indicator light is blinking or
turns off, the ECO pedal system increases
the reaction force of the accelerator pedal.
5-30Starting and driving

WARNING
∙ Do not drive beyond the performance ca-pability of the tires. Accelerating quickly,
sharp steering maneuvers or sudden
braking may cause loss of control, even
with Intelligent AWD engaged.
∙ For AWD equipped vehicles, do not at- tempt to raise two wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain damage
or unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious personal injury or
vehicle damage.
∙ Do not attempt to test an AWD equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer (such
as the dynamometers 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. Us-
ing the wrong test equipment may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could result in se-
rious personal injury or vehicle damage.
CAUTION
∙ Do not operate the engine on a free rollerwhen any of the wheels are raised.
∙ If you use the free roller, rotate four wheels with the same speed without rais-
ing any wheels.
∙ If an AWD warning message is displayed while driving there may be a malfunction
in the AWD system. Reduce the vehicle
speed immediately and have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.
∙ The powertrain may be damaged if you continue driving when the AWD tem-
perature or tire size incorrect messages
are displayed.
∙ If the AWD high temperature message is displayed while you are driving, pull off
the road in a safe area, and idle the en-
gine. The driving mode will change to
2WD to prevent the AWD system from
malfunctioning. If the warning message
turns off, you can drive again. ∙ If the tire size incorrect message is dis-
played while you are driving, 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.
∙ If a warning message continues to be dis- played after the above operations, have
your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Starting and driving5-175

WARNING
∙ Do not stop or park the vehicle over flam-mable 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). Failure
to do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result 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 acti-
vate switches or controls or make the ve-
hicle move. Unattended children could
become involved in serious accidents. ∙ To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the ve-
hicle 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.
1. Apply the electronic parking brake.
2. Press the Park button to place the ve- hicle in 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.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
5-176Starting and driving