Driving Your Vehicle6-28
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backw
ard.
NOTICE
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into or out of R (Reverse); you
may damage the transaxle if you shift
into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is in
motion.
N (Neutral)
The wheels and transaxle are not
engaged.
U
se N (Neutral) if you need to restart a
stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop
with the engine ON. Shift into P (Park)
if you need to leave your vehicle for any
reason.
Always depress the brake pedal when
you are shifting from N (Neutral) to
another gear.
D (Drive)
This is the normal driving position. The
tr
ansmission will automatically shift
through a 7-gear sequence, providing the
best fuel economy and power.
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or driving uphill, depress the
accelerator fully. The transmission will
automatically downshift to the next
lower gear (or gears, as appropriate).
The DRIVE MODE switch, located on the
shift lever console, allows the driver to
switch from NORMAL mode to ECO or
SPORT mode (if equipped)
For more information, refer to "Drive
Mode Integrated Control System" later
in this chapter.
WARNING
[ Do not shift into gear unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
Shifting into gear when the engine
is running at high speed can cause
the vehicle to move very rapidly. You
may lose control of the vehicle and
cause accidents.
[ Do not drive with the shift lever in N
(Neutral). The engine brake will not
work and may lead to an accident.
NOTICE
Always make sure the vehicle is
stationary, at a complete stop, before
selecting D (Drive).
06
6-29
DS mode (Drive Sporty)
To shift into Ds mode, move the shift
lever from D (Drive) to the center of
the manual shift mode. The engine
and transmission control logic is
automatically optimized for sporty
driving.
In Ds mode, if you move the shift lever
to + (up) or (down), the gear will change
to manual shift mode. If the shift lever is
moved back into D (Drive), it will change
to D (Drive). The vehicle will perform
according to the mode selected from
drive mode (NORMAL, ECO, SPORT,
SMART).
OCN7N060009
Manual shift mode
Whether the vehicle is stationary or
in mo
tion, sports mode is selected by
pushing the shift lever from the D (Drive)
position into the manual gate. To return
to D (Drive) range operation, push the
shift lever back into the main gate.
In manual shift mode, moving the shift
lever backwards and forwards will allow
you to select the desired range of gears
for the current driving conditions.
Up (+) : Push the lever forward once to shift up one gear.
Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards once to shift down one gear.