
06
6-15
D (Drive)
This is the normal driving position. The
transmission will automatically shift
through a 8-gear sequence, providing
the best fuel economy and power.
To start the vehicle forward, push the D
(Drive) button by depressing the brake
pedal with the engine ON. Then depress
the accelerator pedal smoothly.
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).
When the vehicle is stopped in D (Drive)
position, if you open the driver's door
with the seat belt unfastened, the gear is
shifted to P (Park) position automatically.
However when the vehicle moves in D
(Drive) position, if you open the driver's
door with the seat belt unfastened, the
gear may not shift to P (Park) position
automatically to protect the automatic
transmission.
Shift-lock system
For your safety, the automatic
transmission has a shift-lock system
which prevents shifting the gear from
P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse)
or D (Drive) unless the brake pedal is
depressed.
To shift the gear from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive):
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine or place the ignition switch in the ON position.
3. Depress the brake pedal and push the R (Reverse) or D (Drive) button. Stay in N (Neutral) position when engine is Off
ODN8069006
ODN8069008
If you want to keep the N (Neutral)
position after the engine is OFF, do the
following.
1. Deactivate the AUTO HOLD and release the parking brake when the
ignition switch is ON.
2. Start the engine. Push the N (neutral) button while depressing the brake
pedal. If the message ("Press and
hold OK button to stay in Neutral
when vehicle is OFF") appears on the
cluster LCD display, press and hold
the OK button on the steering wheel
for more than 1 second.
3. When the message ("Vehicle will stay in (N). Change gear to cancel")
appears on the cluster LCD display,
turn off the engine.
In this situation, if you unfasten the
driver's seat belt and open the driver's
door within 3 minutes, the gear stays in
the N (Neutral) position and the ignition
switch is turned off.

While Driving
6-16
When the battery is discharged:
You cannot shift the gear when the
battery is discharged.
In emergencies, do the following to
move the shift button to N (Neutral) on a
level ground.
1. Connect the battery cables from
another vehicle or from a another
battery to the jump-starting terminals
inside the engine compartment.
For more information refer to "Jump Starting" in chapter 7.
2. Release the parking brake with the Engine Start/Stop button in the ON position.
3. Shift the gear to the N(Neutral) position. Refer to the "Stay in Neutral
when vehicle is Off" in this chapter.
Parking
Always come to a complete stop and
continue to depress the brake pedal.
Press the P button, apply the parking
brake, and place the ignition switch in
the LOCK/OFF position. Take the Key
with you when exiting the vehicle. • The gear is shifted to P (Park) position
automatically for safety under the
following conditions.
- When the driver unfastens the seat belt and opens the driver’s door.
- When the engine is turned off with the gear shifted to R (Reverse), D
(Drive) or N (Neutral).
WARNING
When you stay in the vehicle with
the engine running, be careful not to
depress the accelerator pedal for a long
period of time. The engine or exhaust
system may overheat and start a fire.
The exhaust gas and the exhaust system
are very hot. Keep away from the
exhaust system components.
Do not stop or park over flammable
materials, such as dry grass, paper or
leaves. They may ignite and cause a fire.

While Driving
6-22
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death: • ALWAYS check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for people,
especially children, before shifting a
vehicle into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).
• Before leaving the driver’s seat,
always make sure the shift lever/
button is in the P (Park) position,
then set the parking brake, and place
the ignition switch in the LOCK/OFF
position. Unexpected and sudden
vehicle movement can occur if these
precautions are not followed.
• Do not use aggressive engine braking
(shifting from a higher gear to a
lower gear) on slippery roads. This
could cause the tires to slip and may
result in an accident.
NOTICE
• Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into D (Drive) or R
(Reverse).
• Do not put the shift lever/button in N
(Neutral) while driving.
WARNING
Due to transmission failure, you may
not continue to drive and the position
indicator and the position indicator (D,
P) on the instrument cluster will blink.
We recommend that you contact an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer and have
the system checked. DCT warning messages
This warning message is displayed when
vehicle is driven slowly on a grade and
the vehicle detects that the brake pedal
is not applied.
OOSH069010L
Steep grade! Press brake pedal
Driving up hills or on steep grades: •
To hold the vehicle on an incline use
the foot brake or the parking brake.
• When in stop-and-go traffic on an
incline, allow a gap to form ahead
of you before moving the vehicle
forward. Then hold the vehicle on the
incline with the foot brake.
• If the vehicle is held or creeping
forward on an incline by applying
the accelerator pedal, the clutch and
transmission may overheat which
can result in damage. At this time, a
warning message will appear on the
LCD display.
• If the LCD warning is active, the foot
brake must be applied.
• Ignoring the warnings can lead to
damage to the transmission.

06
6-25
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 could lose control of
the vehicle and hit people or objects.
To stay in N (Neutral) when vehicle is
OFF (button type)
ODN8069006
Type A
ODN8069007
Type B
ODN8069008
If you want to stay in N (Neutral) after the
engine is OFF (in the ACC state), do the
following.
1. Turn off Auto Hold and release Electronic Parking Brake when the engine is running.
2. Push the N(Neutral) button by depressing the brake pedal. If the
message (“Press and hold the OK
button on the steering wheel to stay in
Neutral ”) appears on the cluster LCD
display, press and hold the OK button
on the steering wheel for more than 1 second.
3. When the message ‘Vehicle will stay in (N). Change gear to cancel’ (or ‘N will
stay engaged when the vehicle is Off’)
will appear on the cluster LCD display,
press the Engine Start/Stop button
while depressing the brake pedal.
However, if you open the driver's
door, the gear will automatically
shift to P (Park) and the Engine Start/
Stop button will change to the OFF position.
NOTICE
With the gear in N (Neutral) the Engine
Start/Stop button will be in the ACC
position. Note that the doors cannot
be locked in the ACC position or the
battery may discharge if left in the ACC
position for a long period.

While Driving
6-26
D (Drive)
This is the normal driving position. The
transmission will automatically shift
through a 8-gear sequence, providing
the best fuel economy and power.
To start the vehicle forward, push the D
(Drive) button by depressing the brake
pedal with the engine ON. Then depress
the accelerator pedal smoothly. 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). When the vehicle
is stopped in D (Drive) position, if you
open the driver’s door with the seat belt
unfastened, the gear is shifted to P (Park)
position automatically.
However when the vehicle moves in D
(Drive) position, if you open the driver’s
door with the seat belt unfastened,
the gear may be not shifted to P (Park)
position automatically for protecting the
dual clutch transmission.
The DRIVE MODE switch, located on
the shift lever/button console, allows
the driver to switch from NORMAL/
COMFORT mode to SPORT or ECO mode. (if equipped)
For more details, refer to “Drive Mode
Integrated Control System” later in this
chapter. Shift-lock system
For your safety, the automatic
transmission has a shift-lock system
which prevents shifting the transmission
from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R
(Reverse) or D (Drive) unless the brake
pedal is depressed.
To shift the transmission from P (Park)
into R (Reverse):
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine or place the ignition
switch in the ON position.
3. Depress the brake pedal and move the shift lever to R (Reverse). (shift lever
type)
Depress the brake pedal and push the
R (Reverse) button. (shift button type)
When the battery is discharged:
You cannot shift the shift lever/button,
when the battery is discharged.
In emergencies, do the following
to move the shift lever/button to N
(Neutral) on a level ground.
1. Connect the battery cables from another vehicle or from a another
battery to the jump-starting terminals
inside the engine compartment.
For more details, refer to “Jump
Starting” in chapter 8.
2. Release the parking brake with the ignition switch in the ON position.
3. Shift the gear to the N(Neutral) position refer to the “Stay in Neutral
when vehicle is Off” in this chapter.

06
6-27
Parking
Always come to a complete stop and
continue to depress the brake pedal.
Move the shift lever/button into the P
(Park) position, apply the parking brake,
and place the ignition switch in the
LOCK/OFF position. Take the Key with
you when exiting the vehicle.
WARNING
When you stay in the vehicle with
the engine running, be careful not to
depress the accelerator pedal for a long
period of time. The engine or exhaust
system may overheat and start a fire.
The exhaust gas and the exhaust system
are very hot. Keep away from the
exhaust system components.
Do not stop or park over flammable
materials, such as dry grass, paper or
leaves. They may ignite and cause a fire.
LCD display message (button
type)
Shifting conditions not met. Reduce speed, then shift
The warning message appears on the
LCD display, when engine RPM is too
high, or when driving speed is too fast to
shift the gear.
We recommend you decrease the engine
speed or slow down before shifting the
gear.
Press brake pedal to change gear
The warning message appears on the
LCD display, when the brake pedal is not
depressed while shifting the gear.
We recommend you to depress the brake
pedal and then shift the gear.
Shift to P after stopping
The warning message appears on the
LCD display, when the gear is shifted to P
(Park) while the vehicle is moving.
Stop the vehicle before shifting to P
(Park).
PARK engaged
The warning message appears on the
LCD display, when the gear is shifted to P
(Park) while the vehicle is moving.
Stop the vehicle before shifting to P
(Park).
![HYUNDAI SONATA 2023 Owners Manual 06
6-37
OIK057080L
Press brake pedal to deactivate AUTO HOLD
If you did not apply the brake pedal when
you release the Auto Hold by pressing
the [AUTO HOLD] switch, a warning will
sound and a mes HYUNDAI SONATA 2023 Owners Manual 06
6-37
OIK057080L
Press brake pedal to deactivate AUTO HOLD
If you did not apply the brake pedal when
you release the Auto Hold by pressing
the [AUTO HOLD] switch, a warning will
sound and a mes](/manual-img/35/56185/w960_56185-323.png)
06
6-37
OIK057080L
Press brake pedal to deactivate AUTO HOLD
If you did not apply the brake pedal when
you release the Auto Hold by pressing
the [AUTO HOLD] switch, a warning will
sound and a message will appear.
OTM058159L
AUTO HOLD conditions not met. Close
door and hood.
When you press the [AUTO HOLD]
switch, if the driver's door and engine
hood are not closed, a warning will sound and a message will appear on the
cluster LCD display.
Press the [AUTO HOLD] switch after
closing the driver's door and hood.
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
WARNING
An Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) or
an Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system will not prevent accidents
due to improper or dangerous driving
maneuvers. Even though vehicle
control is improved during emergency
braking, always maintain a safe
distance between you and objects
ahead of you. Vehicle speeds should
always be reduced during extreme
road conditions. The braking distance
for cars equipped with ABS or ESC
may be longer than for those without
these systems in the following road
conditions.
Drive your vehicle at reduced speeds
during the following conditions: • Rough, gravel or snow-covered
roads.
• On roads where the road surface is
pitted or has different surface height.
The safety features of an ABS or ESC
equipped vehicle should not be tested
by high speed driving or cornering. This
could endanger the safety of yourself or
others.
ABS is an electronic braking system that
helps prevent a braking skid. ABS allows
the driver to steer and brake at the same time.

While Driving
6-38
Using ABS
To obtain the maximum benefit from
your ABS in an emergency situation,
do not attempt to modulate your brake
pressure and do not try to pump your
brakes. Depress your brake pedal as hard as possible.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the wheels,
you may hear sounds from the brakes,
or feel a corresponding sensation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and it means
your ABS is active.
ABS does not reduce the time or distance
it takes to stop the vehicle.
Always maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you.
ABS will not prevent a skid that results
from sudden changes in direction, such
as trying to take a corner too fast or
making a sudden lane change. Always
drive at a safe speed for the road and
weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of stability.
Always steer moderately when braking
hard. Severe or sharp steering wheel
movement can still cause your vehicle to
veer into oncoming traffic or off the road.
On loose or uneven road surfaces,
operation of the anti-lock brake system
may result in a longer stopping distance
than for vehicles equipped with a
conventional brake system.
The ABS warning light (
) will stay on
for several seconds after the ignition
switch is in the ON position. During
that time, the ABS will go through self-
diagnosis and the light will go off if
everything is normal. If the light stays on,
you may have a problem with your ABS.
Contact an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the ABS warning light (
) is on and
stays on, you may have a problem with
the ABS. Your power brakes will work
normally. To reduce the risk of serious
injury or death, contact your HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
CAUTION
When you drive on a road having poor
traction, such as an icy road, and apply
your brakes continuously, the ABS will
be active continuously and the ABS
warning light (
) may illuminate. Pull
your car over to a safe place and turn
the engine off.
Restart the engine. If the ABS warning
light is off, then your ABS system is normal.
Otherwise, you may have a problem
with your ABS system. Contact an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible.
Information
When you jump start your vehicle because
of a drained battery, the ABS warning light (
) may turn on at the same
time. This happens because of the low
battery voltage. It does not mean your ABS is malfunctioning. Have the battery
recharged before driving the vehicle.