Tra n s m i s s i o n R a n ge s
▼Transmission Ranges
The shift position indication in the
instrument cluster illuminates.
Refer to Shift Position Indication on
page 4-40.
Shift the selector lever to the P or N
position to start the engine.
P (Park)
P locks the transmission and prevents
the front wheels from rotating.
WARNING
Always set the selector lever to P
position and set the parking brake:
Only setting the selector lever to the P
position without using the parking
brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous.
If P fails to hold, the vehicle could
move and cause an accident.
CAUTION
Shifting into P, N or R while the
vehicle is moving can damage your
transmission.
Shifting into a driving gear or reverse
when the engine is running faster
than idle can damage the
transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete
stop before shifting to or from R,
except under rare circumstances as
explained in Rocking the Vehicle (page
3-49).
NOTE
(With parking sensor system)
When the selector lever is shifted to
the R position with the ignition
switched ON, the parking sensor
system is activated and a beep sound is
heard.
Refer to Parking Sensor System on page
4-215.
N (Neutral)
In N, the wheels and transmission are
not locked. The vehicle will roll freely
even on the slightest incline unless the
parking brake or brakes are on.
WARNING
If the engine is running faster than
idle, do not shift from N or P into a
driving gear:
It's dangerous to shift from N or P into
a driving gear when the engine is
running faster than idle. If this is done,
the vehicle could move suddenly,
causing an accident or serious injury.
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle:
Shifting into N while driving is
dangerous. Engine braking cannot be
applied when decelerating which
could lead to an accident or serious
injury.
CAUTION
Do not shift into N when driving the
vehicle. Doing so can cause
transmission damage.
NOTE
Apply the parking brake or depress the
brake pedal before moving the selector
lever from N position to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-39
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new 2022-1-6 14:55:18
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From
a stop, the transmission will
automatically shift through a 6-gear
sequence.
M (Manual)
M is the manual shift mode position.
Gears can be shifted up or down by
operating the selector lever.
Refer to Manual Shift Mode on page
4-41.
▼Shift Position Indication
1. Shift position indication
The selector position is indicated when
the ignition is switched ON.
Gear position indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the
shift position indication illuminates
and the numeral for the selected gear
is displayed.
▼ Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transmission
shift points to best suit the road
conditions and driver input. This
improves driving feel. The transmission
may switch to AAS mode when driving
up and down slopes, cornering, driving
at high elevations, or depressing the
accelerator pedal quickly while the
selector lever is in the D position.
Depending on the road and driving
conditions/vehicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a
problem because the AAS mode will
maintain the optimum gear position.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-40
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new
2022-1-6 14:55:18
Manual Shift Mode
▼Manual Shift Mode
The manual shift mode gives you the
feel of driving a manual transmission
vehicle by allowing you to operate the
selector lever manually. This allows you
to control engine rpm and torque to
the drive wheels much like a manual
transmission when more control is
desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift
the lever from D to M.
NOTE
Changing to manual shift mode
while driving will not damage the
transmission.
If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear
will shift to M1.
If you change to manual shift mode
without depressing the accelerator
pedal when driving in D range, 5th
gear/6th gear, the gear will shift to
M4/M5.
To return to automatic shift mode, shift
the lever from M to D.
▼ Indications
1. Manual shift mode indication
2. Gear position indication
Manual shift mode indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the
shift position indication in the
instrument panel illuminates.
Gear position indication
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
NOTE
If the gears cannot be shifted down
when driving at higher speeds, the
gear position indication will
flash
twice to signal that the gears cannot
be shifted down (to protect the
transmission).
If the automatic transmission fluid
(ATF) temperature becomes too
high, there is the possibility that the
transmission will switch to automatic
shift mode, canceling manual shift
mode and turning off the gear
position indication illumination. This
is a normal function to protect the
AT. After the ATF temperature has
decreased, the gear position
indication illumination turns back on
and driving in manual shift mode is
restored.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-41
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new 2022-1-6 14:55:18
▼Second Gear Fixed Mode
When the selector lever is moved back
+ while the vehicle speed is about 10
km/h (6.2 mph) or less, the
transmission is set in the second gear
fixed mode. The gear is fixed in second
while in this mode for easier
acceleration from a stop and driving on
slippery roads such as snow-covered
roads.
If the selector lever is moved back + or
forward – while in the second gear
fixed mode, the mode will be
canceled.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-44
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new
2022-1-6 14:55:18
▼Shift Gear (Shifting) Speed Limit
For each gear position while in the manual
mode, the speed limit is set as follows:
When the selector lever is operated within the range of the speed limit, the gear is
shifted.
1. 1st
2. 2nd
3. 3rd
4. 4th
5. 5th
6. 6th
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the vehicle speed is lower than the speed limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limi t and the gear does not shift down, the
gear position indication flashes 2 times to notify the driver that the gear cannot be
shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is depressed fully while driving, the gear shifts down.
However, the transmission does not kickdown while the TCS is turned off.
NOTE
The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second gear fixed mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle speed during
deceleration.
NOTE
If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode, the gear remains
in second.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-45
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new 2022-1-6 14:55:18
Direct Mode*
▼Direct Mode
Direct mode can be used for
temporarily switching gears by
operating the steering shift switch
while the vehicle is being driven with
the selector lever in the D position.
While in direct mode, the D and M
indication illuminate and the gear
position in use is illuminated.
1. Direct mode indication
2. Gear position indication
Direct mode is canceled (released)
under the following conditions.
The UP switch (+/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of
time or longer.
The vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time
differs
depending on the driving
conditions while operating).
The vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.
NOTE
Shifting up and down while in direct
mode may not be possible depending
on the vehicle speed. In addition,
because direct mode is canceled
(released) depending on the rate of
acceleration or if the accelerator is fully
depressed, use of the manual shift
mode is recommended if you need to
drive the vehicle in a particular gear for
long periods.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
*Some models.4-47
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new 2022-1-6 14:55:18
Driving Tips
▼Driving Tips
WARNING
Do not let the vehicle move in a
direction opposite to the direction
selected by the selector lever:
Do not let the vehicle move backward
with the selector lever in a forward
position, or do not let the vehicle
move forward with the selector lever in
the reverse position. Otherwise, the
engine may stop, causing the loss of
the power brake and power steering
functions, and make it difficult to
control the vehicle which could result
in an accident.
Pa s s i n g
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades,
depress the accelerator fully. The
transmission will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed.
NOTE
The accelerator pedal may initially
feel heavy as it is being depressed,
then feel lighter as it is depressed
further. This change in pedal force
aids the engine control system in
determining how much the
accelerator pedal has been
depressed for performing kickdown,
and functions to control whether or
not kickdown should be performed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Shift to D or M1, depending on the load weight and grade steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal whilegradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift
to lower gears, depending on load
weight and grade steepness. Descend
slowly, using the brakes only
occasionally to prevent them from
overheating.
When Driving
Automatic Transmission
4-48
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new 2022-1-6 14:55:18
*2 When the light switch is switched to a different position from the OFF, position while the
vehicle is stopped, the daytime running lights turn off. When starting to drive the vehicle, the daytime
running lights turn on again.
*3 When the light switch is switched to the OFF position, and then to the position again, the
daytime running lights turn off directly after star ting the engine. The daytime running lights turn on
when you begin driving the vehicle.
With auto-light control
Ignition Position ACC or OFF ON
Switch Position OFF
*1AUTOOFF*1AUTO
Headlights Off
Off*2OffOff*2
Auto*3*5Auto*4*5
On
Daytime running
lights Off Off Off Off
Off
Taillights
Parking lights
License plate lights
Side-marker lights Off
Off
*2On*2On*2On
*1 The light switch returns to the AUTO position automatically.*2 The lights are turned on continuously if the ignition is switched from ON to any other position with
the lights turned on. The lights are turned on for the specified period by the auto headlight
off
function.
*3 During the daytime, the daytime running lights turn on automatically. During the nighttime, the
headlights, parking lights, taillights, license plate lights, and the side-marker lights turn on
automatically.
*4 During the daytime, the daytime running lights, parking lights, taillights, license plate lights, and theside-marker lights turn on automatically. During the nighttime, the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, license plate lights, and the side-marker lights turn on automatically.
*5 When the light switch is switched to the OFF posit ion while the vehicle is stopped, all of the lights
that are turned on turn off. When the light switch is switched from a position other than
to the
position while the vehicle is stopped, the running lights or the headlights turn
off. When
starting to drive the vehicle, the lights that are turned off turn on again.
When Driving
Switches and Controls
4-50
CX-50_8KB8-EA-22A_Edition2_new 2022-1-6 14:55:18