2023 NISSAN QASHQAI Drive

5-18Starting and driving
1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed so that it does
not operate unless the shift lever is in
either of the above positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position, and depress the clutch pedal
to the floor while starting the engine.
3. Crank the engine with your foot off
the accelerator pedal by turning the
ignition switch to START. Release the
switch when the engine starts. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, repeat
the above procedure.
.If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when
restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and hold it and then
crank the engine. Release the ac-
celerator pedal when the engine
starts.
.If the engine is very hard to startbecause it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Crank the engine
for 5 - 6 seconds. After cranking the engine, release the accelerator
pedal. Crank the engine
with your
foot off the accelerator pedal by
turning the ignition switch to
START. Release the ignition switch
when the engine starts. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, re-
peat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the
engine does not start, turn the igni-
tion switch off and wait 10 seconds
before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged.
Do not turn the ignition switch to the
START position unless the engine
and starter have stopped moving.
Attempting to start the engine while
the engine or starter is moving may
cause damage.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before
shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time
may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
5. To stop the engine, shift the shift lever to the P (Park) position (CVT model) or
N (Neutral) position (MT model) and
turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume
battery power when the engine is
not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/
or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to
be charged to maintain battery health.
STARTING THE ENGINE (model
without Intelligent Key system)

1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) model:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in either of the
above positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position. Depress the clutch pedal fully
to the floor.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal (CVT
models) or the clutch pedal (MT mod-
els) and push the ignition switch to
start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal (CVT mod-
els) or the clutch pedal (MT models)
with the ignition switch in any posi-
tion.
.If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and while holding, crank
the engine. Release the accelerator
pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to start
because it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine
with your foot off the accelerator
pedal by depressing the brake
pedal and pushing the push-button
ignition switch to start the engine.
If the engine starts, but fails to run,
repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more
than 15 seconds at a time. If the
engine does not start, push the
ignition switch to OFF and wait 10
seconds before cranking again,
otherwise the starter could be da-
maged. 4.
Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for
a minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before
shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time
may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000
rpm or more under no load condition,
the engine will enter the fuel cut
mode.
5. To stop the engine, move the shift lever to the P (Park) position (CVT
models) or move the shift lever to
the N (Neutral) position (MT models),
and push the ignition switch to the
OFF position.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume
battery power when the engine is
not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
Starting and driving5-19
STARTING THE ENGINE (model
with Intelligent Key system)

5-20Starting and driving
2.Vehicle is not driven regularly and/
or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to
be charged to maintain battery health.
REMOTE ENGINE START (if so
equipped)
Vehicles started with the remote engine
start function require the ignition switch
to be placed in the ON position before the
shift lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position. To place the ignition switch in
the ON position, perform the following
steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is carried with you.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information about the
remote engine start function, see “Re-
mote engine start” (P.3-23).
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANS-
MISSION (CVT)
The Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) in your vehicle is electronically
controlled to produce maximum power
and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the
following pages. Follow these procedures
for maximum vehicle performance and
driving enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically
reduced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving
on slippery roads or while being tested
on some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving
the shift lever out of the P (Park)
position.
This CVT is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any
driving position while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out
of the P (Park) position and into any
of the other positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the LOCK or OFF position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever to a driving
position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake pedal, and then gradually start
the vehicle in motion.
WARNING
.Do not depress the accelerator
pedal while shifting from P (Park)
or N (Neutral) to R (Reverse), D
(Drive), or manual shift mode. Al-
ways depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure
to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so
use caution when shifting into a
forward or reverse gear before
the engine has warmed up.
. Never shift to either the P (Park)
or R (Reverse) position while ve-
hicle is moving forward and P
(Park) or D (Drive) while the vehi-
cle is reversing. This could cause
an accident or damage the trans-
mission.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE

5-22Starting and driving
brake pedal.
3. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage,
move the shift lever to the P (Park)
or R (Reverse) position only when the
vehicle is completely stopped.
P (Park):
Use this position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped.
The brake pedal must be depressed and
the shift lever button pushed in to move
the shift lever from N (Neutral) or any
drive position to P (Park). Apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill,
apply the parking brake first, then move
the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse):
Use this 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 pushed in to move the shift lever from P (Park), N (Neutral) or
any driving position to R (Reverse).
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to N (Neutral) and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle
is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
Manual shift mode
When the shift lever is shifted from the D
(Drive) position to the manual shift gate,
the transmission enters the manual shift
mode. Shift ranges can be selected
manually by moving the shift lever up or
down.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range
is displayed on the position indicator in
the meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1
?
M2 ?
M3 ?
M4 ?
M5 ?
M6 ?
M7 ?
M8
// / / / / /
.
When shifting up, move the shift lever
to the + (up) side. The transmission
shifts to a higher range.
. When shifting down, move the shift
lever to the − (down) side. The trans-
mission shifts to a lower range.
. Moving the shift lever to the same side
twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion. However, if this motion is rapidly
done, the second shifting may not be
completed properly.
. When canceling the manual shift
mode, return the shift lever to the D
(Drive) position. The transmission re-
turns to the normal driving mode.
M8 (8th):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
However, you need to shift down the
gears manually when accelerating or
passing another vehicle.
M7 (7th), M6 (6th) and M5 (5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
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.2-16).)
This will occur even if all electricalcircuits 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
place and allow the transmission to
return to normal operation, or have it
repaired if necessary.
Starting and driving5-23

5-24Starting and driving
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.

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 —

WARNING
.Never drive the vehicle with the
parking brake applied. The brake
will overheat and fail to operate
and will lead to an accident.
. Never release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle. If the
vehicle moves, it will be impossi-
ble to push the foot brake pedal
and will lead to an accident.
. Never use the shift lever in place
of the parking brake. When park-
ing, be sure the parking brake is
fully applied.
. 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.
SPA2331
PEDAL TYPE
To apply the parking brake, firmly depress
the parking brake pedal.
To release the parking brake, depress and
hold the foot brake
and then fully
depress and release the parking brake
pedal
.
Before driving, be sure that the brake
warning light has turned off.
JVP0498X
SWITCH TYPE (models with elec-
tronic parking brake system)
The electronic parking brake can be
applied or released automatically or by
operating the parking brake switch.
Automatic operation
With the vehicle stationary, the electronic
parking brake is automatically applied
when the engine is turned off with the
ignition switch.
For the model with the automatic brake
hold function, the electronic parking
brake will apply automatically if the igni-
tion switch is placed in the “OFF” position
when the brake force is maintained by
Starting and driving5-27
PARKING BRAKE