Creeping

The following conditions cause the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase creeping: • Immediately after the engine starts. • When the climate control system is in use. Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.

Kickdown

Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the transmission to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.

Precautions While Driving

NOTICE

The following can damage the under spoiler:

• Parking the vehicle by a parking block

• Parallel parking along the road shoulder

• Driving towards the bottom of a hill

• Driving up or down to a different surface level (such as a road shoulder)

• Driving on a rutted or bumpy road

• Driving on a road with potholes.

Automatic transmission models

Shifting

Change the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.

Shift lever positions

Shifting

You cannot change the power mode from ON to VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) unless the shift lever is in . The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in while the engine is cold. Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary, apply the parking brake. When shifting gears in extremely low temperatures (-22°F/-30°C), there may be a short delay before the shift is indicated in the display. Always confirm you are in the correct gear before driving.

Shift Lever Operation

Shift Lever Operation

NOTICE

When you change the shift lever from to and vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the brake pedal depressed. Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come to a complete standstill can damage the transmission. Use the shift lever position indicator to check the lever position before pulling away. Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving, a blinking indicator indicates a transmission problem. Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission checked by a dealer as soon as possible. The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine speeds in or over the tachometer's red zone (engine speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a slight jolt. It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release button is held down. Depress the brake pedal first.

Sequential Shift Mode

Use the paddle shifters to change between 1st and 5th gears without removing your hands from the steering wheel. The transmission will switch to the sequential shift mode.

When the shift lever is in :

The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode momentarily, and the gear position indicator will come on. Once you start traveling at a constant speed, the sequential shift mode will automatically switch off, and the gear position indicator will go off. Hold the paddle shifter for two seconds to return to normal drive.

When the shift lever is in :

The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode, and the M (sequential shift) indicator and gear position indicator will come on. At speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or less, the vehicle automatically shifts down into 1st gear. It will not automatically shift up, even if vehicle speed increases. You can only pull away in 1st or 2nd gear. When switching out of the sequential shift mode, move the shift lever from to . When the sequential shift mode is canceled, the sequential shift mode indicator and shift indicator go off.

Second gear lock mode

If you pull the paddle shifter while stopped or driving at 6 mph (10 km/h) or less, the gear position will be locked in 2nd gear. This makes it easier to pull away on slippery surfaces such as snow covered roads. To cancel the 2nd gear lock mode, pull the paddle shifter, or move the shift lever from to .

Sequential Shift Mode Operation

Sequential Shift Mode Operation

Each paddle shift operation makes a single gear change. To change gears continuously, release the paddle shifter before pulling it again for the next gear.

Recommended Shift Points

Use this table as a guideline for efficient fuel economy and effective emission control.

If the gear position indicator blinks when you try to shift up or down, this means your vehicle speed is not in its allowable gear range. Slightly accelerate to shift up and decelerate to shift down while the indicator is blinking.

Manual transmission models

Shifting

Shift Lever Operation

Fully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then slowly release the pedal. Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into , or shift into one of the forward gears for a moment. This stops the gears so they do not “grind.”

Shifting

NOTICE

Do not shift to   before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Shifting to   before stopping can damage the transmission.

NOTICE

Before downshifting, make sure the engine will not go into the tachometer's red zone. Should this occur, it can severely damage your engine. There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you leave the vehicle parked outside for a long time on a hot day, be careful before moving the shift lever. Because of heat, the shift lever may be extremely hot. If the outside temperature is low, the shift lever may feel cold.

When you are not shifting, do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your clutch to wear out faster.

Shifting

Recommended Shift Points

Driving in the highest gear that allows the engine to run and accelerate smoothly helps to optimize fuel economy and effective emissions control. The following shift points are recommended:

If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you are in, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's red zone. When this happens, you may experience a slight jolt.

Reverse Lockout

The manual transmission has a lockout mechanism that stops you from accidentally shifting into   from a forward gear while the vehicle is moving above a certain speed.

If you cannot shift to when the vehicle is stopped, do the following:

1. Depress the clutch pedal, move the shift lever all the way to the left, and shift to .

2. If you still cannot shift into , apply the parking brake, and set the power mode to ACCESSORY or VEHICLE OFF (LOCK).

3. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into .

4. Keep depressing the clutch pedal and start the engine.

Have the vehicle checked by a dealer if you have to go through this procedure repeatedly.