Operation Manual

Continuously variable transmission (CVT) (if so equipped)
5-68 Features and controls
5
While driving with the selector lever in the
“D” (DRIVE), sports mode can be selected
by pulling one of the sportronic steering
wheel shifters toward you.
In sports mode, rapid shifting is possible sim-
ply by operating the sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter.
Unlike the manual transaxle, sports mode
allows shifting with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
CAUTION
 Upward shifts do not take place automati-
cally in sports mode. The driver must make
upward shifts in accordance with prevailing
road conditions, making sure the engine rpm
remains below the red zone on the tachome-
ter.
 By rapidly moving the selector lever or spor-
tronic steering wheel paddle shifter to the “-
(SHIFT DOWN)” side twice, it is possible to
skip one shift range (i.e., 3rd to 1st or 4th to
2nd). Since sudden engine braking or accel-
eration can cause a loss of traction, down-
shifts must be made carefully in accordance
with the vehicle’s speed.
 On vehicles with a sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter, shift ranges may not change
when the lateral paddle shifters are operated
at the same time.
NOTE
 Shift ranges can only be selected in a for-
ward direction from 1st to 6th. To reverse or
park the vehicle, move the selector lever to
the “R” or “P” position.
 To maintain good running performance, the
transmission may refuse to perform an
upshift when the selector lever or sportronic
steering wheel paddle shifter is moved to the
“+(SHIFT UP)” position at certain vehicle
speeds. Also, to prevent over-revving of the
engine, the transmission may refuse to per-
form a downshift when the shift lever or
sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter is
moved to the “- (SHIFT DOWN)” position at
certain vehicle speeds. When this happens, a
buzzer sounds to indicate that a downshift is
not going to take place.
 Move the selector lever gently between the
manual and main gates and between posi-
tions in the manual gate. And do not operate
sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter vio-
lently. Excessive force could damage the
selector lever or sportronic steering wheel
paddle shifter.
Except for vehicles with manual
gate
NOTE
NOTE
 To return to “D” (DRIVE) operation, pull the
sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter on
the +(UP) side for longer than 2 seconds, or
park the vehicle to change the selector lever
position indicator to “D” (DRIVE) and
return to “D” (DRIVE) operation.
 When the sportronic steering wheel paddle
shifter is operated with the selector lever in
the “L” (LOW) position, gear is not shifted
because the selectable shift range is limited.
+ (SHIFT UP)
Transmission shifts up once by each opera-
tion.
- (SHIFT DOWN)
SHIFT DOWN
SHIFT UP