Changing gear with automatic gearbox

For the small gear lever, change gear position by pressing the spring-loaded gear selector forwards or backwards, or sideways for manual shifting. For the large gear lever, the lever is pressed to the left instead for manual shifting.

Changing gear

P5-1917-Old gear shift pattern
Overview of large gear lever and gear positions.
P5-1917-8G-Gear shift pattern
Overview of small gear lever and gear positions.

Gear positions

Parking – P

P5-1917-Hybrids-Ger shifter P
Overview of gear lever and position P for small gear lever.

For the small gear lever, use the P button located next to the gear selector to activate Park position. For the large lever, the park position is activated by moving the gear lever to position P.

The gearbox is mechanically blocked when the P position is engaged.

Select the P position when the car is parked or when starting the engine. The car must be stationary when the P position is selected.

To select another gear position when the P position is selected, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition position must be II. The engine has to be running for cars with the small gear lever.

To park - first apply the parking bake and then select P position.

 Warning

Always use the parking brake when parking on an inclined surface. Engaging a gear or the automatic transmission's P position is not sufficient to hold the car stationary in all situations.

 Note

To be able to lock the car and arm the alarm, the gear position must be in P.

Help functions1

The system will change to P position automatically:

  • if the car is switched off in D or R position when stationary.
  • if the car is moving at low speed when the driver unbuckles the seatbelt and opens the driver's door without a pedal depressed.

To park a car without wearing the seatbelt and with the door open - exit the P position by selecting R or D again.

If the car is switched off in N position there is no automatic change-over to P position. This makes it possible to wash the car in an automatic car wash.

Reverse – R

Select position R to reverse. The car must be stationary when the R position is selected.

Neutral – N

Select N position when the car shall be started. Apply the parking brake if the car is stationary with the gear selector in the N position.

In order to change from N position to another gear position, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition position must be II. The engine has to be running for cars with the small gear lever.

Drive position - D

D is the normal driving position. Shifting up and down takes place automatically based on the level of acceleration and speed.

The car must be stationary when changing gear from R position to D position.

Manual position – M

P5-1917-Old gear shift pattern in driver display
Overview of the shift pattern in the driver display for large gear lever.

In M position, it is possible to change gear manually. The car engine-brakes when the accelerator pedal is released.

Position M is selected by moving the gear selector sideways from position D to the end position at "±".

  • Press the gear selector forwards to "+" (plus) to change up one step and release it.
  • Press the gear selector backwards to "–" (minus) to change down one step and release it.
  • Press the gear selector to the side to its end position at D to return to the D position.
P5P6-1917-8G-Gear shift mode M in driver display
Overview of the shift pattern in the driver display for small gear lever.

In M position, it is possible to change gear manually. The car engine-brakes when the accelerator pedal is released.

Position M is selected by moving the gear selector backwards from the D position.

  • Press the gear selector to the right to "+" (plus) to change up one step and release it.
  • Press the gear selector to the left to "–" (minus) to change down one step and release it.
  • Press the gear selector backwards to return to the D position.

The gearbox automatically shifts down if the speed decreases to a level lower than appropriate for the selected gear, in order to avoid jerking and stalling.

  1. 1 Applies to cars with the small gear lever.