Gear positions for automatic gearbox

Updated 04/03/2021

With an automatic gearbox, an appropriate gear is selected automatically depending on the need for speed and power.

Changing gear

The gear selector is the shift-by-wire-type where shifting is performed electronically instead of mechanically. This means simpler shifting and more distinct gear positions.

P6-1917-XC40-Crystal gear shifter + gear selector — Overview of gear lever and gear positions.

Change gear position by pressing the spring-loaded gear selector forwards or backwards, or sideways for manual shifting.

Gear positions

Park position - P

The park position is activated via the P button next to the gear selector.

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 park position is selected.

To select another gear position when the park position is selected, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition position must be II. Some gearbox variants require the engine to be running.

To park - first apply the parking bake and then select park 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 functions

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 neutral position, there is no automatic change-over to P position. This is to allow you to wash the car in the type of car wash that requires the car to be rolled through the facility.

Reverse position - R

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

Neutral position - N

No gear is engaged and the engine can be started. Apply the parking brake if the car is stationary with the gear selector in N position.

To be able to move the gear selector from the N position to another gear position, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition position must be II. Some gearbox variants require the engine to be running.

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 gearshift mode - M

P5P6-1917-8G-Gear shift mode M in driver display — Overview of manual gear position in the driver display.

The manual gearshift mode can be selected at any time while driving. The car engine-brakes when the accelerator pedal is released.

Select manual gear position by moving the gear selector backwards from the D position. The driver display shows which gear is being used.

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.