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Reduction gear operation

Select gear positions by turning the shifter dial.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:

  • ALWAYS check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for people, especially children, before shifting a vehicle into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).

  • Before leaving the driver's seat, always make sure the gear is in the P (Park) position, then set the parking brake, and place the Power button in the OFF position. Unexpected and sudden vehicle movement can occur if these precautions are not followed.

For your safety, always depress the brake pedal while shifting to another gear.

Gear position

The indicator in the instrument cluster displays the gear position when the EV button is in the ON position.

P (Park)

Always come to a complete stop before shifting into P (Park).

To shift the gear from R (Reverse), N (Neutral) or D (Drive) to P (Park), press the [P] button.

If you turn off the vehicle in D (Drive) or R (Reverse), the gear automatically shifts to P (Park).

With the vehicle on, the gear automatically shifts to P (Park) if you open the driver's door when the gear is in N (Neutral), R (Reverse) or D (Drive) and the following conditions are met:

  • The vehicle speed is below 2 km/h (1 mph).

When the vehicle speed is greater than 2 km/h (1 mph), the gear will not shift to P (Park) when the P (Park) button is pressed.

WARNING

  • Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion may cause you to lose control of the vehicle.

  • After the vehicle has stopped, always make sure the gear is in P (Park), apply the parking brake, and turn the vehicle off.

  • Do not use the P (Park) position in place of the parking brake.

R (Reverse)

Use this position to drive the vehicle backward.

To shift to R (Reverse), turn the shifter dial to R (Reverse) position while depressing the brake pedal.

CAUTION

Shifting

Always come to a complete stop before shifting into or out of R (Reverse); you may damage the reduction gear if you shift into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is in motion, except when More Details.

N (Neutral)

To shift to N (Neutral) from P (Park), turn the shifter dial to N (Neutral) position while depressing the brake pedal.

If you turn the engine off in N (Neutral), the gear will automatically shift to P(Park).

If the Electronic Parking Brake is applied, release the Electronic Parking Brake manually while depressing the brake pedal.

If equipped with Electronic Parking Brake, it is not released automatically when you turn the shift dial to N (Neutral).

CAUTION

Do not open the driver's door when going through an automated car wash. Failure to follow this instruction can damage your vehicle or the car wash machine.

If the driver's door is opened within 3 minutes after shifting to N (Neutral), your vehicle will automatically shift the gear to P (Park).

For vehicles equipped with Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), the parking brake is automatically applied.

N (Neutral) in vehicle ON/ACC position

If you want to stay in N (Neutral) when the vehicle is the ACC or ON state, do the following.

  1. Deactivate AUTO HOLD and release the parking brake when the vehicle is in ON position.

  2. Depress the brake pedal.

  3. Turn the shift dial to N (Neutral).

  4. Take your foot off the brake pedal, and the message will appear on the instrument cluster.

  5. Press and hold the OK button on the steering wheel for more than 1 second.

    If the Electronic Parking Brake is applied, release the Electronic Parking Brake manually while depressing the brake pedal.

    If equipped with Electronic Parking Brake, it is not released automatically when you turn the shift dial to N (Neutral).

  6. Press the EV button after the message appears on the instrument cluster. The vehicle stays in N (Neutral) after turning off the vehicle.

NOTICE

However, if you open the driver's door within 3 minutes in ACC position, the gear will automatically shift to P (Park) and the vehicle will change to OFF position.

CAUTION

  • Do not open the driver's door when going through an automated car wash. Failure to follow this instruction can damage your vehicle or the car wash machine.

  • If the driver's door is opened within 3 minutes after shifting to N (Neutral), your vehicle will automatically shift the gear to P (Park).

  • For vehicles equipped with Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), the parking brake is automatically applied.

NOTICE

With the gear in N (Neutral), the vehicle will be in the ACC position. Note that the doors cannot be locked in ACC position or the battery (12V) may discharge if left in the ACC position for a long period.

D (Drive)

This is the normal driving position.

To shift to D (Drive), turn the shifter dial to D (Drive) position while depressing the brake pedal.

Shift-lock system

For your safety, your vehicle has a shift-lock system which prevents shifting the gear from P (Park) or N (Neutral) into R (Reverse) or D (Drive) unless the brake pedal is depressed.

To shift from P (Park) or N (Neutral) into R (Reverse) or D (Drive), from R (Reverse) into D (Drive) or from D (Drive) into R (Reverse):

  1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.

  2. Start the vehicle or place the EV button in the ON position.

  3. Turn the shift dial to R (Reverse) or D (Drive).

NOTICE

For your safety, you cannot shift the gear while the charging cable is connected.

When the battery (12V) is discharged

You cannot shift the gear when the battery is discharged.

Jump start your vehicle (refer to More Details) or contact an authorized Kia dealer.