Dual clutch transmission operation

The dual clutch transmission has 8 forward speeds and 1 reverse speed.

The individual speeds are selected automatically when the gear is in D (Drive).

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:

  • Always check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for people, especially children, before shifting the gear to D (Drive) or R (Reverse).

  • Before you leave the driver’s seat, always make sure to shift the gear to P (Park), fully apply the parking brake, and press the ENGINE START/STOP button in the LOCK/OFF position. The vehicle may move suddenly and unexpectedly if you do not take these precautions.

  • In Manual shift mode, use caution when shifting from a higher gear to a lower gear on slippery roads. This could cause the tires to slip, which may result in an accident.

  • To avoid damaging your transmission, do not try to accelerate with the gear shift lever in R (Reverse) or any forward gear position while the brake is engaged.

  • When stopped on an incline, do not use engine power to keep your vehicle stationary. Use the service brake or the parking brake.

The Dual clutch transmission feels like driving with a manual transmission with the ease of a fully automatic transmission. Unlike a traditional automatic transmission, you can feel and hear the gear shifting with a dual clutch transmission.

  • Shift into D (Drive) range for fully automatic gear shifting, similar to a conventional automatic transmission.

  • Dual clutch transmission uses wet type dual clutch, which is different from the torque converter of automatic transmissions and has better acceleration performance when you drive. However, the initial launch may be a bit slower than an automatic transmission.

  • When you rapidly accelerate from a low speed, the engine could rev to a high rpm depending on the driving conditions.

  • For a smooth climb uphill, engage the accelerator pedal smoothly.

  • If you release the accelerator pedal while driving at a low speed, you may feel a strong engine brake, which is similar to a manual transmission.

  • When driving downhill, use SPORT mode to shift down to a lower gear to control your speed without engaging the brake pedal excessively.

  • When turning the engine ON and OFF, you may hear clicking sounds as the system goes through a self-test. These are normal sounds for the Dual clutch transmission.

  • Always come to a complete stop before shifting the gear to D (Drive) or R (Reverse).

  • Do not put the gear shift lever in N (Neutral) while driving.

TIP

If there is a transmission failure, the position indicator (D, R) blinks on the instrument cluster, and your vehicle may not move. If this happens, have the system inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.