KIA Sportage 2008 User Manual

Page 128

Driving your vehicle

Sports mode

Whether the vehicle is stationary or
in motion, sports mode is selected by
pushing the shift lever from the “D”
position into the manual gate. To
return to “D” range operation, push
the shift lever back into the main
gate.

In sports mode, moving the shift
lever backwards and forwards will
allow you to make gearshifts rapidly.
The sports mode allows gearshifts
with the accelerator pedal
depressed.

Up (+)

: Push the lever forward

once to shift up one gear.

Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards

once to shift down one
gear.

Snow mode

When taking off from a standstill on a
slippery road, push the shift lever for-
ward into the +(up) position. This
causes the transaxle to shift into the
2nd gear which is better for smooth
driving on a slippery road.
Push the shift lever to the -(down)
side to shift back to the 1st gear.

✽ NOTICE

• Upshifts take place automatically

in sports mode. However, the dri-
ver must execute upshifts in accor-
dance with road conditions, taking
care to keep the engine speed
below the red zone because
upshifts take place at the higher
engine rpm.

• In sports mode, only the four for-

ward gears can be selected. To
reverse or park the vehicle, move
the shift lever to the “R” or “P”
position as required.

• In sports mode, downshifts are

made automatically when the
vehicle slows down. When the
vehicle stops, 1st gear is automati-
cally selected.

• In sports mode, when the engine

rpm approaches the red zone shift
points are varied to upshift auto-
matically.

1KMA3020

+ (UP)

- (DOWN)

Sports mode

CAUTION

In the sport mode, if you push
the lever to shift and no shift
occurs, the system is acting to
protect your safety and the vehi-
cle.