Kia Sorento: Transmission ranges

The digital indicator on the instrument cluster clearly shows the active gear shift lever position whenever the ENGINE START/STOP button is switched to the ON position.

P (Park)

Always bring your Kia Sorento to a complete, unmoving stop before attempting to shift the gear into P (Park). This mechanical position firmly locks the transmission output shaft, preventing the drive wheels from rotating.

NOTE

• Engaging the P (Park) position while your Kia Sorento is still rolling or in motion will force the parking pawl to lock violently against the gear teeth, risking catastrophic transmission damage and an immediate loss of vehicle control.

• Never substitute the transmission's Park position for the mechanical parking brake. Always make certain the gear lever is set to Park and the parking brake is fully engaged every time you park.

• Never leave children unattended inside your vehicle, as inadvertent contact with controls could shift gears.

NOTE

Shifting the gear to P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion may damage the transmission.

R (Reverse)

Select the R (Reverse) position on your Kia Sorento only when you intend to back the vehicle up.

NOTE

Always bring your Kia Sorento to a complete stop before shifting into or out of R (Reverse). Shifting into reverse while moving forward can severely damage internal transmission components, except when executing the specific maneuvers outlined in the rocking your vehicle section.

N (Neutral)

When the transmission is in N (Neutral), the engine and drive wheels are disengaged. Your Kia Sorento is free to roll with gravity, even on a negligible slope, unless you maintain pressure on the service brake or set the parking brake.

CAUTION

Never drive or coast down a hill with the transmission shift lever in N (Neutral). Engine braking assistance is completely inactive in Neutral, which can lead to runaway vehicle acceleration and a dangerous accident.

WARNING

• Always park your Kia Sorento with the gear selector securely in P (Park) and apply the parking brake firmly. Leaving the transmission in N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle to roll away unexpectedly, resulting in severe property damage or personal injury.

• Once you press the ENGINE START/STOP button to switch the ignition OFF, you will no longer be able to electronically release or engage the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) normally.

• If you utilize the AUTO HOLD feature while driving a model equipped with an Electronic Parking Brake, turning the ignition OFF via the ENGINE START/STOP button will automatically clamp the parking brake shut. Always deactivate the Auto Hold function prior to powering down the vehicle.

D (Drive)

D (Drive) is the primary operating range for all normal forward travel. Your Kia Sorento automatically cycles through its multi-speed gear sequence to optimize fuel efficiency and engine power delivery in real time.

For rapid acceleration when overtaking slower traffic or ascending a steep mountain grade, press the accelerator pedal all the way down to the floor kick-down switch. The transmission will instantly drop down to the lowest appropriate gear ratio for maximum pulling power.

NOTE

Always come to a complete stop before shifting the gear into D (Drive).

Manual mode

Engage manual shift mode at any time by pushing the gear selector sideways from the standard D (Drive) lane into the manual gate channel. To return to fully automatic operation, simply push the lever back into the primary D gate.

While operating in manual mode, nudging the gear selector forward or backward lets you command sequential gear changes instantly. Unlike a traditional manual stick shift with a clutch pedal, this system permits active gear selection while keeping your foot on the accelerator.

• Up (+): Push the shift lever forward once to command an upward gear change.

• Down (-): Pull the shift lever backward once to command a downward gear change.

TIP

• Select higher gears progressively as vehicle speed increases, ensuring engine revolutions remain safely below the redline threshold.

• Manual mode gives you command over the forward gears. To select Reverse or Park, move the lever to R or P as required by your parking situation.

• The transmission will automatically downshift sequentially as your Kia Sorento slows down, dropping smoothly into 1st gear automatically when you come to a full stop.

• If engine RPM climbs excessively close to the redline zone during manual acceleration, the powertrain control system will automatically execute an upshift to protect the engine.

• To preserve long-term mechanical reliability and vehicle stability, the transmission computer may reject manual shift commands that fall outside safe operating parameters.

• When navigating slick, snow-covered, or icy roads, push the gear lever forward into the Up (+) position to pull away in 2nd gear, which reduces wheelspin and provides smoother traction in your Kia Sorento. Pull backward into the Down (-) position whenever you need to drop back down to 1st gear.

Instrument cluster display for warning message

The instrument cluster in your Kia Sorento is designed to provide clear, real-time feedback by displaying important transmission-related warning messages whenever specific operating thresholds ar...

Paddle shifter: (if equipped). Shift lock system. Shift-lock override

Paddle shifter: (if equipped) The steering-wheel-mounted paddle shift function is fully accessible whenever your Kia Sorento gear selector is positioned in either the standard D (Drive) mode or m...