1996 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 111

Automatic Transmission (CVT) Reverse (R) - To shift from Reverse to Park, see the explanation under Park. To shift to Reverse from Neutral, come to a complete stop first. Press the release button before shifting into Reverse from Neutral. Neutral (N) - Use Neutral if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop briefly with the engine idling. Always shift to Park position if you need to leave the car for any reason. Press on the brake pedal when you are moving the shift lever from Neutral to another position. Drive (D) - Use this position for your normal driving. The transmission automatically adjusts to keep the engine at the best speed for driving conditions. To help the engine warm up faster, the transmission will select ratios that allow the engine to run at higher speeds when it is cold. Sports Mode (S) - Selecting Sports Mode shifts the transmission into a lower range of ratios for better acceleration and increased engine braking. Use Sports Mode when you are going down a steep hill. Low (L) - To shift to Low, press the release button on the side of the shift lever. Use Low to get more power when climbing, and for maximum engine braking when going down steep hills. For faster acceleration the transmission will automatically "kick down" to a lower range of ratios when you press the accelerator pedal to the floor. Driving