2014 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - Page 231

Driving and Operating 9-23 Manual Mode To use this feature: 1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) rearward to M (Manual Mode). While driving in manual mode, the transmission will remain in the driver selected gear. When coming to a stop in the manual position, the vehicle will automatically shift into 1 (First) gear. 2. Press the + (plus) end of the button on the side of the shift lever to upshift, or press the − (minus) end of the button to downshift. The Driver Information Center (DIC) in the instrument cluster will change from the currently displayed message to the letter "M," for Manual position, and a number indicating the requested gear. While using manual mode, the transmission will have firmer shifting and sportier performance. You can use this for sport driving or when climbing hills to stay in gear longer or to downshift for more power or engine braking. The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine revolutions per minute (rpm): . The transmission will not automatically shift to the next higher gear if the vehicle speed or engine rpm is too low. The transmission will not allow shifting to the next lower gear if the vehicle speed or engine rpm is too high. .