If the vehicle has a manual transmission, the shift lever is located on the center console between the front seats.

The following explains how to operate the manual transmission.

CTS

CTS-V

1 (First): Press the clutch pedal and shift into 1 (First). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal while pressing on the accelerator pedal.

Shift into 1 (First) when you are going less than 40 km/h (25 mph).

For CTS-V, shift into 1 (First) when you are going less than 64 km/h (40 mph). After a complete stop, if it is hard to shift into 1 (First), let up on the clutch pedal, then press it back down and shift into 1 (First).

2 (Second): Press the clutch pedal and let up on the accelerator pedal, then shift into 2 (Second). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal while accelerating.

3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth), and 6 (Sixth): Shift into 3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth), and 6 (Sixth) the same for 2 (Second).

To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake pedal.

Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to Neutral.

Neutral: Use this position when you start or idle your engine.

Your shift lever is in Neutral when it is centered in the shift pattern, not in any gear.

R (Reverse): To back up, press down the clutch pedal, completely stop the vehicle, and shift into R (Reverse). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.

The CTS-V transmission prevents easily shifting into R (Reverse) using normal shifting force while the vehicle is moving at more than 5 km/h (3mph), or when the ignition is in LOCK/OFF.

• Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)
• Up-Shift Light
• Skip Shift (CTS–V)