Gear positions for automatic gearbox

Updated 06/08/2023

With an automatic gearbox, the system chooses the gear so that driving is optimal. The gearbox also has a manual gearshift mode.

P5-1519-XC90-Hybrid gear shifter with gear shift modes

The driver display shows the gear position selected:

P, R, N, D or B.

During manual gear changing, the gear being used is also shown (1-8).

Changing gear

The gear selector is the shift-by-wire-type where shifting is performed electronically instead of mechanically. This means simpler shifting and more distinct gear positions.

Change gear position by pressing the spring-loaded gear selector forwards or backwards.

Gear positions

Park position - P

The park position is activated via the P button next to the gear selector.

Select the P position when the car is parked or when starting the engine. The car must be stationary when the park position is selected.

To select another gear position when the park position is selected, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition position must be II.

To park - first apply the parking bake and then select park position.

Warning

Always use the parking brake when parking on an inclined surface. Engaging a gear or the automatic transmission's P position is not sufficient to hold the car stationary in all situations.

Note

The gear selector must be in P position to allow the car to be locked and alarmed.

Help functions

The system will change to P position automatically:

if the car is switched off in position D or R.
if the driver unfastens the seatbelt and opens the driver's door when the car is running with the gear selector in a position other than P.

To park a car without wearing the seatbelt and with the door open - exit the P position by selecting R or D again.

Reverse position - R

Select position R to reverse. The car must be stationary when reverse position is selected.

Neutral position - N

No gear is engaged and the engine can be started. Apply the parking brake if the car is stationary with the gear selector in N position.

To be able to change from the neutral position to another gear position, the brake pedal must be depressed and the ignition position must be II.

Drive position - D

D is the normal driving position. Shifting up and down takes place automatically based on the level of acceleration and speed. The car must be stationary when changing gear from R position to D position.

Brake position - B

B can be selected at any time while driving. In the B position the car brakes with the electric motor when the accelerator pedal is released while the hybrid battery is charging. This gives more opportunities for recharging the hybrid battery, since charging also takes place without the driver using the brake pedal.

P5-1519-XC90 Hybrid gear shift B-mode in DIM — B-position in the driver display.

From the B position it is possible to change gear manually to lower gears. The driver display shows which gear (1 - 8) is being used.

Press the gear selector backwards once to change down to the next lower gear.
Press the gear selector backwards once more to change down further.

To be able to change manually to a higher gear requires that the car is equipped with steering wheel paddles*.

Press the gear selector forwards to return to the D position.

The gearbox automatically shifts down if the speed decreases to a level lower than appropriate for the selected gear, in order to avoid jerking and stalling.