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). Then slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. Shift into 1 (First) when you are going less than 25 mph (40 km/h). For CTS-V, shift into 1 (First) when you are going less than 40 mph (64 km/h). If you come to a complete stop and it is hard to shift into 1 (First), put the shift lever in Neutral and let up on the clutch. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into 1 (First).

2 (Second): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into 2 (Second). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.

3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth) and 6 (Sixth): Shift into 3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth) and 6 (Sixth) the same way you do for 2 (Second). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. 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 you from easily shifting into R (Reverse) using normal shifting force while the vehicle is moving at more than 3 mph (5 km/h), or when the ignition is in LOCK/OFF.

Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)

Caution: If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could lose control of the vehicle. You could injure yourself or others. Do not shift down more than one gear at a time when you downshift.

Notice: If you skip more than one gear when you downshift, or if you race the engine when you release the clutch pedal while downshifting, you could damage the engine, clutch, driveshaft or the transmission. Do not skip gears or race the engine when downshifting.

If the vehicle speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for good performance.

Up-Shift Light

CTS vehicles with a manual transmission have an economy up-shift light on the instrument panel. This light shows when to shift to the next higher gear for the best fuel economy.

When this light comes on, you can shift to the next higher gear if weather, road, and traffic conditions allow. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift when the light comes on.

While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on and off if you quickly change the position of the accelerator. Ignore the light when you downshift.

CTS-V vehicles use tracer lights around the outside of the tachometer as a performance up-shift light. These tracers flash to indicate when to shift to the next higher gear to avoid the engine speed limit. See Tachometer for more information.

Skip Shift (CTS-V)

Under light acceleration, the transmission will only allow you to shift from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth). Shifts from 1 (First) to 2 (Second) or 3 (Third) are not allowed. This helps improve fuel mileage.

Under harder acceleration, Skip Shift is disabled, and the driver has all gears available.