Honda 2007 Civic Hatchback Owner's Manual page 336

When you accelerate from a stop,
the transmission starts in the first
gear, and you must manually upshift
between first and sixth gears.
Downshifting also gives you more
power when climbing. Make sure
you upshift before the engine speed
reaches the tachometer's red zone.
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes from
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Before down shifting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer's red zone in
the lower gear.
Do not drive in the higher gears
when the vehicle speed is low.
i-SHIFT (Automated Manual Transmission)
The transmission downshifts to the
first gear when the vehicle comes to
a complete stop. Also it downshifts
automatically to the first gear when
the vehicle speed reaches about 5
km/h (3 mph) or less.
Rapid acceleration or
deceleration can cause loss
of control on slippery
surfaces, and you can be
injured in a crash.
Use extra care when driving
on slippery surfaces.
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you the best
fuel economy and effective
emissions control.
Maximum Allowable Speeds
The speeds in this table are the
maximum allowable speeds in each
gear. If you exceed the maximum
speed for the gear you are in, the
engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this occurs,
you may feel the engine cut in and
out. This is caused by a limiter in the
engine's computer controls. The
engine will run normally when you
reduce the rpm below the red zone.
Even though your vehicle's gear
operation is controlled electronically,
make sure the vehicle will not
exceed the maximum allowable
speed specified in the table before
downshifting.
CONTINUED
333
Driving