Transmission drive mode user selection systems and methods

1. A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having a transmission defining a plurality of operating modes to propel the vehicle; and

a controller programmed to respond to user input at a steering wheel first switch by causing the transmission to shift into a drive mode from a non-drive mode when a brake is applied and by entering a manual gear shift mode when the vehicle is rolling at a speed greater than a threshold.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to shift into a park mode in response to a single user input at a steering wheel second switch while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is not rolling.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to shift into a reverse mode in response to a double user input at a steering wheel second switch while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is not rolling.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to shift into a reverse mode in response to a steering wheel second switch being held for longer than a time threshold while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is not rolling.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to shift into a reverse mode in response to an input at a steering wheel second switch while the transmission is in a park mode and the brake is applied.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to shift into a neutral mode in response to an input at a steering wheel second switch while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is rolling without application of the brake.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having a transmission; and

a controller programmed to respond to user input at a steering wheel second switch while the vehicle is stationary in a drive mode by causing the transmission to shift into a reverse mode if the switch is held for longer than a threshold and causing the transmission to shift into a park mode otherwise.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to shift into the reverse mode in response to an input at the steering wheel second switch while the transmission is in the park mode and a brake is applied.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the controller is further programmed to cause the transmission to enter a manual gear shift mode in response to a user input at a steering wheel first switch while the vehicle is rolling at a speed greater than a threshold speed such that a user can selectively upshift and downshift a gear ratio of the transmission.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to a user input at a steering wheel third switch while the transmission is in the manual gear shift mode, cause the transmission to downshift to a lower gear ratio, the controller being further programmed to, in response to a user input at a steering wheel fourth switch while the transmission is in the manual gear shift mode, cause the transmission to upshift to a higher gear ratio.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having a transmission defining a plurality of operating modes to propel the vehicle; and

a controller programmed to,

while the transmission is in a park mode and a user applies a brake, (i) cause the transmission to shift into a drive mode in response to a user input at a steering wheel first switch, and (ii) cause the transmission to shift into a reverse mode in response to a user input at a steering wheel second switch, and

while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is not rolling, cause the transmission to shift into the reverse mode in response to the steering wheel second switch being held for longer than a time threshold.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the controller is further programmed to, while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is rolling without a user application of the brake, cause the transmission to shift into a neutral mode in response to a user input at the steering wheel second switch.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the controller is further programmed to, while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is not rolling and a user applies the brake, cause the transmission to shift into the park mode in response to a user input at the steering wheel second switch.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the controller is further programmed to, while the transmission is in the drive mode and the vehicle is rolling at a speed greater than a threshold, cause the vehicle to enter a manual gear shift mode in response to a user input at the steering wheel first switch.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to a user input at a steering wheel third switch while the transmission is in the manual gear shift mode, cause the transmission to downshift to a lower gear ratio, the controller being further programmed to, in response to a user input at a steering wheel fourth switch while the transmission is in the manual gear shift mode, cause the transmission to upshift to a higher gear ratio.