At what speed is the S gear generally used optimally?

[Terrance]

S gear is generally used at speeds around 35km/h, with the optimal range not exceeding 40km/h. Below is an introduction to the S gear: 1. Do not shift into S gear at very high speeds: This may exceed the maximum RPM of the gear and damage the engine. Therefore, S gear is typically used for starting and accelerating to overtake at lower speeds. 2. S gear is the sport mode in some automatic transmission models: In S gear, the vehicle's computer allows the engine to shift at higher RPMs, providing a stronger sense of acceleration. Additionally, in some semi-automatic transmission vehicles, S gear represents the manual mode, allowing manual shifting through the transmission when placed in S gear.

[MacSamuel]

I most frequently use the S gear for highway overtaking during my daily commute. For instance, when following a car at 60-80 km/h and spotting an opportunity, stepping on the accelerator instantly drops the S gear by two, revving up to 4000 rpm, delivering immediate and strong acceleration. However, I avoid using it in heavy traffic during rush hours because at low speeds, the S gear tends to stay in lower gears, making the car prone to jerking when following traffic. On weekends, when driving on mountain roads, I downshift to around 50 km/h before a curve and switch to S gear, which keeps the transmission in 3rd gear without upshifting, making throttle response exceptionally crisp when exiting the curve. Occasionally, I also use it while cruising at 110 km/h on highways, mainly to prevent frequent gear shifts when climbing long slopes.

[OKai]

Last road trip on those winding mountain roads really made me understand S mode! It's perfect for those continuous 30-50 mph hairpin turns - manual downshifts combined with S mode keep you right in the torque sweet spot. Once when fully loaded going uphill, switching to S mode kept the RPMs pinned at 3000 without upshifting, noticeably more powerful than D mode. But gotta watch the coolant temp - after half an hour of aggressive summer driving, the radiator was roaring. Not really recommended above 60 mph on highways unless briefly passing - the engine screams at high RPMs guzzling fuel with terrible noise.

[VanKai]

A seasoned player from the modified car meet shared some down-to-earth insights: Turbocharged cars feel the most thrilling when shifting to S gear at 60-90 km/h! At this point, the transmission stays in 3rd or 4th gear, with the RPM perfectly hitting the turbo boost zone, making throttle response a half-beat faster. Naturally aspirated cars, on the other hand, perform better at lower speeds—shifting to S gear at 40 km/h and locking in 2nd gear for cornering, with the RPM just reaching the redline as you exit the turn. The key takeaway? Don’t blindly rely on S gear for highway driving. Forcing a downshift at 120 km/h is like flying a bomber—fuel consumption doubles instantly, and it puts unnecessary strain on the transmission.