No, you don't need to shift to N gear when using AUTOHOLD. AUTOHOLD is equivalent to an automatic handbrake. When you press the brake, the electronic handbrake will automatically engage. Combined with the auto start-stop function, since the brake is fully pressed, both AUTOHOLD and auto start-stop work simultaneously, the engine is in a shutdown state, and there's no need to consider gear shifting. It's important to note that the purpose of using the AUTOHOLD function is for convenience, such as when waiting at a red light. There's no need to change gears in such situations. However, when parked for an extended period, you should not keep the car in D gear. How the AUTOHOLD button works: AUTOHOLD is an extension function of the ESP system, controlled by the ESP components. When the vehicle is temporarily stopped and needs to restart shortly, the parking is handled by the ESP-controlled brakes. The computer uses a series of sensors to measure the vehicle's level and wheel torque, determining the tendency of the vehicle to move and applying an appropriate braking force to keep the vehicle stationary. This braking force is just enough to prevent the vehicle from moving, ensuring that when you press the accelerator again to move forward, there won't be a severe lurch. If the temporary parking exceeds a certain time limit, the braking system switches to mechanical rear-wheel parking, replacing the previous four-wheel hydraulic braking. When the vehicle is about to move forward, the electronic system detects the pressure on the accelerator pedal and, for manual transmission models, the clutch pedal's travel to determine whether to release the brake.
