How to switch to S gear in Audi A3?
3 Answers
Audi A3 can be switched to S gear by pulling the gear lever to the S position. Precautions for shifting gears in automatic transmission cars: 1. Ensure the gear is in N or P position before starting the engine, and remember to press the brake pedal when starting; 2. Gear shifting should be timely, accurate, decisive, and quick, avoiding any delay; 3. Upshift after acceleration and downshift after deceleration; 4. Use D gear for driving on flat and straight roads; 5. No need to press the shift button when switching between N, D, and 3 gears. The front suspension of the Audi A3 is a MacPherson independent suspension, and the rear suspension is a multi-link independent suspension. It is equipped with a 1.4T turbocharged engine, with a maximum horsepower of 150 PS, a maximum power of 110 kW, and a maximum torque of 250 Nm. It is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
As a seasoned Audi A3 driver, I can tell you that switching to S mode is actually super easy. When you're driving with the gear lever in D position, right? Just gently pull it backward, and the dashboard will immediately display S mode. If you want to return to normal mode, pull the lever once more to switch back to D. I particularly love using this S mode when overtaking on highways or driving on mountain roads, because the transmission keeps the RPM in a higher range, making the throttle response exceptionally sharp. It does consume more fuel in city driving, but when I use it for weekend trips to the outskirts, the engine sound becomes more impressive. I remember worrying the first time I used it whether it might damage the car, but there's actually no need to worry at all—these conditions were fully considered during design. However, beginners are advised to try it first on open roads to avoid being startled by the sudden power change.
Last week, I test drove my friend's Audi A3 and specifically asked the salesperson how to use the S mode. The operation is actually very intuitive: while driving in D mode, just pull the gear lever toward yourself once, and the letter S will appear on the dashboard. The key takeaway is that you can clearly feel the car becoming much more powerful, with the tachometer needle shooting up. The salesperson explained that this is Sport mode, which delays gear shifts and is more suitable for rapid acceleration. Personally, I find it especially useful when going up or down bridges or merging onto highways from ramps—just a light tap on the accelerator quickly boosts the speed. However, it's not necessary to use it frequently during daily commutes, as it increases fuel consumption by about 20%. By the way, for models with paddle shifters, using the manual paddles will automatically switch back to D mode, so remember to pull the gear lever again to maintain S mode.
