How to Use the + and - in D Gear?
3 Answers
D gear "+" and "-" symbols are unique to manual-automatic transmission models, representing upshift or downshift. The manual-automatic transmission is a type of automatic transmission that essentially adds the function of manual gear shifting. "+" means increasing one gear. On flat roads, you should always stay in D gear, as the automatic transmission will switch between the four forward gears on its own, without the need for manual intervention. The usage scenarios for the + and - in D gear are as follows: When overtaking: In D gear, pressing the accelerator hard can only sequentially upshift, and the vehicle speed cannot increase rapidly. However, with A/MT, the situation is different. When accelerating to overtake, you don't need to press the brake; simply shift the gear lever into manual mode and press the accelerator hard, and the vehicle speed will increase rapidly, allowing you to accelerate and overtake. High-speed driving: During high-speed driving, using manual mode is also acceptable because it not only speeds up particularly quickly but also, when decelerating, downshifting can fully utilize the powerful braking force generated by the engine and the brakes, achieving the goal of rapid deceleration. Coasting downhill: When encountering mountain roads or downhill paths, if you keep the car in D gear and press the brakes for a long time, it will cause metal thermal fatigue in the brake pads and discs, increasing braking distance and reducing braking performance. At this time, you can use the + and - gears to adjust to a lower gear for more robust power output, relying on the engine's auxiliary braking to complete the long downhill process.
When I first got my driver's license, I was completely baffled by the + and - symbols next to the D gear. A friend told me it's the manual shift function. When you put the gear lever in D, you can give it a gentle push—pushing towards the + direction upshifts, causing the engine RPM to drop and making the ride feel smoother; pushing towards the - direction downshifts, increasing engine RPM for more power when climbing hills. I often use it to downshift (-) on uphill drives, especially on suburban mountain roads, to keep the engine from straining; on downhill slopes, downshifting helps with engine braking, reducing brake wear—just don’t push too aggressively. Once during a rainy day on a sharp turn, I downshifted too quickly, causing the car to lurch and nearly lose control, but I let go in time. In daily driving, this feature offers more control flexibility, like downshifting for quicker acceleration when overtaking on highways, but avoid overusing it to prevent extra fuel consumption or engine wear. In short, practice gradually and get familiar with how your car responds.
Having driven for over a decade, I'm very familiar with the + and - in D mode. It's essentially a manual mode operated while in D: pushing the gear lever towards + upshifts for smoother power delivery, while pushing - downshifts to increase RPM and boost power output. I frequently use it on long descents—downshifting assists braking to prevent overheating, or preemptively downshifting before steep climbs to maintain torque effortlessly. For instance, during my recent mountain trip with 20km of continuous descent, this feature kept my brake pads like new. Some cars even have paddle shifters on the steering wheel for fingertip convenience. Key tip: avoid aggressive downshifts at high speeds—keep RPM below 4,000 to prevent engine strain. On slippery roads, shift gently to avoid skidding. Long-term use can save fuel too; in city traffic, I often start in lower gears for smoother acceleration.
