How to Use the +/- in D Gear?

[DiJoy]

Manual-automatic transmission is a type of automatic transmission that essentially adds the function of manual gear shifting. The '+' sign indicates shifting up one gear. Parking gear, starting gear. When the vehicle is parked and not in use, the gear is in this position, at which point the wheels are mechanically locked to prevent rolling. Reverse gear. Used when reversing. Neutral gear. Used when temporarily stopping the vehicle. Note that this gear position indicates neutral, and to prevent the vehicle from rolling on a slope, the brake must be engaged.

[DiAyla]

I just used this feature to deal with traffic congestion the other day. The plus and minus signs next to the D gear are actually the manual mode. When stuck in traffic, push the minus gear forward, and the transmission will lock in a lower gear, preventing the car from jerking when you release the throttle while following other vehicles. Last month, it was even more useful on mountain roads—during long downhill sections, I kept pushing the minus gear to drop to 2nd gear, using engine braking to control speed, and the brake discs didn’t even smoke. Remember, if the RPM exceeds the redline, it will automatically upshift to protect the engine, so even beginners don’t have to worry about mistakes. Want to switch back to automatic mode? Just pull it back to D gear—much more convenient than paddle shifters, and you can even operate it with barbecue sauce on your hands.

[LaBryce]

Anyone who has driven on mountain roads knows how life-saving this feature is. That time when I was driving my friend's SUV downhill, I pushed the downshift button three times in a row, and the dashboard showed M3 gear. The engine roared, slowing down the car, and I didn't touch the brakes the entire way. On the return trip climbing a steep slope, I pushed the minus button to maintain 2nd gear, keeping the RPM steady at 3000, and the car felt particularly powerful. When overtaking, quickly pressing the minus button twice in a row allowed for a smooth downshift and acceleration. Just be careful not to stay in a low gear with high RPM on flat roads for too long—when the dashboard flashes a yellow warning, it's time to upshift. After all, it's not a manual transmission; the system will automatically take over if it detects dangerous RPM levels.

[MacJoy]

I always use this function when dropping off and picking up the kids from school. Remember that steep slope at the school gate? I shift to M1 gear in advance and let the car roll down slowly, which is much more stable than braking. Once, the rear wheels slipped after a snowfall, and I immediately downshifted to use the engine's traction to get out of trouble. When queuing to pay at the supermarket basement, I shift to M2 gear to avoid the jerky feeling of frequent gear changes in automatic mode. The best part is that you don't need to remember the gear positions like with paddle shifters—the dashboard numbers turn red to remind you to upshift, which is especially friendly for middle-aged drivers. Remember, you can switch gears anytime while driving in D mode, and you can even free up your hands to take care of a child who suddenly feels sick.