How to use the plus and minus gears next to the D gear?

[McFaith]

D gear is the drive gear. In this mode, it covers all forward gears of the transmission. The plus and minus signs next to the D gear in an automatic transmission indicate the manual mode of a semi-automatic transmission. Pushing towards the '+' sign increases one gear, while pushing towards the '-' sign decreases one gear. The specific steps for operation are as follows: 1. Press the brake pedal and push the start button. 2. The dashboard lights up, and the vehicle starts. 3. Place the automatic gear lever in the -D+ position to enter manual mode. 4. Push the gear lever forward once to increase one gear. 5. Push the gear lever backward once to decrease one gear.

[DeWilliam]

In recent years, I've noticed more and more cars with plus/minus signs next to the D gear—it's basically a manual mode! While driving, you can switch to it by simply flicking the gear lever sideways from D. When going uphill and wanting to maintain power, just pull back on the minus sign to downshift, and the RPM will immediately shoot up, giving you a strong boost. On long descents, to prevent brake overheating, proactively downshift to use engine braking. When overtaking, dropping a gear doubles the kick-in-the-back sensation. The most practical use is starting on snowy roads—manually selecting 2nd gear prevents wheel spin. Remember, you don’t need to press the brake to operate it, and the dashboard will display the current gear number. After using manual mode, just flick back to D—it’s super foolproof. Once, while driving on a mountain road with continuous curves, I relied on manual downshifting to stabilize my speed, which was way more controlled than just using the brakes.

[McMason]

When I first got the car, I didn't understand what the plus and minus signs on the gear shift were for. It wasn't until I read the manual that I figured it out. Normally, I just leave it in D (Drive) mode, but when I need precise speed control, I flick it to the right. At this point, the transmission stops shifting automatically. To upshift, push forward on the plus sign; to downshift, pull back on the minus sign. It feels similar to driving a manual but without needing to press the clutch. I rarely use it in city traffic jams, but it's especially satisfying when overtaking on the highway by dropping a gear. If the car suddenly skids while crossing a bridge in the rain, manually downshifting is safer than slamming the brakes. After each operation, the gear lever automatically returns to position, which is a thoughtful design.

[SanValerie]

My paddle-shift steering wheel car also has a manual mode. Shift the gear lever from D to M, then pull the '+' to upshift and the '-' to downshift each time. The key is mastering the shift timing: upshifting around 2,000 rpm ensures smoothness, while waiting until 4,000 rpm delivers more power. Downshift before entering a corner to have enough power exiting it. Once in a tunnel, the car ahead braked suddenly; I downshifted two gears while braking and successfully avoided a collision. The manufacturer said not to worry about lugging the engine—it has automatic protection for both excessively high and low RPMs. Tests showed that even shifting into 1st gear at 60 km/h won’t harm the car.

[VanessaFitz]

The most fuel-efficient way to drive in manual mode: maintaining a steady speed of 60 km/h in 6th gear at just 1,500 rpm. On highways, manually lock the highest gear to avoid frequent shifting. Automatic transmissions always lag during sudden acceleration, while manual mode allows instant power by downshifting two gears. On weekend mountain drives, using manual mode throughout makes engine roar especially thrilling when accelerating out of corners. Pay attention to the gear indicator on the dashboard—it will automatically upshift if you forget. Once in a traffic jam on a slope, using 1st gear to follow cars eliminated the need for braking.

[LeRosalie]

Teaching beginners to use manual shifting is simple: In D mode, push the gear lever to the right until the gear number appears on the dashboard. Upshifting is like swiping up on a phone, while downshifting is like pulling down. Starting in 2nd gear is especially effective for preventing skidding in snowy conditions. Use 3rd gear on long descents to protect the brake pads. The key is that it won't cause damage - the transmission will automatically correct if you select the wrong gear. Last week, I took my family to the highlands and used manual mode to control speed on winding mountain roads. Everyone said it felt much more stable than automatic mode. Remember to switch back to D mode on flat roads for ease of use.