Is it necessary to shift to N gear with automatic hold?
4 Answers
With automatic hold, there is no need to shift to N gear. Automatic hold is an automatic braking function. Once activated, when waiting at traffic lights, there is no need to pull the handbrake or electronic handbrake, and naturally, there is no need to change gears, simplifying the operation. You can stay in D gear all the time. When waiting at a traffic light, after the car comes to a complete stop and the indicator light on the dashboard lights up, it means the automatic braking action is completed, and you can release your right foot from the brake pedal. When the green light turns on, pressing the accelerator pedal will cancel the automatic hold function, but there might be a slight jerk. The hold function is very convenient and greatly simplifies operation in urban traffic conditions, but there might be a slight lurch when starting to accelerate, so it's advisable to maintain enough distance from the car in front. For novice drivers, it's better to shift to N gear and get used to the new car for a while before using this function to avoid traffic accidents.
I've just researched this issue! Auto Hold and shifting to Neutral are actually two different things. Having driven a car with Auto Hold for three years, I rarely need to touch the gear lever at red lights—once Auto Hold is activated, the car automatically locks the brakes when stopped, and it won't roll even if you take your foot off the pedal. However, in cases of traffic jams lasting over half an hour, I shift to Neutral to give the transmission a rest. A mechanic once told me that although the transmission remains in Drive during Auto Hold, the torque converter can handle most of the load. Still, keeping the brake pressed for a long time can cause slight vibrations in the drivetrain, so shifting to Neutral feels more reassuring. For short stops at traffic lights, there's really no need to overcomplicate things.
Last week, I encountered this issue while accompanying a friend on a test drive. When the auto hold is activated, a green P icon lights up on the dashboard, indicating that the wheels are locked by the electronic system, which is similar to pulling the handbrake. The key point is: the transmission is actually still in D gear! I specifically checked the manufacturer's manual, which recommends maintaining D gear for temporary stops, and only shifting to N gear for prolonged stops exceeding five minutes. Many new cars now also come with auto start-stop systems, where the engine shuts off, making it even less necessary to shift gears. However, it's important to note that when parking on a slope, it's best to engage the electronic handbrake first before shifting to P gear to protect the transmission gears.
As a seasoned driver sharing experience: The auto-hold function mainly replaces the foot brake, essentially holding the brake for you. But the transmission gears are still engaged in D gear! For regular red lights, there's no need to worry about the gear position. If you really need to stay stationary for over half an hour (like at a railway crossing), shifting to N gear can reduce the transmission oil temperature. Someone in my car club did a test: holding the brake in D gear for an hour raised the transmission oil temperature to 110°C, while shifting to N gear lowered it by about 15°C. However, for daily commutes and waiting at traffic lights, there's no need to bother – frequent gear shifting actually wears out the shifting mechanism. The best thing about auto-hold is hill starts; it absolutely prevents rollback.
