Usage of the S Gear in Volkswagen Vehicles?
2 Answers
S stands for Sport mode, which is suitable for racing or rapid acceleration. In S gear, the transmission automatically shifts up and down within a higher engine RPM range compared to D gear, fully utilizing the engine's power. The shift points depend on engine load, the driver's driving style, and vehicle speed. Here are some related introductions about the use of the S gear in Volkswagen vehicles: 1. Generally, you can shift into S gear when overtaking to enhance acceleration. Engaging S gear can increase the engine load in a short time. However, S gear only delays upshifting without changing other operational aspects, which inevitably increases the transmission load and temperature in the short term, leading to accelerated wear. Therefore, try not to use S gear for extended periods. 2. In terms of fuel consumption, because the fuel injection volume increases at high RPMs, the fuel consumption in S mode is also higher than in normal mode. During vehicle start-up, high-speed cruising, and coasting, avoid shifting into S gear. Even if you do, it won't provide good results and will only increase fuel consumption. 3. Using S gear also has benefits for the vehicle. Cars that frequently drive in congested urban areas tend to accumulate more carbon deposits in the engine. Therefore, using S gear appropriately at regular intervals helps remove carbon deposits from the engine, improving fuel economy and extending engine life.
I remember the first time I drove my friend's Volkswagen in S mode, the most noticeable feeling was the throttle becoming much more responsive. In S mode, the car delays upshifting, keeping the engine RPM higher, so when you step on the gas to overtake, the immediate push-back sensation kicks in right away. Once on a mountain road with continuous curves, I used S mode the whole time—it felt incredibly connected to my inputs, and accelerating out of bends was especially crisp. However, for daily city commuting, I still prefer D mode, as S mode does consume more fuel, and the engine noise gets noticeably louder at high RPMs in lower gears. On long downhill slopes, I’ve tried using S mode—the transmission automatically downshifts to utilize engine braking, which feels more reassuring than constantly riding the brakes.
