What are P, R, D, and S gears?

[OMaya]

P, R, D, and S gears are: P gear is the parking gear; R gear is the reverse gear; D gear is the drive gear; S gear is the sport mode. The driving method for an automatic transmission car is: 1. After the driver sits in the driver's seat, press the start button directly; 2. Press the brake and press the start button to ignite and start; 3. Release the foot brake and warm up the car in place; 4. Press the brake again and shift to D gear; 5. Release the handbrake and slowly release the foot brake to start. Precautions for driving an automatic transmission car are: 1. Do not shift into P gear while driving; 2. After driving, you must turn off the engine and shift into P gear to remove the key; 3. Do not shift into N gear to coast while driving; 4. Start the vehicle in P or N gear, remove the gear lever from P gear while pressing the brake, turn on the power while pressing the brake, shift to N gear, and after ignition, shift to D gear to move forward directly.

[DelIan]

I remember when I first started driving, I also couldn't figure out the differences between these gears. It took me seven or eight years of driving to fully understand them. The P gear is for parking, especially on slopes where you must engage it to mechanically lock the transmission. The R gear is exclusively for reversing, and the reversing camera activates with this gear. The D gear is the most commonly used; just shift to D for daily commutes, and the transmission will automatically shift gears, saving fuel and hassle. I absolutely love the S gear's sport mode—it's perfect for highway driving or overtaking on mountain roads, as it keeps the engine RPM higher for instant power. However, be careful never to shift into P or R while driving, as the transmission will make loud noises, and repairs aren't cheap. For red lights lasting over 30 seconds, I recommend shifting to N gear and using the handbrake—it's much more comfortable than keeping your foot on the brake.

[DeJulian]

Last time when teaching my friend to practice driving, I focused on gear operations as beginners often get confused. The P gear, also known as the parking gear, must be engaged before turning off the engine after parking, otherwise you might not be able to shift gears next time you start. Don't mix up the direction of the R gear (reverse); when reversing, slowly release the brake while keeping your foot on it. The D gear is the soul of automatic transmission, handling 99% of daily driving - just lightly press the accelerator to go without worrying about shifting. Don't be intimidated by the name of the S gear; it's essentially a delayed shifting function that provides extra power when you need to accelerate for overtaking. I also reminded her not to use P gear at traffic lights - if rear-ended, the transmission could be ruined; just use N gear for short stops. These gears become very natural with practice, but the key is to always remember to engage P gear when parking.

[VanMiguel]

There are several letters on my car's gear shift: P/R/D/S. Simply put, P stands for Park, which locks the transmission to prevent the car from rolling; R is for Reverse, used when backing up; D is Drive, the gear for everyday driving; and S represents Sport mode. For daily commuting, I mostly use D gear, as the transmission automatically selects the appropriate gear. On weekends when driving on mountain roads, I switch to S gear, where I can clearly feel the delayed shift timing—gears only shift up near the redline, making acceleration out of corners particularly exhilarating. The P gear should be used in conjunction with the electronic parking brake—first engage the handbrake before shifting to P to better protect the transmission. For red lights lasting over 20 seconds, I usually shift to N gear to reduce wear on the torque converter. Avoid forcing the gear shift while driving, especially into R or P gears, as this can damage the gears and lead to costly repair bills.