What are the 3 and 2 gears in the Prado?
2 Answers
Prado's 3 and 2 gears are the sport gears of the D gear. Gear selection for different road conditions: 1. Uphill: When going uphill, greater power is needed, so you should use "D-" to downshift the vehicle to obtain high torque for climbing. Some slopes are not very steep, and using too low a gear at this time will waste power, so it is necessary to use "D+" to upshift in time. When encountering steep slopes, even after downshifting, the vehicle may still lack power. In this case, please use the S gear sport mode. 2. Downhill: You should use "D+" to shift up to 2/3 gear. Engine braking can prevent the brake pads from overheating and failing due to prolonged braking. 2 or 3 gear can meet the power demand without requiring the high torque of 1 gear. When the vehicle cannot control downhill sliding, you should continue to use "D-" to downshift for braking.
The gear positions 3 and 2 in this Prado are actually low-speed gears in the automatic transmission, typically seen when you pull the gear lever down from the D position. Gear 3 limits the transmission's highest gear to 3rd gear and below, while gear 2 restricts it to 2nd gear and below. I love using it when descending mountain roads to avoid frequent braking, especially when off-roading in an SUV like the Prado. On steep slopes, it helps control speed using the engine's braking force, preventing the brake pads from overheating and causing danger. Switching is simple: just shift directly from D to 3 or 2 while driving—it doesn't affect speed, but make sure the car isn't completely stopped before shifting. For normal city or highway driving, D gear is sufficient, and there's no need to use these. Remember not to use them frequently on flat roads, as it can increase transmission load and shorten its lifespan. Learning to use these gears can make driving safer and more worry-free, especially providing better traction in rain or snow.
