What are the corresponding speeds for each gear in a manual transmission?
3 Answers
Manual transmission gear corresponding speeds are: 1. First gear corresponds to 10-20 kilometers per hour; 2. Second gear corresponds to 20-30 kilometers per hour; 3. Third gear corresponds to 30-40 kilometers per hour; 4. Fourth gear corresponds to 40-50 kilometers per hour; 5. Fifth gear corresponds to 50-60 kilometers per hour; 6. If the speed exceeds 60 kilometers per hour, sixth gear can be used. When overtaking, it is necessary to downshift in advance to obtain greater wheel torque for quick overtaking. During high-speed cruising, the highest gear should be used to reduce engine speed, which is beneficial for fuel economy.
As a seasoned manual transmission driver with over a decade of experience, I've found that gear-speed matching is actually quite flexible. First gear is mainly for starting, typically between 0 to 20 km/h, second gear takes you from 20 to 40, third gear covers 40 to 60, fourth gear handles 60 to 80, and fifth gear is for cruising above 80 km/h. But this depends on the car's condition - for instance, my old car could easily reach 30 km/h in second gear when the engine RPM was low. The key is not to rely solely on the speedometer; listening to the engine sound is more accurate. If the RPM gets too high and the engine roars, it's time to upshift - otherwise, you'll waste fuel and damage the engine. At high speeds, if fifth gear RPM is too low, the car may struggle and even stall. My advice is to drive more and experiment to understand your car's personality, rather than sticking rigidly to fixed rules.
When starting as a beginner learning manual transmission, the speed range for each gear isn't a rigid number. Generally, first gear is used for starting from 0 to 15 km/h to prevent rolling back on steep slopes; second gear suits 15 to 30 km/h and is ideal for congested urban roads; third gear covers 30 to 50 km/h, while fourth gear (50 to 70 km/h) works well for ring roads; fifth gear at 70+ km/h is most fuel-efficient for highway cruising. During my driving lessons, I noticed that vehicle model and engine performance make a big difference. For example, small-displacement cars may have lower speed capabilities, while larger-displacement vehicles handle it more effortlessly. To reduce stress, I often advise practicing gear shifts on gentle road sections, relying on feel rather than fixed values. Remember not to overlook safety factors – downshift to lower gears during sharp turns, like dropping directly from fifth to second gear to control speed. Once you master the timing of gear changes, driving becomes smoother and more fuel-efficient.
