What are the gears of the Civic?

[StSpencer]

The gears of the Civic: P gear is the parking gear; R gear is the reverse gear; N gear is the neutral gear; D gear is the forward gear, also known as the drive gear, which is common in automatic transmission cars; S gear is the overtaking gear or sport mode; L gear is the climbing gear, used for very steep slopes. The gear positions of the Civic are displayed on the dashboard. The Civic is a compact car launched by Dongfeng Honda. In terms of power, this car offers two powertrain options, equipped with a 1.0T and a 1.5T turbocharged engine respectively. The 1.0T engine is a three-cylinder engine, while the 1.5T engine is a four-cylinder engine.

[VanGabriella]

I've been driving a Civic for three years and am very familiar with the gear positions. The most common are the four basic gears: P (Park) locks the wheels when stopped, R (Reverse) is for backing up, N (Neutral) is for short stops like at red lights, and D (Drive) is the most hassle-free for daily driving. There are also two practical extended gear positions: S (Sport) mode keeps the engine at high RPMs, providing strong power for climbing hills or overtaking; L (Low) is used for steep climbs or long descents to control speed and reduce brake usage. Higher trim models even have paddle shifters behind the steering wheel—when in D or S mode, you can manually shift gears with a flick of your fingers, making mountain drives as engaging as driving a manual. When using the gears, remember to engage the parking brake before shifting to P when parking, and on slopes, press the brake firmly when shifting to ensure your transmission lasts longer.

[McEverly]

Last week, I helped a friend pick out a used Civic and specifically researched its gear design. On regular automatic transmission models, the gear shift sequence is P-R-N-D-S-L, where the L gear in the CVT version is actually a simulated low gear, primarily used to limit the highest gear. The sport version's steering wheel paddle shifters are super practical—left for downshifting and right for upshifting—allowing gear changes without using the shift lever. The most thoughtful design in the Civic is its safety feature: trying to shift into P before the car comes to a complete stop causes gear grinding, forcing drivers to develop proper operation habits. The newer models now also include an auto brake hold function, which automatically engages the parking brake when stopping at a red light with a firm press, eliminating the need to shift to N.

[JulianaFitz]

The Civic's gearshift basically comes in two configurations: the base model has four gears - P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive). The higher trim or sport version adds S (Sport) and L (Low) gears after D. The most commonly used gear while driving is D, as the transmission is quite smart at determining the appropriate gear. For those who want to enjoy more control, shifting to S gear immediately revs the engine above 3000 RPM, delivering instant acceleration when overtaking on highways. The paddle shifters on some models are very convenient to use, requiring just a couple of thumb movements. The only thing to note is that L gear requires manual switching; it's much easier to engage it in advance when descending long slopes into underground garages than constantly applying the brakes.

[LaAngelina]

The operation logic of the Civic's automatic transmission is very user-friendly, which is most evident from the gear lever: the top position is P (Park), push down one notch to R (Reverse) for backing up, the middle N (Neutral) is for waiting at red lights, and continuing down is D (Drive) for daily driving. Most models also have S (Sport) and L (Low) gears hidden below D, which require pressing the lock button to switch. In actual operation, it was found that shifting to S mode makes the throttle response about half a second faster, with the RPM needle noticeably more active. When driving older models, be aware that shifting from D to L must be done at speeds below 30 km/h for safety. The newer models are much more convenient, as the onboard computer automatically controls the gear shift speed to prevent incorrect operations that could damage the transmission.

[DeFelicity]

During yesterday's test drive of the 10th-gen Civic, I focused on experiencing gear shifts. The basic four-gear layout resembles most Japanese cars, but the S-mode tuning is notably aggressive—the engine sound immediately deepens upon engagement. The L-gear proved especially practical in rainy conditions; engaging it on steep overpass inclines prevented tire slippage. The magnesium alloy paddle shifters on the steering wheel left a strong impression—a light fingertip push enables two-gear downshifts for overtaking. Safety details were thorough: R and P gears remain locked until full stop to prevent accidental engagement; reversing automatically activates the 360° camera, pairing perfectly with R-gear for peace of mind. Post-drive, the Civic struck me as expertly balancing practical gearing with driving excitement.