What do S and L gears mean?
2 Answers
S and L gears refer to Sport mode and Low gear. The S gear shifts at higher RPMs compared to normal mode, resulting in sharper power performance. The L gear is generally used when climbing steep slopes or descending long continuous slopes at high speeds, equivalent to the low-speed gear in a manual transmission. An automatic transmission typically refers to a car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the control system of the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load during driving, replacing the driver's subjective judgment of timing and gear-shifting operations. Common automatic transmission cars have six gear positions, from top to bottom: P, R, N, D, S, L. The commonly used automatic gear positions are Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), and Drive (D).
I've been driving for over a decade, and people often ask me about the letters on the gear shift. The S stands for Sport mode—when you engage it, the car becomes more aggressive: the engine revs higher, and the transmission downshifts more eagerly. It’s especially thrilling when overtaking, though fuel consumption will noticeably increase. The L stands for Low gear, which is equivalent to 1st or 2nd gear in a manual transmission. It’s the most stable choice for long uphill or downhill drives. Last time I drove down a six-kilometer continuous mountain slope, using L gear meant I barely had to touch the brakes, protecting both the brake pads and ensuring safety. Just remember, never use L gear on flat roads—otherwise, the engine revs could skyrocket to four or five thousand RPM, which is tough on the car.
