What do S and L gears mean?
3 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.
When I first got my driver's license, I was also confused about these letters. The instructor said to remember it simply: S mode is like being pumped with adrenaline, the throttle response is extremely fast, you can leave cars far behind when starting at a red light, but don't use it often as it consumes more fuel. L mode is actually a limiting gear, equivalent to putting a tight restraint on the transmission. Once, when I was driving a full seven-passenger van up a parking garage ramp, the D mode slipped, but switching to L mode immediately made it much more stable. When starting on slippery roads, using L mode can also reduce tire spin. However, many new cars now use M mode with plus and minus signs instead, the principle is pretty much the same.
