What does D gear 123 mean?
2 Answers
D gear 123 refers to the different gear positions within the D gear. D1 gear is used for climbing slopes, D2 gear can be engaged when starting the vehicle, and D3 gear is useful in traffic jams, making overtaking more convenient. When shifting between D gear 123 during normal driving, simply release the accelerator to change gears directly. Automatic transmission cars have six gear positions in total, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, L. Driving an automatic car primarily using Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), and Drive (D) gears can fully meet driving needs. However, other functional gears may be required in specific driving conditions.
I remember last year when I was driving an automatic transmission car on a trip in the mountains, I noticed there were D gear and numbers 1, 2, 3 on the gear shift. D stands for Drive, which is used for normal forward driving, like starting and cruising. Those numbers 1, 2, 3 are actually equivalent to manually selecting gear limits. By moving the gear lever to a position other than D, you can select a specific number to restrict the transmission to only use that gear. For example, when going down a long slope, using gear 1 or 2 allows the engine to help with deceleration, reducing the need to constantly brake hard and avoiding overheating or failure of the brake pads. I tried using gear 2 on steep mountain roads, and the car remained stable without slipping. When going uphill, switching to gear 3 provides more power and prevents the car from feeling sluggish. This feature is quite practical, especially in complex road conditions, but don’t misuse it—D gear is usually sufficient. After understanding this, I feel safer driving and more prepared for unexpected situations.
