What does D1 mean?

[CoreyRose]

Automatic transmission D1 means manually locking the car's gear in first gear, not controlled by the car itself, mainly used for climbing scenarios. Introduction to D2 gear: It means manually locking the gear in second gear, not exceeding second gear, allowing the car to automatically switch between first and second gears. D1 and D2 can be used when going uphill, where the slope is steep, manually setting the gear to first or second gear, similar to driving a manual transmission on a steep slope. Introduction to D3 gear: It means locking the gear in third gear, allowing the car to automatically switch between first, second, and third gears, but not exceeding third gear. The advantage of D3 is faster response when overtaking.

[Jean]

Last week, I drove my friend's SUV on mountain roads using D1 gear when descending steep slopes continuously, and the brake pads even started smoking. D1 is equivalent to first gear in a manual transmission, forcing the engine RPM above 3000 to utilize engine braking for deceleration. Once, when starting on icy roads and experiencing wheel spin, shifting to D1 and gently applying throttle provided much more stability than the regular D gear. Remember, never suddenly shift to D1 at high speeds—the transmission will make a loud clunking noise, and the mechanic said doing this three times would definitely require a major overhaul.

[MacGage]

Last time when I took my kid to school in heavy snow, the wheels kept slipping on the ramp in our neighborhood. An experienced driver taught me to shift to D1 gear and gently apply the throttle, and sure enough, the front wheels gripped the road firmly. This gear locks the automatic transmission in the lowest gear, significantly amplifying torque, making it effortless to climb a 30-degree steep slope. However, using D1 on flat roads keeps the engine at high RPMs, and you can literally watch the fuel gauge drop after just two kilometers. For daily commuting, it's better to stick with the regular D gear for peace of mind.