What does the automatic transmission S stand for?
4 Answers
S gear is the sports mode of a car ("S" is the abbreviation of "sport"). Many automatic transmission cars are equipped with an S gear, and some high-end models of A-class cars also have an S gear design. When the gear is in D gear, shifting to S gear is equivalent to manual first gear. Pushing towards (+) increases the gear to second gear, and another push increases it to third gear, with a maximum of third gear. Pulling towards (-) decreases the gear. Precautions for using S gear: 1. Do not use S gear frequently: Since S gear only delays upshifting without changing other working aspects, it will inevitably increase the transmission load in a short time, accompanied by a rise in temperature, leading to accelerated wear. Therefore, try not to use S gear for a long time. 2. Do not engage S gear when starting: This actually has a counterproductive effect on speed improvement. If the car is not carrying heavy items, doing so will delay the speed increase instead.
I've been driving an automatic transmission car for several years. When the letter 'S' appears on the gear shift, it usually refers to Sport mode. After switching to it, the vehicle delays upshifting, keeping the engine speed in a higher range, which results in more aggressive acceleration response, making the car feel like it's been given a shot of adrenaline—especially powerful when overtaking or climbing hills. I've tried it myself on the highway: switching from the regular D mode to S mode makes the throttle response much quicker, the tachometer shoots up rapidly, and the driving experience becomes exhilarating. However, it's important to note that this mode increases fuel consumption. It's not recommended for daily city commuting because it puts more load on the engine, potentially increasing fuel usage by over 10% in the long run. The S mode is best suited for weekend drives on mountain roads or when you want to experience driving excitement, but remember—it's not meant for everyday use.
As someone who recently got my driver's license, I saw an 'S' symbol next to the gear shift when driving my dad's car the other day. At first, I thought it was some special switch, but after checking, I learned it's the Sport mode. This function is mainly used to enhance driving pleasure. For example, when Sport mode is activated, the transmission becomes more responsive, gear shifts are delayed, and acceleration is more direct and powerful. I tried it on an open road and felt a strong initial thrust when starting the car, but it's not suitable for daily use in traffic jams because it increases fuel consumption. My driving instructor reminded me during lessons that Sport mode is suitable for situations requiring quick responses, such as overtaking or changing lanes at high speed. For everyday driving, it's better to stay in Drive (D) mode for peace of mind, as it's both safer and more economical.
For those who enjoy performance driving, the S on an automatic transmission stands for Sport mode. Activating it keeps the transmission in lower gears at higher RPMs, maximizing engine power output for a more thrilling drive, especially during high-speed cruising or corner acceleration. Personally, I always feel stronger acceleration and more aggressive shift logic when using S mode, but be aware it significantly impacts fuel consumption, so use it cautiously for regular family driving.
