What does the letter M mean in an automatic transmission?

[MacRobert]

Automatic transmission M stands for manual mode. A semi-automatic transmission has the function of manual mode. After shifting to M gear, the vehicle becomes a manual transmission car, and the driver can control the gear by themselves. A semi-automatic transmission is a transmission device that combines the functions of manual transmission and automatic transmission, which consists of a gearbox, an electronically controlled clutch, an automatic shift control mechanism and an electronically controlled part. Other gears of automatic transmission are: 1. D gear refers to the drive gear; 2. R gear refers to the reverse gear; 3. P gear refers to the parking gear; 4. L gear refers to the low gear; 5. N gear refers to the neutral gear; 6. W gear refers to the rain and snow gear; 7. S gear refers to the sport mode driving gear.

[VanLeah]

When I first got into automatic transmissions, I was also super curious about the M mode. Later, I figured out it's just manual mode! For example, when you're driving down a long mountain slope in D mode and constantly braking until the brake pads are smoking, switching to M mode and downshifting lets the engine rev higher to help control the speed. It's also super useful for overtaking—like when I drove my friend's 2.0T SUV, I just pulled the paddle to drop into M3, floored it to 4000 RPM, and the acceleration was insane! Just be careful not to rev too high in lower gears, or the transmission might start complaining. It's basically the same as shifting in a manual car, just without the clutch pedal.

[EmiliaAnn]

Just explained the M mode to my wife last week while teaching her to drive. Simply put, it lets the computer hand over gear shifting control to you. For beginners like her during practice, I have her stay in M2 gear to coast slowly. When I'm driving my American car on the highway, I also prefer using M mode - manually shifting to the highest gear during cruising saves some fuel. Here's a detail many don't know: Starting on a slope in M1 gear is more stable than in D gear, preventing wheel rollback. But be warned: some cars won't auto-upshift in M mode, they'll redline without shifting, so beginners must keep an eye on the dashboard.

[Gary]

A decade of driving automatic transmissions taught me that the M mode is the ultimate tool for manual gear intervention. My habits: switch to M mode in long tunnels to avoid frequent gear hunting, use M2 for snow starts to prevent wheelspin, and paddle-shift down two gears when attacking mountain curves. Once got caught in a sudden downpour with a CVT car - locking it in M3 made a world of difference compared to D mode. It works like a manual transmission but clutch-free, way easier on the knees.

[MacVivienne]

Last time I took my friend's BMW on the track, the coach taught me how to use the M mode, which was particularly fun. Before entering a corner, a quick thumb flick on the paddle shifter resulted in a satisfying 'click' as it dropped two gears instantly, the tachometer surged with a buzz, and the throttle response was lightning-fast when exiting the corner. For daily use, the M mode is practical in three scenarios: locking into a lower gear when climbing hills with a full load, avoiding the jerkiness of frequent gear shifts in traffic jams, and using engine braking to control speed when descending underground parking. However, it's important to check the manual, as some cars require manual upshifts in M mode to prevent over-revving.