What does the M gear in an automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
The M gear in automatic transmission vehicles stands for manual mode. Below is a detailed introduction about it: 1. Manual mode is generally used in situations such as going up or down slopes, overtaking, starting on icy or snowy roads, and during traffic jams. Usually, only vehicles with a manual-automatic transmission have this function. After entering manual mode, the driver can manually shift up or down, similar to driving a manual transmission car. Engaging the M gear is quite simple: if the plus and minus signs are on the left side of the D gear, move the gear lever to the left; if they are on the right side of the D gear, move it to the right. When shifting into M gear, there are no restrictions on time or RPM, and the transmission will automatically match the appropriate gear based on the real-time speed. 2. In D gear, the gear is adjusted automatically according to the vehicle speed. In such cases, it is necessary to press the brake for a long time.
In my driving experience, the M gear in an automatic transmission stands for manual mode. You can switch to it next to the D gear and manually shift up or down using the paddle shifters or gear lever, giving you full control over engine RPM and vehicle speed. I find it incredibly useful—for example, dropping to a lower gear when climbing steep hills provides stronger engine power without fear of sluggishness, while using lower gears to hold the car back downhill saves the brakes and reduces skidding. I love using this feature on mountain roads during weekend drives, as the automatic system sometimes reacts a bit slowly, whereas manual shifting delivers instant, smooth acceleration. Even in traffic jams, manually upshifting can reduce jerky movements and protect the transmission. Just be careful not to shift too frequently to avoid wear. Overall, it adds more autonomy and fun to driving, especially for veteran drivers accustomed to manual cars.
