What does the M gear in Corolla mean?
2 Answers
Corolla M gear is the manual mode of the automatic transmission model. There will also be a plus and minus sign next to it, which is used to shift gears by pushing the gear lever forward or backward or using the steering wheel paddle shifters. "M+" and "M-" are for upshifting and downshifting, and the number of gears depends on the type of the automatic transmission. When the car can use the M gear: when overtaking, when going up or down a slope, when driving on high-speed sections, and when driving on icy or snowy roads. When overtaking, the car can use the M- gear to lower the gear, which can provide high torque, allowing the car's speed to increase rapidly in a short time. When going uphill, the car should use M-, as the lower gear provides stronger engine power. When going downhill, you can use M+ to adjust the gear to 2-3, using the engine's braking effect to slow the vehicle, reducing reliance on the brakes and increasing driving safety. Additionally, using the M gear when going down steep slopes helps control speed with the engine, preventing brake overheating and thermal fade. When driving on highways, you can manually use M+ to increase the gear, maintaining a speed of 80-100km/h, which results in better fuel economy. When driving on icy or snowy roads, adjusting the gear to 2 using M+ can reduce wheel slipping.
The M gear in the Corolla is the manual mode, meaning you can control the gear shift timing yourself instead of letting the car shift fully automatically, which brings me more driving pleasure. For example, when overtaking on the highway, I push it into M gear to manually downshift and accelerate, which is faster and more stable than the automatic transmission. Or when driving uphill in the mountains, using a lower gear maintains power to avoid slipping, while downhill, you can fix it in a higher gear to reduce brake pressure and protect the parts. The operation is simple: after shifting the lever from D gear to M gear, you can manually shift up or down using the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel or the gear lever. Although the Corolla is a family car, the M gear makes it more like a manual transmission, allowing for a bit of fun with small maneuvers during daily commutes to enhance focus. Don't worry too much about damage; the car is designed with this mode in mind—just avoid keeping the RPM too high for extended periods.
