What does the M in the gear of the Wildlander mean?

[MacCharlotte]

The M in the gear of the Wildlander stands for manual shifting mode. Here are the detailed contents about the Wildlander: 1. Model-related: The Wildlander is the fourth member of the TNGA family following the eighth-generation Camry and the all-new Levin, and it is also the first mid-size SUV model of GAC Toyota. The Wildlander represents an innovative system involving the entire industrial chain value of automotive R&D, design, production, and procurement, as well as a concrete measure to create better automotive products. 2. Features: The Wildlander's center console adopts a large number of horizontal polygonal designs, creating a strong sense of layering from top to bottom. In addition, in terms of power, the Wildlander achieves a balance between strong performance and low fuel consumption.

[Melody]

I love using the M mode when driving my Wildlander—it's essentially the manual mode. Just flick the gear lever to the left to switch, and the dashboard will display the current gear number. Push forward to upshift and pull back to downshift, giving a very manual-transmission-like feel. It's especially thrilling on mountain roads—for example, dropping directly to 2nd gear on steep descents provides noticeable engine braking, eliminating the need to constantly ride the brakes and worry about overheating. When overtaking, downshifting to 3rd gear in advance makes the RPM surge for instant power delivery. Although called manual mode, it has solid safety protections—the computer will auto-upshift if RPM gets too high, and auto-downshift at low speeds to prevent stalling. Still, I stick to D mode in traffic for convenience, reserving M mode only for complex road conditions or when seeking driving excitement.

[VonMaverick]

The M gear in the Wildlander represents the manual mode. When you shift from D gear to M gear, the transmission will no longer change gears automatically, requiring manual control via the gear lever: push forward to upshift and pull backward to downshift. This design enhances driving engagement, such as maintaining torque output by staying in a lower gear during long climbs. Using a lower gear for engine braking on downhill slopes can reduce brake burden. Although gear shifting is manual, the vehicle's computer provides dual safeguards: for instance, it will flash a warning light if the gear is mismatched, and it will automatically switch back to D gear after repeated incorrect operations. It is recommended that beginners practice shifting timing on flat ground first and use it in special road conditions only after mastering the skill.

[Lance]

The M gear with +/- symbols on the Wildlander is the manual shift mode. After switching, it's like playing a racing game where you decide when to upshift or downshift. Once when climbing a snowy slope, the D gear slipped, but switching to M gear and selecting 2nd gear got me up steadily. Keeping the engine RPM between 2000-4000 is most efficient, and manual shifting helps maintain this golden range. Using M gear occasionally on the highway is also fun, though don't expect significant fuel savings. The key is adding some driving pleasure, especially when shifting gears yourself while listening to the engine roar.

[Meghan]

The M symbol on the gear shift of the Wildlander indicates manual mode. Unlike Drive (D) mode, the transmission now fully obeys your commands. Operation is simple: shift the lever left to enter M mode, push forward to upshift, and pull backward to downshift. It's recommended for three scenarios: locking in a lower gear during continuous downhill driving to protect brakes; downshifting to raise RPMs for a power boost when overtaking; and using lower gears on muddy roads to prevent slipping. However, the system is still smarter than a pure manual transmission—if you forget to upshift, it will force an upshift when RPMs hit the redline; it also automatically downshifts when speed drops to a critical point to prevent stalling.