What does the N gear in an automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission N gear is the neutral gear, which can be used for temporary parking. The other gears in an automatic transmission are: 1. P gear is the parking gear, also known as the starting gear; 2. R gear is the reverse gear; 3. D gear is the drive gear, also known as the forward gear; 4. L gear is the low gear; 5. S gear is the sports mode; 6. OD gear is the overdrive gear. An automatic transmission does not require the driver to manually shift gears; the vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on the driving speed and traffic conditions. The starting method is: 1. Sit in the driver's seat and press the start button, the ACC light will turn on; 2. Press the start button again for the vehicle to perform a self-check; 3. Press the brake and press the start button to ignite and start the engine; 4. Press the foot brake, shift to D gear, and release the handbrake.
I often use the N gear (Neutral) when driving with an automatic transmission. When shifted into N gear, the connection between the engine and the wheels is disconnected, so the car won't move, but the engine remains running. I usually switch to N gear when waiting at long red lights, combined with the handbrake, which reduces the burden on the transmission, avoids unnecessary wear, and saves a bit of fuel. Sometimes when looking for a parking spot or stuck in traffic for a long time, I also shift to N gear, as it's more convenient for restarting compared to directly shifting to P gear (Park), since P gear locks more firmly and takes longer to start. For safety, avoid staying in N gear on slopes for too long to prevent rolling; it's best used on flat ground. Overall, N gear acts like a temporary rest zone, making driving more flexible, especially in urban driving, helping me avoid fatigue from prolonged braking.
