What does the +- next to the automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission's +- refers to gear shifting. Generally, there is an "M" letter next to the +-, which is the abbreviation of the English word "manual". "+" means upshift, representing a manual upshift, similar to the fourth and fifth gears in manual transmission vehicles; "-" means downshift, similar to the first and second gears in manual transmission vehicles, which is more suitable for uphill and downhill driving. When the vehicle is in manual mode, the transmission cannot shift gears automatically and remains in a fixed gear for driving. It will only upshift when the engine speed exceeds the limit of 6000 rpm, and downshift when the engine speed is below 1200-1400 rpm. Manual mode switching method: For an automatic manual transmission, the driver first presses the brake and pulls the gear lever down to the "D" gear, then pushes the gear lever to the left or right (some vehicles require a direct downward pull). At this time, the dashboard will display the "M" gear, and the vehicle enters manual mode.
When I first noticed the + and - signs on an automatic transmission car, I pondered for a long time before realizing they were manual shift controls. While driving an automatic car, especially on mountain roads or in scenarios requiring more power, pressing - allows the gear to drop down, increasing the engine RPM and making the car accelerate faster, which feels particularly exhilarating when climbing hills or overtaking. Pressing + shifts up, reducing RPM and saving fuel. Don’t worry about damaging the car—it’s just an auxiliary feature that adds a sense of control to driving. Some models even combine this with sport mode, making it simple yet practical. I remember on long trips, manually intervening with the gears can prevent the danger of frequent braking on downhill roads.
