What does the S gear in an automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission S gear is the sport mode. The conditions for using S gear are: 1. During rainy or foggy weather or when there is a lot of water on the ground; 2. When overtaking; 3. When going uphill or downhill. 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. Other automatic transmission gears include: 1. P gear is the parking gear and starting gear; 2. N gear is the neutral gear; 3. D gear is the drive gear, also known as the forward gear; 4. L gear is the low-speed gear; 5. R gear is the reverse gear; 6. OD gear is the overdrive gear. The method for starting an automatic transmission car is: 1. Insert the key into the keyhole and turn it one notch to allow the car's computer system to perform a self-check; 2. After pressing the brake, turn the key to the ignition position to start the engine; 3. After turning on the turn signal, press the foot brake, shift to D gear, and release the handbrake.
I often use the S gear when driving my automatic transmission car, especially when I need to overtake quickly on the highway. This gear is actually designed for sport mode, which delays upshifting to keep the engine RPM higher, providing stronger acceleration. I remember one time on the highway when the car in front was moving too slowly—I stepped on the gas to overtake, and the power response was much quicker. However, don’t use it all the time because it significantly increases fuel consumption by at least 20%. In city traffic jams, it’s better to stick with D gear for fuel efficiency. Additionally, prolonged use of S gear can raise engine temperature and may accelerate tire wear, so I only switch to it when I need extra power, like climbing mountain roads or making emergency maneuvers. It’s definitely fun to drive with, but you have to use it wisely.
