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What does the S (-) gear in an automatic transmission mean?

2 Answers

Keegan

07/28/25 9:28pm

When the gear is in the D position, shifting to the S gear puts it into manual first gear. Pushing towards (+) increases the gear by one (second gear), and another push shifts to third gear, with a maximum of three gears. Shifting towards (-) decreases the gear by one. Regardless of whether it's in third, second, or first gear, pushing towards the driver's seat direction will return the gear to automatic mode. Below are precautions for using the S gear: 1. Do not use the S gear frequently: Since the S gear only delays upshifting without changing other operational aspects, it inevitably increases the transmission load in a short time, accompanied by rising temperatures, which accelerates wear. Therefore, avoid using the S gear for extended periods. 2. Do not engage the S gear at startup: This actually has a counterproductive effect on speed acceleration. For vehicles with six forward gears, staying too long in first or second gear prevents the speed from increasing. Moreover, if the vehicle isn't carrying heavy loads, this practice hinders speed improvement. 3. Avoid using the S gear during high-speed cruising: Because it never reaches sixth gear, once the S gear exceeds 90 km/h, the engine runs at excessively high RPMs, resulting in unpleasant noise and increased fuel consumption. For vehicles capable of generating high torque at low RPMs, this is particularly unnecessary.

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DiLuna

08/12/25 2:06am

I just drove a car with an S gear, which actually means Sport mode. Adding a small minus sign allows for manual downshifting. When you switch to S gear while driving, the engine RPM stays higher, providing more aggressive acceleration—it feels like playing around. The minus sign lets you downshift anytime, like manually holding a gear when climbing a steep hill, making the car more responsive without the automatic upshift slowing you down. However, be aware that frequently using S gear might increase fuel consumption, especially in city traffic where it’s less economical. I once used it for overtaking on the highway, and it was exhilarating, but remember not to downshift unnecessarily—revving too high could harm the engine. Overall, S gear (-) is great for those who want a sportier feel, but for everyday driving, it’s better to save fuel with D gear.

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