What does the S gear in automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
S gear is the sports mode of a car ("S" stands for "sport"). Many automatic transmission cars are equipped with an S gear, and some high-end models of A-class cars also feature an S gear design. When the gear is in D position, shifting to S gear manually puts it in first gear. Pushing it towards (+) shifts it up one gear (second gear), and pushing it again shifts it to third gear, with a maximum of three gears. Shifting towards (-) lowers it by one gear. Precautions for using S gear: 1. S gear should not be used frequently: Since S gear only delays upshifting without changing other working aspects, it will inevitably increase the load on the transmission in a short time, accompanied by a rise in temperature, which will also intensify wear. Therefore, try not to use S gear for extended periods. 2. Do not engage S gear when starting: This actually has a counterproductive effect on speed improvement. If the car is not carrying heavy items, doing so will instead delay the increase in speed.
When I first learned to drive, my instructor told me that the S gear stands for Sport mode. Normally, you can just use D gear for driving, but when climbing steep slopes, overtaking, or wanting to drive faster, switching to S gear will give the car more power. This gear keeps the engine in a higher RPM range, allowing for quicker downshifts and more aggressive acceleration. However, fuel consumption will be about 10% higher than in normal mode, so it's best not to keep it engaged all the time in the city. Remember, you don't need to press the brake when switching; just push the gear lever directly while moving. I rely on it to easily overtake those big trucks when driving on mountain roads. If you want to switch back to D gear after descending a long slope, make sure to reduce the speed first for a smoother transition.
