What does the S gear in automatic transmission mean?

[StFaith]

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.

[DelAnnie]

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.

[VonLucia]

Last time when driving on mountain roads with friends using the S gear, the acceleration push was noticeably stronger than in D gear! Unlike the normal mode that eagerly upshifts, a stomp on the gas sends the RPM soaring, and the engine roars with extra vigor. However, in this mode, the transmission becomes more aggressive, leading to noticeable jerks during frequent stop-and-go traffic. Personally, it feels exhilarating for overtaking, especially when changing lanes on highways—it's half a beat quicker. But after two hours, my back felt a bit sore, and the suspension seemed to stiffen. Remember to ease off the throttle occasionally during continuous curves to give the transmission a breather.

[ChristianMarie]

From a mechanical perspective, the S mode activates the transmission's sport-tuned logic. It delays the upshift point to keep the gears engaged longer, equivalent to shifting later in a manual transmission. When the accelerator is pressed deeply, it actively downshifts, responding about 0.3 seconds faster than in normal mode. The downside is that brake pad wear will be faster than usual, as the engine often runs at three to four thousand RPM. Once during a test drive, I specifically observed the tachometer and noticed that in D mode, it upshifts at 1800 RPM, while in S mode, it insists on reaching 3000 RPM before shifting. For long-term use of this mode, it's advisable to shorten the maintenance intervals.