What gear should an Audi use on the highway?
2 Answers
For automatic transmission models, using the D gear is sufficient. For manual transmission, change gears normally according to road conditions; generally, shifting to 6th gear is adequate. Audi was founded in 1899 by August Horch as A. Horch & Cie. Due to disagreements with his partners, Horch later established another company named August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH. However, he was sued for the similarity in company names, so he adopted the Latin translation of 'Horch' (meaning 'listen' in German) as the company name, hence 'Audi'. The four-ring logo of Audi originates from the four companies that merged in the early days (in Mainland China, Audi cars are thus jokingly called 'Tetracycline'). In 1932, four German automakers—Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer—merged to form 'Auto Union.' They commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to design the Auto Union V16 racing car (also known as the Silver Arrow), which led their team to secure Germany's representation from the Mercedes team and subsequently dominate the European racing scene.
When driving an Audi on the highway, I highly recommend using the automatic transmission's D (Drive) mode. This allows the car to shift gears automatically, providing both stability and fuel efficiency. Audi's automatic transmission is well-tuned, and at a constant speed on the highway, the D mode keeps the engine running at low RPMs, significantly reducing fuel consumption while minimizing noise for a comfortable ride. If you encounter an uphill slope or need to overtake, briefly switching to S (Sport) mode can give you a bit of acceleration thrill, but for long-distance cruising, D mode remains the most suitable—it also prevents unnecessary wear on the engine and transmission. Remember to avoid constantly flooring the accelerator; enabling the cruise control feature allows the system to manage speed automatically, reducing driver fatigue. In short, D mode is perfectly sufficient for everyday highway driving—it protects your car while delivering an enjoyable, safe, and efficient driving experience.
