What is the difference between P gear and N gear?
2 Answers
The biggest difference between N gear and P gear is that: when N gear is engaged, the car will not stall, but the power is not transmitted to the drive wheels. Although the car will not move, the wheels do not have braking force, which poses a risk of rolling back or moving. On the other hand, when P gear is engaged, the parking brake mechanism inside the transmission locks the output shaft, cutting off the power and providing a certain braking effect. Here is a detailed explanation about N gear and P gear: 1. N (Neutral) gear: N gear is equivalent to the neutral gear in a manual transmission and can be used when starting or towing. When waiting at a signal or in traffic, the gear lever is often kept in D (Drive) position while the brake is pressed. If the stop is very brief, this is acceptable, but for longer stops, it is better to shift into N gear and engage the handbrake. 2. P (Parking) gear: When this gear is engaged, the wheels are mechanically locked to prevent rolling. The vehicle must be completely stopped before using P gear, otherwise the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission may be damaged. Additionally, automatic transmission cars usually have a start switch that allows the engine to start only when the gear is in "P" or "N" to prevent the car from suddenly lurching forward if started in other gears by mistake. The correct steps for parking should be: press the brake - shift to neutral - engage the handbrake - turn off the engine - shift to P gear. P gear mainly locks the power output, serving as a brake assist, while the handbrake is what truly brakes all four wheels.
The difference between P (Park) and N (Neutral) in automatic transmission vehicles mainly lies in their purposes and safety aspects. After years of driving, I prefer using P mode when parking as it locks the transmission wheels, acting like a brake to prevent the car from rolling, especially effective on slopes. For complete stops in garages or roadside parking, I always choose P mode since removing the key requires shifting to this gear first. At traffic lights, I more frequently use N mode because it's neutral gear, allowing wheels to rotate freely while the engine remains running, preventing transmission damage during brief stops. Mis-shifting can be dangerous – accidentally shifting to N while driving may stall the engine, and using N on downhill slopes might cause the car to roll. Remember the basic logic of automatic transmissions: P is the stop button, N is the pause button. Using them correctly protects vehicle components.
