What is the difference between S gear and D gear in automatic transmission?
4 Answers
The difference between S gear and D gear in automatic transmission lies in their functions: S gear is the sport mode, where the transmission can shift freely when the car is in this mode; D gear is the drive gear, the most commonly used gear for cars, covering all forward gears in the vehicle's automatic transmission. The gears in an automatic transmission include: Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), Drive (D), Low (L), and Sport mode (S). The method to start an automatic transmission car is: 1. Without pressing the foot brake, press the start button twice to initiate the car's computer system self-check, lasting at least six seconds; 2. Press the foot brake and press the start/stop button to ignite; 3. Release the foot brake and let the car warm up in place; 4. Press the foot brake, release the handbrake, and shift the gear from P to D; 5. Slowly release the foot brake to start moving; 6. Depending on road conditions, smoothly press the accelerator to increase speed.
I usually drive for commuting and find D mode the most worry-free. It's like an automatic mode, suitable for city traffic congestion and highway cruising, because the gear shifts are smooth and fuel-efficient. S mode is the sport mode, which I occasionally switch to for quick overtaking or climbing hills. It delays upshifting, keeping the engine at higher RPMs for faster acceleration and more powerful performance, but fuel consumption increases significantly. Using S mode on steep downhill slopes can also serve as engine braking to prevent overheating, which is quite practical. But for daily use, D mode is more comfortable, safer, and hassle-free, and it also helps save money on fuel.
I'm a bit obsessed with cars, and the S mode is perfect for racing! It prevents the car from shifting up too early, stubbornly staying in lower gears to provide instant explosive power, delivering intense acceleration and strong g-force. Overtaking and climbing hills feels incredibly satisfying. In comparison, the D mode is much gentler, shifting up early to save fuel but with slightly sluggish acceleration. It's fine for congested roads but lacks excitement. I often play around with the S mode myself, though the skyrocketing fuel consumption requires some tolerance for this trade-off.
I highly value saving money, so I always use D mode for driving as it's fuel-efficient and cost-effective. It automatically optimizes gear shift points, keeps engine RPM low, and reduces fuel consumption. S mode, on the other hand, is more sporty, prolongs lower gear ratios, increases RPM for stronger power, but causes fuel consumption to skyrocket. It can be used for short emergency situations, but for daily commuting, it's better not to bother with it. D mode is clearly smarter and protects the engine better.
