What is the function of the S gear?
2 Answers
The S gear is used for climbing slopes and rapid overtaking. The S gear on a car represents the sports mode of the vehicle. In sports mode, the car's performance in all aspects is enhanced, and the acceleration performance becomes stronger. Sports mode is often used for overtaking and uphill driving. After activating sports mode, the car's gear will drop rapidly, with a certain delay in shifting, allowing the engine to maintain high RPMs for an extended period. The downside of sports mode is that it increases fuel consumption and reduces comfort during rapid acceleration, primarily because the vehicle's suspension becomes stiffer in S gear, which is caused by decreased brake sensitivity. It is not recommended to use S gear when the car is coasting, as it can damage the transmission in a short time.
After buying my car, I was curious about what the S mode does. After trying it myself, I found it quite useful. Normally, I drive in D mode for fuel efficiency and smoothness, but when I shift to S mode, the car feels alive—the engine sound becomes louder, and the throttle response is much quicker. Once, while driving on a mountain road with lots of curves, switching to S mode made things much easier—stepping on the gas instantly brought power without any lag in acceleration. It also made overtaking on highways safer by reducing hesitation. However, this does increase fuel consumption—I remember using an extra liter or two that time—so now I only use it when I need extra power, sticking to D mode otherwise. Don’t overlook this feature, especially if you’re a young car enthusiast—it can add a bit of fun occasionally.
