What is the M gear on an automatic transmission?

[MiguelDella]

The M gear on an automatic transmission refers to the manual gear position on a manual-automatic transmission. Its function is to manually control the upshifting and downshifting of the transmission. Unlike a traditional manual transmission, there's no need to depress the clutch pedal, and the engine won't stall. Using the M gear can help maintain sufficient power when climbing hills. Precautions for shifting gears in an automatic transmission vehicle: 1. Do not press the accelerator pedal when shifting gears; 2. Do not immediately press the accelerator pedal hard after engaging a gear; 3. The vehicle can only be started in P or N gear; 4. The gear lever must be depressed with the brake pedal when shifting out of P gear; 5. Do not shift into N gear while driving to coast; 6. Do not push into P gear while the vehicle is moving; 7. When changing driving directions, switching between D and R gears must be done after the vehicle has come to a complete stop; 8. Placing the gear in N while driving prevents the oil pump from supplying oil normally for lubrication, which can cause the internal components of the transmission to overheat and become damaged.

[LeLincoln]

I've been driving for decades and the M gear on an automatic transmission stands for manual mode, allowing you to control the shift timing yourself instead of relying entirely on the car's automatic processing. For example, on long downhill sections, I often switch to M gear and shift to a lower gear to use engine braking for deceleration, which saves brake pads and is safer. Or when overtaking, manually downshifting allows for quicker acceleration, making the driving experience more enjoyable. Many modern cars are equipped with this mode, usually operated with the plus and minus buttons next to the gear lever. But remember not to keep the gear at high RPM for too long, as it can easily damage the transmission. I use it a lot in mountainous areas or on highways—it's much more flexible than pure automatic, especially when unfamiliar with the road conditions, providing a stronger sense of control.

[McWeston]

As a young guy who loves driving for fun, I think the M mode is super cool—it stands for manual mode! You can shift up or down yourself just like driving a manual car, such as downshifting before a corner to raise the RPM, making acceleration out of the turn more powerful. Many sporty cars have this feature, and using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel is super convenient. I always use it when driving on mountain roads on weekends—not only does it save a bit of fuel, but it’s also thrilling, avoiding the jerky feeling of automatic mode shifting at the wrong time. It’s different from S mode—S is automatic sport mode, while M is full manual control, giving a greater sense of freedom.

[VonIvan]

In daily driving, the M gear in an automatic transmission stands for manual mode, which is simple to operate. After shifting the lever to the M position, you can adjust the gear via buttons to control the speed, such as downshifting to prevent skidding on slippery roads. I never drive fast, but using it for low-speed driving in rain or snow is very safe.