What is the Number of Gears?
4 Answers
Gear number refers to the number of forward gears in a geared stepped transmission. Below is an introduction to related content about car gears: Introduction to Car Gears: Car gears typically consist of D (Drive), R (Reverse), P (Park), N (Neutral), and S (Sport) gears. Among them, D is the forward gear, R is the reverse gear, P is the parking gear, N is the neutral gear, and S is the sport gear (available in models equipped with a sport mode). Precautions for Gear Usage: The vehicle must come to a complete stop before shifting into P gear; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission may be damaged. When the vehicle is parked and not in use, the gear should be in this position, where the wheels are mechanically locked, and combined with the handbrake, it can prevent the car from rolling.
The number of gears refers to how many forward gears are in a car's transmission. Common automatic transmission cars have 6-speed, 8-speed, or 9-speed options, while manual transmissions usually range from 5 to 7 speeds. More gears can make acceleration feel smoother, especially when overtaking on highways. However, too many gears may complicate the transmission and increase maintenance costs. I've driven an 8-speed car, and the gear shifts were almost imperceptible in stop-and-go city traffic—much more comfortable than old 4-speed transmissions. But equipping a daily commuter car with a 9-speed might be overkill, as the highest gear is rarely used. When choosing a car, just check the transmission gear count in the specs sheet; for regular family cars, 6 to 8 speeds are the most practical.
Simply put, the number of gears refers to how many power variation levels a transmission can provide. Manual transmissions require the driver to shift gears manually, so 5-speed is most common, while race cars may have 7-speed. Automatic transmissions rely on computer control, and high-end cars nowadays often come with 10-speed. The advantage of more gears is finer RPM control, allowing the engine to run at lower RPMs at the same speed, which can save some fuel in the long run. For example, when cruising at 120 km/h, an 8-speed car might run at 2000 RPM, while a 4-speed car would need 3000 RPM. However, more gears also come with drawbacks: the complex structure is more prone to failure, and overly complicated shifting logic can cause hesitation. I've seen cases in my repair shop where a 9-speed transmission had oil circuit blockages leading to gear skipping, proving less durable than a 6-speed.
The row of numbers in front of the transmission indicates the number of gears. For example, 6AT means a 6-speed automatic transmission. Cars with more gears accelerate faster and are more fuel-efficient because the power is divided more finely. When driving on the highway, the engine RPM can be kept lower, resulting in better noise reduction. However, more gears don't always mean better—too many can actually affect reliability. For regular sedans, 5-7 gears are sufficient, while off-road vehicles may have 8 or more. When buying a car, pay attention to the transmission specifications—choosing a model with more gears at the same price is more cost-effective.
