What speed should you drive in 4th gear?
4 Answers
Generally, cars use 4th gear when driving at speeds between 40-60km/h, which means you can drive at 40-60 mph in 4th gear. Below are specific tips for driving a manual transmission: 1. Starting the vehicle: Let the car idle for about half a minute, then press the clutch, shift into 1st gear, simultaneously press the foot brake with your right foot, release the handbrake with your right hand, and slowly lift the clutch. 2. While driving: When the speed reaches 15-20 km/h, shift into 2nd gear. When the speed reaches 25-30 km/h, shift into 3rd gear. 3. Decelerating and stopping: Apply the brake to reduce the vehicle's speed to a safe level, press the clutch, and shift into neutral.
I've been driving for over a decade, and fourth gear is mainly used as an intermediate speed transition gear. It's commonly used in urban areas at speeds around 40-60 km/h, and shifting at 60-80 km/h in suburban areas is also quite smooth. The key is to watch the tachometer—I usually shift at 2500 RPM for the smoothest transition. If the RPM drops below 1500 while going uphill, the car will start to shudder, and you need to downshift immediately. A veteran driver’s tip: driving at high speeds in fourth gear for extended periods is particularly fuel-inefficient. If the RPM exceeds 3000, remember to shift up to fifth gear. Different car models vary significantly—my naturally aspirated car runs at just 2200 RPM in fourth gear at 80 km/h, while my friend’s turbocharged car runs 200 RPM lower at the same speed.
I drive a manual transmission every day on my commute, and the most comfortable speed in fourth gear is between 50-70 km/h. Keeping the RPM around 2000 is the most fuel-efficient, and the engine noise is also minimal. When overtaking, downshifting to fourth gear gives a strong boost—just a light tap on the accelerator and the speed picks up instantly. I remember once driving on the highway in fourth gear at 90 km/h, and the whole car was shaking with the tachometer nearing 4000 RPM, which scared me into shifting up immediately. Don’t push your car like I did—it’s bad for the engine and wastes fuel. If the engine starts buzzing loudly, it’s usually a sign of mismatched gear selection.
Tested data from different models: For a 1.6L naturally aspirated car, at 40 km/h in 4th gear, the RPM is 1500, and at 60 km/h, it's around 2200 RPM. A 2.0T model only needs 1800 RPM at the same 60 km/h. In terms of gear design logic, 4th gear operates most efficiently in the 60-80 km/h range. I often remind novice drivers to watch the RPM rather than the speedometer, keeping it between 2000-2500 RPM for optimal performance. Last time I drove a friend's new energy vehicle in manual mode, at 80 km/h in 4th gear, it was only 1500 RPM, much more effortless than a fuel-powered car. But be cautious not to use 4th gear below 40 km/h to avoid lugging the engine.
