When to Use S Gear?
2 Answers
Use S gear when overtaking or climbing hills. S gear is the sport mode of a car. When S gear is engaged, the engine speed is maintained in a higher range, providing greater torque output and acceleration, with power readily available on demand. The specific steps for using S gear in an automatic transmission are as follows: 1. Press the car's brake pedal to prepare for starting the engine; 2. Press the car's one-touch start button; 3. All dashboard lights will illuminate, indicating the engine has started. Then, shift the car's automatic gear lever to the S position to enter overtaking mode; 4. Press the accelerator pedal to easily overtake or climb hills. Although S gear offers robust power, it consumes more fuel and places greater load on the transmission and engine, so it should not be used frequently.
I usually only use the S mode on specific occasions, such as when driving up steep slopes. Once during a self-drive trip in the mountains, I encountered continuous uphill sections. Switching to S mode gave the car plenty of power, unlike the sluggishness in D mode. The engine revs higher, gear shifts are delayed a bit, and the response is much quicker. When overtaking, a quick press on the accelerator sends the car forward smoothly. However, I don’t use it for daily commuting—it consumes much more fuel and causes greater wear on the car, so it’s better to save it. I think beginners should first get familiar with D mode and try S mode when they need some extra vigor, but I don’t recommend keeping it on all the time unless they want to experience the thrill of driving.
