When to Use the S Gear in an Automatic Transmission?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission S gear is used for climbing hills, quick overtaking, and high-speed driving, as it is the sport mode of the car. The gears in an automatic transmission car include: 1. P gear (Parking gear), used for long-term parking of the vehicle; 2. R gear (Reverse gear), engaged when the vehicle needs to move backward; 3. N gear (Neutral gear), engaged when the vehicle is parked for a short time without turning off the engine; 4. D gear (Drive gear), when the gear lever is placed in D gear, the vehicle will automatically shift gears based on throttle opening and speed data; 5. M gear (Manual mode), when the gear lever is shifted to M gear, gear shifting is done manually by the driver; 6. L gear (Low gear).
I use the S gear most frequently in my automatic transmission car when I need to accelerate for overtaking. If you want to quickly pass the car ahead on the highway or encounter a long uphill section, switching to S gear keeps the engine at higher RPMs, delivering more aggressive power response—step on the gas, and the car surges forward instantly, unlike the delayed shifts and sluggishness in D gear. It also provides better handling in corners or complex road conditions, keeping the body more stable and reducing skidding. It feels like the car is communicating directly with you—super satisfying. However, I rarely use it during daily commutes; driving in S gear in city traffic is fuel-inefficient, with high RPMs creating noise and placing extra strain on the engine over time. In short, S gear is perfect for occasionally spicing up your driving experience—just don’t overuse it to avoid harming the car and wasting money. But when you need it at critical moments, it’s truly exhilarating.
