Which car has its gear shift near the steering wheel?
3 Answers
Cars with gear shifts near the steering wheel include the Buick GL8. Here is some relevant information about the Buick GL8: 1. Vehicle Positioning: The new generation Buick GL8 Avenir family has body dimensions of 5219mm×1878mm×1799mm with a wheelbase of 3088mm. The Avenir's exclusive design elements stand out prominently throughout the vehicle: the signature three-dimensional mesh grille draws inspiration from medieval noble chainmail, crafted with exquisite metal weaving techniques, presenting elegant rhythms under different angles and light reflections. 2. Powertrain: The new generation Buick GL8 family is equipped with General Motors' latest Smart Propulsion technology, featuring a powerhouse combination of the eighth-generation Ecotec 2.0T variable cylinder turbocharged engine and a 9-speed HYDRA-MATIC intelligent transmission, delivering robust performance of 174kW and 350Nm, with a combined fuel consumption of only 7.9L/7.8L per 100km.
I always pay attention to these small design details when driving. The gear shifter near the steering wheel is usually called a column shifter, which is most commonly used in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, from the entry-level A-Class to the flagship S-Class, all featuring this design. Tesla's Model S and Model X also adopt a similar layout. Some classic American models, like the Cadillac Fleetwood, and even modern electric vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, use this setup. The biggest advantage of placing it here is freeing up the center console area, allowing space for an extra-large cup of milk tea. Shifting gears while driving is effortless—just a flick of the finger. I remember driving a friend's old Buick before, where the windshield wiper was on the left side near the turn signal, making accidental activation easy. Nowadays, new cars have optimized this logic—the column shifter is positioned much lower than the wiper controls, making it almost impossible to mix them up.
Last time I drove a Tesla Model S, the gear stalk behind the steering wheel totally blew me away. Nowadays, new energy vehicles love this design - Mercedes EQ series EVs all come standard with column shifters, operating like gaming joysticks. Some traditional fuel cars have adopted this too, like the new Infiniti QX60 with its shifter mounted behind the wheel. Actually, MPVs did this earlier - Honda Odyssey hides its column shifter on the right side of the steering wheel, allowing D/N gear shifts during highway driving without looking down. But note not all cars follow this trend - mainstream German (VW) and Japanese (Toyota) sedans still use conventional floor shifters. The biggest advantage is the unobstructed space between driver and front passenger, making it much easier for girlfriends to grab bags or find stuff.
