Which Cars Have Column Shifters?
2 Answers
Cars with column shifters include: BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Buick GL8, Rolls-Royce, Tesla, Cadillac Escalade, etc. The column shifter is located below the right side of the steering wheel and gets its name from pulling the gear lever towards the driver's chest when shifting. Its gear arrangement is the same as that of a regular automatic transmission, typically following an automatic transmission design. Advantages of column shifters include: 1. Saves interior space; 2. Easy to operate, reducing incorrect operations; 3. High-tech feel. The operation steps for column shifters are the same as for D gear, only differing in position, control space, and the direction of operation. After starting the car, the column shifter defaults to P gear position, with R gear, D gear, and N gear operations performed through directional intervention. To park, simply press the brake and shift into P gear.
There are quite a few cars with column shifters, especially common in classic American vehicles. I remember driving an old Ford Crown Victoria and a Lincoln Town Car, where the column shifter was located below the steering wheel, making gear changes convenient and keeping the center console clean—perfect for placing coffee cups. Modern cars like the Chrysler 300 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class still retain this design, and the Tesla Model S also uses an electronic column shifter style, which operates quite smoothly. Why hasn’t this design disappeared? Space-saving is the main reason, as it keeps the interior uncluttered and makes long drives more comfortable. Unfortunately, fewer new cars feature it today, with most now concentrated in large sedans or trucks.
