Which Gear is the Driving Gear in an Automatic Transmission Car?

[McJameson]

In an automatic transmission car, the driving gear is the D (Drive) gear. The following is an introduction to the gears in an automatic transmission car: P Gear: Parking gear. When the vehicle is completely stationary, press the unlock button at the front of the gear lever to shift into P gear. R Gear: Reverse gear. When the vehicle is completely stationary, press the brake pedal and the unlock button at the front of the gear lever to shift into R gear. After releasing the brake pedal, slowly press the accelerator to move the vehicle backward. N Gear: Neutral gear. You can directly shift from R or D gear into N gear. When shifting out of N gear, you need to press the brake pedal. D Gear: Drive gear. You can directly shift from N gear into D gear. This gear is generally used when the vehicle is moving forward, and the system will automatically shift gears based on engine load and speed. S Gear: The S gear in an automatic transmission stands for Sport gear, which is a mode that emphasizes power output. Due to its strong power, the S gear is usually used when overtaking or climbing a slope. After completing the action, it is switched back to the more economical D gear. In terms of fuel consumption, the S gear mode consumes more fuel than the normal mode because of the increased fuel injection at high RPMs.

[DakotaDella]

The drive gear for automatic transmission cars is the D gear, which stands for Drive. Normally, you just push the gear lever to D, and the car will move forward. Having driven automatic cars for over a decade, I've noticed many people are unclear about the functions of other gears: P (Park) is for parking and locks the transmission; R (Reverse) is specifically for backing up; N (Neutral) is for idling and can protect the transmission when waiting at traffic lights; S (Sport) mode offers faster acceleration but consumes more fuel. When climbing steep slopes or descending long hills, remember to switch to L (Low) or M (Manual) mode, using lower gears to control speed for safety. Always press the brake pedal fully when shifting gears to avoid damaging the transmission. The plus and minus signs next to the D gear indicate manual mode, useful for downshifting to increase RPM during temporary overtaking.

[AlinaMarie]

I just taught my wife how to drive an automatic transmission a couple of days ago. The most crucial D gear is in the middle position of the gear lever, marked with the letter 'D'. Normally, after starting the car, just press the brake, shift the lever from P to D, and you're good to go—no need to change gears like in a manual transmission. Beginners should especially note: never shift to N gear while driving to coast, as it damages the transmission and doesn't save fuel! When waiting at a red light, shift to N gear and engage the handbrake to give your foot a rest; you must shift to R gear for reverse parking; for long-term parking, shift to P gear. The D gear is sufficient for highway driving, but using the S gear on mountain roads provides more responsive power. Remember, the dashboard will display the current gear letter, and there will be a warning sound if you shift incorrectly.

[VonCatherine]

For automatic transmissions, just use D gear! Having driven both an old Camry and a Tesla, the logic behind the D gear is pretty much the same across all models: the transmission shifts gears automatically based on speed. I've found that special road conditions require flexible gear usage: switch to M2 gear to reduce torque when starting on slippery roads in the rain; shift to L gear for engine braking on long downhill slopes; and use ECO mode with D gear in traffic jams for better fuel efficiency. A detail often overlooked by experienced drivers: suddenly flooring the accelerator in D gear triggers a kick-down for faster acceleration. Important reminder: always shift to N gear when towing, or risk burning out the transmission in no time! When temporarily parking in P gear, always engage the handbrake to avoid putting excessive strain on the locking mechanism.

[LaReese]

Last week, while helping a friend troubleshoot the issue of the car not moving when in D gear, I also thoroughly studied the gear functions. The Drive gear is indeed D, but there are three key points to note in practical use: First, the D gear has a creep function when starting on a slope—releasing the brake will cause the car to move slowly. Second, for traffic light stops exceeding 30 seconds, it's best to shift to N gear to reduce transmission load. Third, always engage the handbrake firmly before shifting to P gear during temporary stops to avoid damaging the locking pin under load. In special situations, other gears can assist: for example, use M2 gear for starting on snow, or shift to S gear for downshifting and accelerating when overtaking. Never force the car to drive in D gear if the transmission warning light is on.