Which Gear is the Forward Gear in an Automatic Transmission?
2 Answers
In an automatic transmission car, the D gear is the forward gear. Below is an introduction to other gears in an automatic transmission: N Neutral Gear: The N position is equivalent to neutral and can be used when starting or towing. S Sport Mode: In this gear, the transmission can shift freely, but the shifting timing is delayed, keeping the engine at high RPM for a longer time to increase vehicle power. L Low Gear: In this gear, the transmission stays in 1st gear without shifting up, which can be used on slopes or similar situations. It also provides some braking function when going downhill. Some cars have a D2 gear, called the low-speed forward gear, used for rough roads or off-road driving.
I just got my driver's license recently, and the instructor taught me very clearly: the forward gear for an automatic transmission is the D gear, and the car can move forward when shifted to D gear. In fact, there are also labels like P, R, and N on the gear shift. P stands for Parking gear, R is Reverse gear, and N is equivalent to Neutral gear. Especially when going downhill, be careful not to shift into N gear and coast, as that can seriously damage the transmission. If you're driving a sportier car, there might also be an S gear or gears with plus and minus signs next to the D gear, which are for manual mode when overtaking. It's recommended for beginners to familiarize themselves with the gear positions before driving to avoid shifting incorrectly, which can damage the car and be dangerous.