Which gear is the forward gear in an automatic transmission car?
4 Answers
In an automatic transmission car, the D gear is the forward gear. The D gear is the commonly used gear position. When you shift into D gear and press the accelerator, the car will move forward. The P gear is the parking gear, generally used when turning off and parking the vehicle. Many vehicles require shifting into P gear before power can be turned off, the key can be removed, and the doors can be locked. After shifting into P gear, the vehicle's transmission will be locked. The R gear is the reverse gear, used when reversing. When this gear is engaged, the car can move backward. The N gear is the neutral gear, which means the vehicle's gear lever is not placed in any forward or reverse gear position. The S gear is the sport gear, also known as sport mode. When this gear is engaged, the car will shift up slowly or downshift early, keeping the engine at higher RPMs and increasing torque output to obtain greater power, commonly used when overtaking. The L gear is the low gear, also known as the climbing gear. Its function is to reduce speed and increase torque, commonly used when climbing hills (equivalent to the 1st gear in a manual transmission).
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for almost ten years, and the forward gear is always the D (Drive) gear, which is basically the same across all models. The prominent letter D on the gear lever is the driving symbol—just push it down. Never accidentally shift into N (Neutral) or P (Park) while driving, as suddenly losing power can be extremely dangerous. Remember, when waiting at a red light, don’t keep pressing the brake while in D gear—it’s not good for the transmission. Shifting to N gear to rest your foot is better. Some cars also have an L (Low) gear or low-speed gear, which is especially useful for protecting the brakes when going up or down steep slopes, but for daily commuting, just stick with D gear!
After getting a new car, I noticed the gear markings are quite fancy nowadays, but the mainstream is still the D gear for driving. However, there are slight differences among different car brands: German cars prefer to write 'Drive,' Japanese cars simply print a 'D,' and American cars might label it 'Drive' with a small 'S' gear. When in D gear, the car will creep forward on its own, and a light tap on the accelerator can control the speed in traffic jams. Occasionally, you can switch to S gear for overtaking, where the revs soar for an extra thrill! Remember, with electronic gear levers, always press the brake pedal firmly before shifting, or the system won’t recognize it.
Right after getting my driver's license, my instructor emphasized: for automatic transmission, just stick to 'D' for driving forward. It's super simple - come to a complete stop, press the brake, and shift the gear lever to D. Some cars require pressing a side button to shift gears, which is a thoughtful anti-misoperation design. New drivers should pay attention to the gear display on the dashboard instead of relying solely on feel. For hill starts, just release the brake in D gear - modern cars all have anti-rollback features, so no need to stress like with manual transmissions.
