Which gear should be used for automatic transmission cars on highways?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission cars generally use the forward gear (D) when driving on highways. For regular automatic transmission vehicles, use D5 gear when driving at high speeds. If it's a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission, then D6 gear should be engaged. For quick overtaking, shift to S (Sport) mode and press the accelerator firmly to achieve much faster acceleration. The S mode is also recommended for climbing slopes. Automatic transmission gear positions: 1. P (Park): The gear lever must be shifted to P position when parking the vehicle. 2. N (Neutral): N position is equivalent to neutral gear, which can be used when starting the engine or during towing. 3. D (Drive): Place the gear lever in D position for normal driving, where the car will automatically shift between gears 1-3 or 4-5. D is the most commonly used gear, with its highest gear position being used for highway driving.
I've been driving for over a decade, and on highways, I mostly keep the automatic transmission in D mode, which shifts gears automatically based on RPM, making it both convenient and fuel-efficient. When overtaking, pressing the accelerator deeply can downshift for faster acceleration, and if more power is needed, switching to S mode is an option. However, it's important to be cautious on long downhill sections in mountainous areas, where continuous braking can lead to overheating. In such cases, it's best to switch to manual mode and downshift, using engine braking to slow down. Remember, never coast in N mode, as it could potentially damage the transmission of older cars. Last month, while driving my friend's SUV on a long trip, I deliberately downshifted to M3 during continuous downhill sections to protect the brakes and maintain stability. Generally, there's no need to overthink it—just put it in D mode and you're good to go on the highway.
