Most automotive transmission gear shifters feature the same ordinary options. However, there are some vehicles that feature an “S,” which can cause some confusion. What does “S” mean on a gear shift and when should you use it?
In this article, I evaluate the basics of Sport Mode and show you when it is best to use. I also cover both the pros and cons of the “S” setting, and I show you how it differs from the standard Drive selection. At the end of this guide, I cover if it’s safe to drive in Sport Mode all of the time.
What is a Transmission System?
To understand drive modes and gear positions better, you’ll have to know how a car’s transmission system works.
The transmission, aka the gearbox, is the component responsible for enabling vehicles to move with their wheels using their power. The transmission is critical to delivering the right amount of power and torque to your car wheels.
Another part, called the crankshaft, converts the rotational motion into torque via the automatic transmission. This is essential to ensure the right amount of power is delivered every time.
Without a transmission, there’s no way you can drive modern cars since you’ll have difficulty keeping the vehicle at the right speed because the crankshaft usually spins at around 2,000 RPM.
Even with a broken transmission, it’s not safe to drive other than a short jaunt to the mechanic’s shop. Transmissions also make modern cars more eco-friendly and faster in a straight line.
Car manufacturers continue to improve modern transmission systems. Aside from making them smooth in terms of power delivery, companies keep adding new driving modes to the gear shift.
What is an Automatic Transmission?
What does the S mean on a gear shift? If you’re asking this question, you’re likely driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
You may not realize it, but your car’s automatic transmission does many tasks. There are several types of automatic transmissions, and the most common one uses hydraulic power for shifting between gears.
Below are some of the most common operations of an automatic transmission:
- When the vehicle is on a 4-speed or overdrive, the transmission will automatically choose the appropriate gear based on the speed and position of the throttle pedal.
- When accelerating slowly, the shifts will happen at lower speeds than accelerating at full throttle.
- The transmission will automatically downshift when you floor the gas to the next lower gear.
- The transmission will downshift when selecting a lower gear unless you’re moving too fast. In that case, the system will wait until the vehicle slows down before downshifting.
- When shifting to the second gear, it will remain in that shifting position even when stopping unless you use the gear selector again.
As you can see, the automatic transmission does plenty of functions, mainly regulates the power delivery to the wheels and keeps the driver safe. We highly recommend checking out the article from HowStuffWorks to learn more about automatic transmissions.
What Does the S Mean on a Gear Shift?
Look at the car gear, you will see the list of abbreviations and S is one of them. You may wonder what is the S gear in a car.
Many people think that the S on the gear shift stands for Speed, but actually, the S stands for Sport.
Since the CVT gearbox has virtually infinite ratios, in S mode, the ECM of the car adjusts the transmission to provide the best acceleration when the throttle is pressed hard.
Therefore the car can hold the gears longer than it does in the D position for more power. Here’s how it works:
- Higher RPMs: Sport mode encourages the engine to rev higher before shifting gears. This results in quicker acceleration and a more exhilarating driving experience.
- Sharper throttle response: The car becomes more sensitive to your input on the accelerator pedal, providing a more immediate and direct connection between your foot and the engine.
- Firmer suspension (in some vehicles): Some cars equipped with adjustable suspension systems will stiffen the ride in Sport mode, reducing body roll and improving handling during cornering.
If you feel a little sportier, put your car in S and see how the car responds to throttle and gear changes. But pay attention that you will hurt your fuel economy.
How To Use S-Gear For Automatic Cars? (Sport Mode)
Did you know that your car’s S-Gear can be used for more than just manual shifting? S-Gear can also be used to assist with automatic shifting. This makes your car’s transmission operate more efficiently.
Different Ways To Use S-Gear
If you have one of the automatic transmission cars, there are two main ways to use S-Gear.
- The first is to use it in conjunction with the transmission’s existing gear shifter pattern.
- The second is to use S-Gear as a standalone shifting option, which can be helpful if you’re looking to conserve fuel or extend the life of your car’s transmission.
Things To Keep In Mind While Using S-Gear
When using S-Gear in conjunction with an automatic transmission, it’s important to keep the following in mind:
- S-Gear should only be used when the car is in the drive.
- Use the same shifting pattern you would use with a manual transmission – that is, start in first gear and shift up through the gears as you accelerate.
- If you need to slow down quickly, use the brakes instead of downshifting through S-Gear.
What’s the difference between sports mode and drive?
You have an extra feature if you have a car with drive and sport mode. And when you have power at your fingertips, how you use it is totally up to you. Depending on what you want on each journey, you can decide to use the drive or sport mode.
Let’s look at the differences between both modes so you’ll understand when to use them.
The D means Drive mode, like the drive setting on other cars. In contrast, the S stands for sport mode. It adds extra features to the normal drive mode. You only have to shift your gear selector to ‘D’ or ‘S,’ depending on the mode you want to use.
When you drive with the S mode, you’ll have extra features like,
- Lower gears: To gain maximum torque
- Extra braking: Helpful in certain road conditions
- Shifting at higher engine speeds: Runs faster than the normal drive mode.
As explained above, the S mode is excellent in certain road conditions. So, you decide the route you want to drive on and use the appropriate gear for that route. Of course, you can also shift between these gears as you cruise down the road.
advantages of Driving in Sport Mode
#1. More Horsepower/Torque.
It doesn’t matter how much power your car produces, there will be times when you still want more. By shifting the gear selector into the “S” mode, you can get more with ease in many car models.
Right away, there should be a dramatic increase in power and torque. It may even help you achieve a better top speed.
#2. Improved Throttle Response.
When you push the accelerator pedal in “S” mode, you are going to feel the difference. The near-instant power and torque are going to translate into a more responsive throttle.
With this increased throttle, you gain faster acceleration. There’s less waiting around for the power to be delivered, so the 0-60 mph time might be shortened.
#3. Tighter Steering.
When the car is in Sport Mode, the steering automatically tightens up on some car models. As you turn the steering wheel, the car is going to respond faster to what you want it to do.
If you are on a curvy road or heading over the mountain, you’ll appreciate the fast response. It also helps you feel like a race car driver, even if you are sitting behind the wheel of your family’s people mover.
#4. Stiffer Suspension.
If you want a controlled ride, everything relies on the suspension. Sport Mode ensures that the suspension offers a firmer feel and it will often lower when equipped with an adjustable setup.
With a stiffer suspension, you will notice less body roll. There’s also a lower center of gravity, so you can handle the curves with ease. However, the stiffer suspension can affect comfort to some level.
Disadvantages of Driving in Sport Mode
#1. Reduced Fuel Economy.
When you increase the power, torque, and responsiveness of the car engine, you can naturally expect the amount of fuel needed to increase, too. More fuel is going to burn so this power can be produced.
In many cases, the change will be dramatic and noticeable, so you can expect to visit the gas station more often. However, some people find the power output increase to be worth every penny that needs to be spent.
#2. More Engine Wear.
There was a time when the average engine was only expected to last eight years or 150,000 miles. However, modern technology has made it easier to keep a car engine running 200,000-250,000 miles on average.
If you are providing regular maintenance, you could achieve even more life. However, using the Sport Mode is going to put more pressure on the car engine.
If you are overworking the motor for extended periods, you can expect the lifespan to naturally decrease.
You may also require more frequent maintenance because of the wear that’s occurring. Consider providing more frequent oil and filter changes if you are pushing the engine to the limit regularly.
When Should You Use Sport Mode?
Sport mode is designed to be used in situations where you want a more engaging driving experience.
Here are a few things when you might want to use sport mode:
- Acceleration
- Cornering
- Passing
- Mountain Driving
- Racing
- Highway Driving
- Towing
- Fun
Acceleration
If you need to accelerate quickly, such as when merging onto a highway, Sport mode can give you the extra power you need to get up to speed quickly.
Cornering
If you’re driving on a twisty road, Sport mode can make your car feel more responsive and nimble. This can make it easier to handle tight corners and switchbacks.
Passing
If you need to pass another car on a two-lane road, Sport mode can give you the extra power you need to make the pass quickly and safely.
Mountain Driving
If you’re driving in mountainous terrain, S mode can be especially useful.
With sport mode, the car will shift gears more quickly, allowing you to maintain your momentum and avoid losing speed on steep inclines.
Racing
For racing enthusiasts, S mode is essential. It allows for quicker shifting and better acceleration, which can make all the difference when trying to gain a competitive edge.
Highway Driving
S mode can also be useful for highway driving.
When cruising on the highway, S mode will provide a more responsive driving experience, allowing you to overtake other vehicles with ease.
Towing
If you need to tow a trailer, S mode can help you get more power out of your engine.
This will make it easier to tow heavy loads and climb steep grades.
Fun
Let’s face it, sometimes you just want to have some fun while driving.
Sport mode can make your car feel more sporty and exciting, giving you a more engaging driving experience.
FAQs.
Q: Can you shift from S to D while driving?
Absolutely yes. You can shift from D to S as much as you want while driving. You can even shift into N while driving. It won’t cause any issues. However, you must ensure you don’t hold the gas pedal to the floor when shifting between S and D gears.
Q: Does sport mode use more gas?
Extra features come at extra costs. For example, one of the notable demerits of the S mode is that the vehicle will consume more gas when driving in the S setting.
So, you’ll visit the gas stations more regularly. This won’t affect the vehicle’s performance but will show on your wallet in the long run.
Q: How do you put your car in Sports mode?
The S on the gear selector means the sport mode. You can shift into the S mode by depressing the brake and shifting the gear lever to the S mode from a standing point. This is quite the way you shift to D or R gear from a standing point.
You can also shift from D to S while driving. However, you must ensure you do not depress the gas pedal to the floor when shifting the gear.
Q: What does sport mode do?
At a basic point, the sport mode sharpens how the car responds to your input. It does this by telling the car computer to enhance certain car settings. These settings include the throttle response and the transmission shift point.
Q: Does sport mode add horsepower?
The sport mode will enhance the acceleration response and torque and may increase horsepower. Some experts argue that the sport mode adds horsepower, while others say it’ll make you think it increases the engine horsepower while it doesn’t.
Q: What do S and L mean on gear shift?
As mentioned above, the S on gear shift means sport mode. Therefore, the vehicle will have a sportier feel when you drive with the S mode.
On the other hand, the L means lower gear on a car. So, the vehicle will use only the first gear when driving with the L. On some vehicles, it’ll limit the vehicle from using only the first and second lower gears.
Q: What do S and B mean on a gear shift?
If you’re driving on a twisty country road and want to keep the RPM high as you take corners, then you should use the S mode.
When driving with the S mode, the tranny will keep the vehicle on lower gears for a long to gain more power as you take a corner or even cruise on the highway. The B gear offers lower gears too, but for a different purpose.
Q: Is sport mode good for highway driving?
The sport mode keeps the vehicle on lower gears for long and shifts at higher RPM. This offers more toque and better feedback on what the wheels are up to.
So, use the S mode if you need faster acceleration and more torque. You can use it on the highway and when driving on a twisty country road.
Q: Does sport mode make your car louder?
The Sport mode will enhance the exhaust flow if you own a car with dual-mode or adjustable exhaust. This may enhance the horsepower and make the car louder. However, if you’re looking for how to make your car louder, consider deleting your exhaust muffler.
Q: Does sport mode affect steering?
Vehicles come in different designs. On some vehicles, the sport mode will change the steering assistance from the power steering. This will make the car feel more substantive and heavier. It may even change the steering ratio, so any wheel turn has a greater effect.
Q: Can you use sport mode in the snow?
No, it’s not ideal to use the sport mode on snow. Some newer models have ice or snow mode – it’s better to use any of these modes. But if your vehicle doesn’t have ice or snow mode, use the four-wheel or all-wheel drive in snow.
Final Words
The contemplation of what does the S mean on a gear shift has been explained in this article. This article also explained when and how to use the S mode.
Understanding the inscriptions on your gear selector and around your car is essential. This will help you maximize the features you paid for.