What Does the S Mean On Gear Shift?

The S on the gear shift refers to “Sport Mode”. Putting the gear shift on S activates this mode, which adjusts your vehicle in different ways. For example, the engine, suspension, and transmission all change settings to give drivers a tighter and more responsive driving experience.

If you want to know more about sport mode, how it works, and the different pros and cons sport mode comes with, read on.

What Does the S On the Gear Shift Mean?

The S on the gear shift refers to “Sport Mode”, and you can activate it by shifting the gear towards it.

Sport mode adjusts your engine and optimizes it for maximum power output and throttle responsiveness. It’s not ideal for driving in the city, but it’s perfect for drivers who want to feel the raw power of their vehicle in long and open stretches.

How Does Sport Mode Work?

Sport mode changes the way your vehicle handles and performs in different ways:

• The engine gains a sensitive throttle that makes your vehicle more responsive to acceleration.
• The suspension tightens to increase driver sensitivity, tire contact on smooth surfaces, and handling responsiveness.
• The transmission downshifts to increase power at the cost of better fuel economy.

All in all, this mode allows your vehicle to accelerate faster than usual, making for more exciting rides and allowing you to use the full extent of your vehicle’s performance capabilities.

When Should Sport Mode Be Used?

Sport mode is best used when you’re far away from other vehicles. It’s ideal for highways or other long and uncongested roads where you can afford to put the pedal to the metal.

When sport mode activates, the steering will feel heavier, the suspension will be tight, and the throttle response will be too sharp and precise for everyday use. The vehicle also goes a lot faster and becomes more difficult to control.

In short, it’s best to avoid using sport mode in the city where there’s a lot of traffic and people crossing the road. Fortunately, activating and deactivating sport mode is as easy as adjusting the gear shift, which means you’re free to change gears as you please.

Advantages of Sport Mode

Sport mode offers pros that make driving (in certain conditions) more fun and exhilarating.

Improved Acceleration

Sport mode boosts power and torque, increasing acceleration times. It also makes it easier to maintain acceleration and high speeds.

You’ll have an easier time getting your vehicle moving if you drive in sport mode, and you’ll be able to reach (and maintain) top speeds much faster than normal.

Throttle Responsiveness

Using sport mode makes the throttle significantly more responsive. This gives drivers greater control over their vehicle — control they’ll need when driving at incredibly high speeds.

Tighter Steering

Car steering also becomes tighter and more responsive when you drive in sport mode.

You’re going to need greater control of your vehicle when driving in sport mode. Fortunately, your vehicle’s steering feedback will adjust itself to provide that.

In short, you can drive at top speeds and still be able to guide your vehicle without much trouble.

Tremendous Increase in Power

Last but not least, driving in sport mode guarantees that you’ll experience an increase in both torque and horsepower, which leads to improved acceleration.

All of these things work together to improve the overall power of your vehicle. You’ll be able to achieve top speeds in no time at all at the cost of fuel.

Disadvantages of Sport Mode

As great as sport mode is, it’s not free of drawbacks, and it pays to know them to avoid problems down the line.

Burns Fuel Quickly

One disadvantage to driving in sport mode you must remember is how it uses up a lot of fuel relative to the distance traveled.

This occurs because activating sport mode leads to a sudden shift in the vehicle’s power, performance, and response times. To keep up with the rising power demand, your engine burns up more fuel.

The prolonged use of sport mode means your vehicle will use up more and more fuel, draining your tank quicker than normal. Fortunately, activating and deactivating sport mode is quick and easy, which means can disable it when it’s not necessary to save both fuel and money.

Shortens Engine Life

Prolonged use of the sport mode also drastically shortens engine life compared to other gear shift modes. Fortunately, your engine won’t damage itself if sport mode is used for only short periods, so avoid overusing it.

This happens because sport mode puts a heavy strain on the engine, drastically raising the temperature and putting it at risk of overheating.

Some vehicle manufacturers create engines that can withstand higher temperatures to mitigate the negative effects of sport mode. Despite this, it’s generally inadvisable to abuse sport mode and use it sparingly.