What gear should an automatic car use when going uphill?

For an automatic car going uphill, use the D gear or S gear.

Below is a detailed introduction to gear selection for different road conditions:

Uphill: This type of road requires high torque intervention, so you can use "D-" to downshift. However, sometimes when there is sufficient power, you should also use "D+" to upshift to prevent power wastage and damage to the engine and transmission. When encountering a steep slope, even after downshifting, the vehicle may still lack power. In this case, use the S gear in sport mode.

Downhill: Use "D+" to shift up to D2 or D3 gear, which can harness the engine to achieve a braking effect. For general slopes, gears 2-3 are sufficient, but when facing a very steep slope, remember to switch to gear 1. If the vehicle starts sliding faster, use "D-" to downshift and control the vehicle.

When driving an automatic car uphill, the best gear to use depends on the situation. Most modern automatics will handle the gradient without input, but manually selecting a lower gear (often labelled 'L', 'S', or using paddle shifters) can improve performance. This keeps the engine in a higher RPM range, providing more torque for climbing.

For steep inclines, manually shifting to 'S' (Sport) or 'L' (Low) mode prevents unnecessary gear changes, maintaining power. In cars with paddle shifters, dropping to a lower gear manually (e.g., from 'D' to '3') helps. Avoid riding the brakes, as this can cause overheating.

If towing or carrying heavy loads, selecting a lower gear proactively reduces strain on the transmission. For example, a Ford Focus with a conventional automatic might benefit from 'S' mode, while a Tesla Model 3 (electric) relies on regenerative braking and doesn’t require gear changes.

Key points:

1. Let the car handle mild gradients in 'D' (Drive).
2. Use 'S' or 'L' for steep hills or heavy loads.
3. Paddle shifters allow manual control if available.
4. Electric cars (e.g., Nissan Leaf) don’t need gear adjustments.