The "+-" mode next to the D gear in automatic cars is a manual override feature that allows the driver to temporarily take control of gear selection. It is especially valuable in the UAE for maintaining a lower gear during steep mountain descents like Jebel Jais or for sustained engine braking when loaded with passengers and luggage on highways like the Dubai-Hatta road, preventing brake fade in high temperatures. It also provides immediate torque for overtaking or navigating soft sand by preventing an untimely upshift.
While D mode is sufficient for most city and highway driving, manually selecting gears enhances control in specific UAE conditions. Here is a comparison of typical usage:
| Scenario | D (Drive) Mode Behavior | +/- (Manual) Mode Advantage |
|---|
| Mountain Descent | Tends to upshift, increasing reliance on brakes | Locks in 2nd or 3rd gear for engine braking, reducing brake wear and overheating risk |
| Overtaking on Highway | May hesitate or shift up before maneuver is complete | Allows downshift to 3rd or 2nd for instant power (e.g., from 120 km/h on Sheikh Zayed Road) |
| Soft Sand/Desert Track | Can shift unpredictably based on wheel speed | Locks in low gear (L, 1st, or 2nd) to maintain momentum and avoid getting stuck |
| Heavy Traffic Crawl | Frequent 1st-2nd gear shifts in stop-and-go | Can hold 2nd gear to reduce transmission "hunting" and provide smoother creep |
The core benefit is managing vehicle dynamics without full manual transmission complexity. For instance, a 2022 GCC-spec Toyota Land Cruiser V6 consuming 7.2 km/l in city traffic (as per UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure's 2023 fuel economy guide) can see its transmission shift more frequently in D mode during Dubai summer traffic with prolonged AC use. Using manual mode to hold 3rd gear in 60 km/h zones can slightly improve responsiveness. RTA Dubai's driver guidelines recommend using lower gears for descending slopes to increase safety. The system is designed to protect itself; if you select too low a gear for your speed (e.g., trying for 2nd at 140 km/h), the transmission will ignore the command or auto-shift to prevent damage. The annual cost difference is negligible, primarily tied to potentially slightly higher fuel consumption if you consistently rev the engine at high RPMs in manual mode, but the safety and control benefits for specific UAE terrains justify its occasional use.
