What Does the ‘B’ on Your Gear Shift Actually Mean?

Are all gear shifts the same? Most cars have the same main drive functions, so you might be fooled into thinking that every make’s gear shift options are identical. But you’d be wrong. While some settings are the same across nearly all cars, others, such as the B setting on your gear shift, may be unfamiliar to you. What exactly is this setting? How is it different from your other standard options? And when should you use it?

What Do the Letters on My Gear Shift Mean?

You’re likely familiar with the P, R, N and D labels on your gear shift. P is for Park, R is Reverse, N is Neutral, and D is Drive. Depending on the type of car you have, you may have further D settings, like D4, D3, D2 and D1 or perhaps just D and L for Low. These all correspond to the different gears your car can be in.

In a manual transmission vehicle, you’d have to shift between the different gears yourself, but in an automatic car, the vehicle does the shifting for you. You can lock it into lower gears if desired by bringing your gear shift down to L or one of the lower numbered D options.

What Does a B on a Gear Shift Mean?

According to Toyota, which makes some hybrid models equipped with this setting, the B is for “Brake or Engine Braking mode.” The company says this mode is distinct from low gear settings in non-hybrids because it “increases regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle down while recharging the hybrid battery.”

The goal of this gear is twofold. First, it helps to “reduce wear on your brake pads.” Second, it conserves “energy that would otherwise be lost when decelerating.”

When Should I Use The B Mode?

Honda also makes hybrids equipped with this mode. According to them, the B mode is designed to be used in stop-and-go traffic and when driving downhill. It slows the car by increasing “the deceleration effect of lifting up on the accelerator, reducing the need to apply the brakes.”

Toyota adds that you can also use the B mode when towing- if your car is capable of that. They explain that “B mode can offer additional control and braking assistance when descending with a load.” They caution, however that it’s not designed for everyday driving because “it can make your hybrid slightly less fuel-efficient if used all the time, as it prioritises engine braking over coasting.”

Sources

• How to Use B Mode in Your Toyota Hybrid, Toyota, May 6, 2025.
• B Range (Sport Hybrid, Sport Touring Hybrid), Honda.

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