Understanding Paddle Shifters: How They Work and Why You'll Love Using Them
Posted in Motoring Tips
How Paddle Shifters Work and Why You'll Love Using Them
Initially a feature exclusive to high-performance sports cars, paddle shifters have made their way into regular commuter cars over the past two decades.
In sports cars, paddle shifters are primarily to allow more refined gear shifting without the delay of your traditional gearstick.
In modern cars, however, the benefits extend to various driving conditions to ensure better power delivery, fuel economy and towing capability.
In this guide, we'll discuss how paddle shifters work and how to use them to get the most of your car.
What Are Paddle Shifters?
Positioned behind the steering wheel, paddle shifters are small levers that let you manually change gears without needing a clutch pedal.
You’ll usually see a "+" on the right paddle for upshifting and a "-" on the left paddle for downshifting.
How Do Paddle Shifters Work?
When you pull a paddle, it sends a signal to the car’s transmission system, telling it to change gears.
The process happens almost instantly, giving you a quicker, smoother gear change compared to traditional manual gearboxes. You don’t need to worry about using a clutch pedal — the system handles that for you.
Paddle shifters typically work in two ways:
- Automatic Mode with Manual Override: In this setup, your car stays in automatic mode, but you can use the paddles to take control temporarily. After a short time of not using the paddles, the car will switch back to fully automatic mode.
- Fully Manual Mode: Here, the paddles give you complete control over gear changes, ideal for sporty or performance driving.
Types of Paddle Shifters
Depending on the car, paddle shifters can come in a few different styles:
Fixed Paddles
These are mounted to the steering column and stay in the same spot, making them easy to find even when you’re turning the wheel.
Steering-Wheel-Mounted Paddles
These move with the steering wheel, which can feel more intuitive for some drivers but might be trickier to locate during sharp turns.
Specialized Paddles in EVs
In hybrid and electric cars, paddle shifters often let you adjust the strength of the regenerative braking allowing you to control the rechargining of the battery.
When to Use Paddle Shifters
Using paddle shifters can make driving easier and more enjoyable in plenty of situations:
- Hilly Drives: When going up or down steep roads, using the paddles to shift to a lower gear can keep your speed steady and reduce wear on your brakes.
- Overtaking: Need a bit more power? Quickly downshift with the paddles for extra acceleration to safely overtake.
- Towing: Paddle shifters can stop the gearbox from shifting unnecessarily when towing heavy loads, giving you smoother power delivery.
- Sporty Drives: If you’re heading out for a spirited drive, paddle shifters let you take control and make the experience more engaging.
- Fuel Efficiency: At cruising speeds, manually selecting a higher gear can sometimes help save on fuel.
Tips for Getting the Hang of Paddle Shifters
- Stay Within Safe RPMs: Shift gears at appropriate RPM levels to avoid straining the engine.
- Relax—There Are Safeguards: Most cars won’t let you accidentally damage the engine by shifting at the wrong time.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Try using paddle shifters in a quiet area first to build your confidence.
Paddle shifters bring a mix of convenience, fun, and control to your drive, whether you’re navigating hills, towing, or just enjoying the open road.
Many cars now come equipped with this handy feature, and it’s worth learning how to use them to get the most out of your vehicle.
Does your car have paddle shifters? If you have any questions about the paddle shifters in your car - or about any other feature in your car, for that matter - drop into your local Motorama showroom and one of our friendly staff would love to help!
