People left mind blown after finding out what the 'G' on the stick shift actually means
Published on Feb 02, 2026 at 9:08 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 02, 2026 at 9:08 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
If you have ever wondered what the G gear means on a stick shift, then you certainly aren’t alone.
Many of us probably grew up with cars that start with the number one on a gear leveror stick; some cars, however, had the letter G on them.
If you’ve never seen it before, then it might be confusing as to what it actually stands for, particularly as it’s positioned before first gear on a lot of sticks.
However, when it is explained, it suddenly makes sense, and it serves a very useful purpose, particularly on Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
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What does the G gear do on a stick shift?
G is often found on older cars, trucks, or specialized off-road vehicles.
Think of older Mercedes G-Wagens as an example – they have a stick shift, and they’re German – that’s a clue.
The G is German for Gelände (terrain), often referred to as ‘Ground’ or ‘Granny Gear.’
What it does is select an ultra-low gear, designed to provide maximum torque.
This is ideal for climbing hills, towing heavy loads, or navigating rougher terrain.
Mercedes G-Wagen was short for Gelandewagen, which is where the word originated from.
That is roughly translated to ‘all-terrain vehicle.’
With that in mind, the G gear suddenly begins to make more sense.
Incredibly, there was one particular car that had the G gear that you wouldn’t have expected.
The Porsche with the famous G gear
In 1986 came the Porsche 959, one of the best sports cars ever produced.
With a 444hp, 2.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six, the 959 was noisy and fast.
Yet you wouldn’t expect it to have the low-range, high-torque gear.
But due to the noise of the sports car, that is exactly what Porsche did.
The lower gear enabled the sports car to meet noise regulations and set off with reduced volume.
Thanks to the increased torque from the gear, it still got away without any trouble.
The gear was also used for very-low-speed maneuvering, which could be useful around suburban streets and town centres.
We had a lot of people comment on a Facebook post as to what the G on a stick shift actually meant.
Well, for all of those wondering, there’s your answer!
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
