If you’ve recently picked up a new Chevy, you may have noticed an “L” button on the steering wheel and wondered what it does. Indeed, a single letter doesn’t do much to explain the purpose behind this button. GM Authority is here to explain its purpose.
As it just so happens, the L button enables drivers to take a bit more control over their driving experience. Simply put, the L button activates the vehicle’s paddle shifters. After pressing this button, the vehicle is put into L mode, which simply allows drivers to manually change gears via the paddles mounted behind the 3- and 9-o’clock steering wheel spokes. Without first engaging L mode, the paddles won’t respond, leaving manual shifting off the table.
The L button is necessary because newer Chevy models are equipped with a digital column shifter. Given there this new shifter doesn’t provide for a traditional way to shift into L mode, the steering wheel button is used to enable manual shifting instead.
The L button can be found on a variety of different Chevy models. Currently, it’s available on Chevy vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine and paddle shifters, and specifically with steering wheels designated by RPO codes N53, N5C, and KI3. As of this writing, these steering wheels can be found on the following models:
- 2024 and newer Chevy Traverse
- 2025 and newer Chevy Equinox
- 2025 and newer Chevy Tahoe
- 2025 and newer Chevy Suburban
Interestingly, several other Chevy models, including the new third-generation Chevy Colorado, equip a similar steering wheel as the models listed above, but don’t include paddle shifters. Instead, the Colorado features a more traditional gated shifter on the center console, which features an L mode toggle on the gated shifter that allows gear changes from the side of the shifter itself.
So, if your new Chevy features this L button on the steering wheel, now you know what it does.
In the video above, our own Alex Luft explains how it all works in the 2025 Chevy Equinox RS. The paddles and L button make an appearance at the 9:13 mark.
Comments
All because GM just had to copy HKG (Hyundai/Kia/Genesis) with that idiotic column mounted shifter. Like the liftgate that opens when you don’t want it to.
That shifter is far superior to the stupid waste of space floor shifter. It is intuitive like a column shift has been for more than half a century. It takes no time to learn, and it is only touched three times a drive in 99.9999998% of driving (P to R, R to D and D to P). Column shift > buttons > floor. It is nice having so much more room on the console with the shifter moved off of it. Our Denali has the buttons, still prefer that to a floor shift and took maybe two drives to get used to it.
Beachy, your comments are always so upbeat and positive. But since you mentioned it, that style shifter was out long before Hyundai/Kia. The Mercedes ML SUV had it long before they did. It’s pretty intuitive and allows for more space in the console area. The back door feature you mentioned can be disabled….see I’ve solved half your problems on just one of your posts for the day.
I also think the column shift is a great idea. Automatic cars used to come that way all the time so no one really copied anyone, they’re just bringing it back.
Peachy, have you watched the movie back to the future?
“L” for manual shifting. That makes a lot of sense.
My wife’s 2019 Nox Premier has the paddles on the back of the wheel at 3 and 9 o’clock. I never knew they were for and never cared. The console shifter has button to manually up and down shift if you want to. I use it to defeat the ignorant stop-start bs by driving in 6.
Those are for radio station up/down and volume up/down (left and right respectively), not for the transmission.
Why L? Why can’t it be M for Manual? Its an M in my XT5 which uses a shift lever identical to BMWs and is activated by clicking it into drive a second time or by tapping the paddle shifters? L just seems confusing.
Because historically it’s been “L” for decades when it was known as a “PRNDL” shifter, before that it would say “PRND321” or “PRND21” or other variations depending on the make.
Yeah I remember the numbered shifters. The last time I seen those PRND321 was in my 2009 SX4. Although that one was more PRND32L as it was a 4-speed. Afterwards cars started having too many gears to put on a shifter and with the advent of shiftable automatics they swapped it with either M or S like in my Toyota. But L is still confusing because to me that would be holding only first gear not putting it into manual mode.
Also, like I mentioned. On my XT5 (and Rav4) tapping on the paddles overrides the automatic shifting temporarily. Although it doesn’t quite work like most people think where it forces it on that gear it just limits the shifting to the gear you are set to. Which is useful if I am using engine braking on hills or in the snow. So now with this L just tapping the paddles won’t override the automatic shifting?
L actually refers to “Low”, and this feature is covered in depth in the owner’s manual. The manual shifting in these does not work the way you think it does. From the manual:
To enter ERS or Manual Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), press L (Low)
button on steering wheel. The L in the shift
pattern will illuminate in red, and the D will
switch to white.
2. Tap the left steering wheel control to
reduce the highest gear available, or
the right control to increase the highest
gear available.
3. To exit L (Low) and shift into D (Drive), shift
to D (Drive) or press L (Low) button. The D in
the shift pattern will illuminate in red, and
the L will switch to white.
When shifting to L (Low), the transmission will
shift to a preset lower gear range. For this
preset range, the highest gear available will
be displayed next to the L in the DIC. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) 3 102. All gears
below that number are available to use. For
example, when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to the
L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are shifted
automatically. To shift to 5 (Fifth) gear, tap
the right steering wheel control or shift into
D (Drive).
L (Low) will prevent shifting to a lower gear
range if the engine speed is too high. If the
vehicle speed is not reduced within the time
allowed, the lower gear range shift will not
be completed. Slow the vehicle, then tap the
left steering wheel control to the desired lower
gear range.
Cruise control can be used while in ERS.
Yeah I don’t love that. I actually prefer how its set up in my XT5 where tapping a paddle shifter overrides the automatic shifting temporarily. Its now an extra step I have to do if I am looking to drop a gear on a hill or driving in the snow. Atleast the button is on the wheel next to the down shift paddle.
Also I am glad you explained it thoroughly. I had to explain how this works to my friend who has a Rav4 which works similar to my XT5. It doesn’t hold the gear you have it set to. It just means the car will shift to that gear at maximum. You can have it set to 5 from start and it will shift up to 5th gear but won’t go past it. Also, I’m not sure if its the case here, but in my cars if you activate it with the paddle shifters it will stay manual until you come to a stop. Then it will revert to Auto unless you put it in the M (or S in the case of my Toyota).
Having to many buttons is A hazardous way to drive I drive a 1992 f 150 start engine it’s in park lift shift lever up put in r for reverse go back stop put in d to go forward and push the brake petal down to stop very simple that is what is needed to many buttons causes accidents