What is a DSG Gearbox?

If you’re looking for an automatic car, you may hear references to a DSG gearbox. But what is one, exactly?

A DSG gearbox is an automatic gearbox, developed by gearbox experts Borg-Warner and originally licensed to the Volkswagen Group, mostly for use in VW, Skoda, SEAT, Cupra, and Audi models (although Audi calls it ’S-Tronic’ instead of DSG). Other manufacturers — Ford, Renault, BMW and many more — have since used the same basic design and layout, but only Volkswagen Group’s gearboxes are called DSG. The letters stand for Direct Shift Gearbox, and it was designed to make automatic gear shifting faster and more efficient.

What is a DSG gearbox?

A DSG gearbox is an automatic gearbox which, instead of using a torque convertor as in a conventional automatic, instead has two sets of gears on two separate shafts — odd-numbered gears on one shaft, even-numbered gears on the other. The gears can shift automatically, or the driver can take manual control. Early models had six speeds, but more recent versions usually have seven speeds.

How does a DSG gearbox work?

In simple terms, a DSG gearbox works like a conventional automatic, in that as you accelerate and brake, the gearbox will change up and down through the gears to match your speed, maximising efficiency as it does so. As far as you, the driver, is concerned, there’s little difference between a DSG and any other type of automatic gearbox.

Under the skin, though, a DSG is very different. Because the gears themselves are on two shafts, each with its own clutch, it means that while one gear is in use, the next gear can be pre-engaged, ready to go, with its clutch open. As you accelerate or brake, the gearbox will logically work out what the next gear you’ll need will be, and as necessary, one clutch will open and the other will close, engaging the next gear. That makes a DSG faster than a conventional automatic at changing gears. It’s like just pressing the ‘next episode’ button in Netflix when you’re binging a series, rather than heading back out to the main menu to find it.

That means that a DSG gearbox can be more efficient, and when it was first introduced in the early 2000s, it was one of the first automatic gearboxes to be more efficient, and return better fuel economy and emissions figures, than an equivalent manual gearbox.

Are DSG gearboxes reliable?

Generally speaking a DSG gearbox will be reliable, although Ford experienced many issues with the early versions of its ‘PowerShift’ DSG-style ‘box. DSGs are complex, though, and need careful maintenance and servicing.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a DSG gearbox?

The chief advantage of a DSG gearbox is how fast it changes gear. That means less time spent between gears, which is better for both acceleration and for efficiency. You can go quicker, and yet you can also save fuel when you’re cruising. That efficiency of shifting can also mean less wear and tear to the gearbox components.

A DSG gearbox will also, generally, be lighter than a more conventional torque-convertor automatic which again aids efficiency. As with all autos, a DSG offers the driver potentially more comfort and relaxation, especially when driving in heavy traffic, but its fast-shifting properties mean that it’s also more engaging and entertaining when using manual-shift mode.

The downside is complexity. With two clutches, two gear shafts, and complicated electronic and hydraulic systems built into each DSG, they do need careful and attentive servicing and maintenance if they’re to remain reliable. Some versions of a DSG gearbox can also be hesitant to pick up power from standing still, making joining fast-flowing roundabouts tricky.

How to drive a DSG gearbox car

You drive a DSG gearbox car in the same way you drive any automatic. There will be a lever or selector, either on the transmission tunnel or on the steering column, and this will have the typical PNDR selection for Park, Neutral, Drive, or Reverse. Many will also have an extra setting marked S or M for Sport or Manual. Some will have a two-part gear gate, where you can slide the lever across to push it back and forth for manual gear changes.

You’ll have two pedals — an accelerator and a brake — and a DSG gearbox will ‘creep’ forwards slowly when the engine is running, either in Drive or Reverse, which is handy for low speed manoeuvres.

Beyond that, the driving experience should be normal. Accelerate and brake as you would in any other automatic-equipped car, and the DSG gearbox will change gears for you if left in Drive. Switch it into Sport (where equipped) and the DSG will hold on to gears for longer, allowing you to rev higher, and the ‘box will also change down more quickly.

Taking manual control usually means nudging the gear lever to one side to enter the manual mode, but just be aware that some ‘boxes ask you to push forward to change down and pull back to change up, whereas others reverse that pattern. Many DSG-equipped cars will also come with paddle shifters, behind the steering wheel, which allow you to change down a gear by pulling the left-hand paddle, and change up by pulling the right hand paddle, something that has been inspired by motor racing. It means you can change gear without taking your hands off the wheel.

Which cars have a DSG gearbox?

All Volkswagen Group cars with a petrol, diesel, or plug-in hybrid engine have the option of a DSG gearbox, so that’s everything from VW, Skoda, SEAT, Cupra, and Audi. Many recent models — such as the VW Tiguan for instance — come only with a DSG gearbox, and have no manual gearbox option anymore. Even ultra-high performance models such as the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron, and the Lamborghini lineup have used developments of the DSG gearbox, as does Porsche.

There are many car makers which offer some form of dual-clutch gearbox similar in design to a DSG, so the likes of Ford, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Mercedes, and Renault have all used a DSG-style gearbox at one time or another.

What’s the difference between a DSG gearbox and other automatic gearboxes?

A DSG gearbox is different to other automatic gearboxes because it uses clutches to control its gear changing, almost like a manual gearbox. The engine’s power is sent to the two DSG gearbox shafts and the DSG’s electronics and hydraulics then control the clutches and the gear selection to send the power to the wheels.

A more conventional automatic uses a ‘torque converter’ which is a liquid-filled disc that spins to transmit the engine’s power to the gearbox, and in a normal automatic all of the gears are on one shaft. That means that a conventional automatic will usually take more time to change gears than a DSG.

DSG gearbox FAQs

Is a DSG gearbox automatic?

Yes, a DSG gearbox is fully automatic, although most will have a manual-shift mode too, allowing you to take control.

Does a DSG gearbox use more fuel than other gearboxes?

Yes, they are. When originally introduced, DSG gearboxes were highly praised for their shift speeds and their efficiencies, and while that advantage has been eroded a little by developments in conventional automatic technology, a DSG gearbox remains an impressive piece of engineering.

Is a DSG gearbox easier to drive than a manual gearbox?

Yes, in the sense that you don’t have to worry about a clutch pedal or changing gears yourself. The DSG gearbox will take care of all of that, leaving you free to concentrate on acceleration, braking, and steering.

Does a DSG gearbox use more fuel than other gearboxes?

No, in fact the high-speed shifting of a DSG gearbox usually means that they’re more efficient than a conventional automatic, and they will often use less fuel than a simpler manual gearbox.

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