Autobox 'settings'?

[Top Down]

Looking at 2014-15 Hybrids and some have PRNDS and others PRNDSL markings. Why the extra L - and NEVER having driven an automatic before what do the different letters indicate - Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive S & L. Park when the engine is off and the car not in use? Reverse obvious. Neutral when sat at traffic lights (with foot on the brake or handbrake on?) Drive obvious. S and L? I suspect some tuition required before using one.

[Marco1979]

My 2007 Civic Hybrid used to have S and L. L is for going down a steep hill; it will increase engine braking to the maximum. It is noisy. Driving in L is like leaving the car in a much too low gear. Annoying. I only used it going downhill when S wasn’t enough.
S is a sort of L Light: some engine braking, but generally a higher revving engine than in D, so also for a sportier drive. S usually means Sport or Second.

Nowadays you also have B in Honda’s without actual gears (mk4 Jazz e.g.). It means Brake, it increases also engine braking, either by electric motor or actually spinning the petrol one for increased resistance.
Flappy paddle Honda’s usually don’t have L or B.

[Lord Voltermore]

On all the automatics I have driven you remain in D  when stopped at traffic lights.  N is only used for things like pushing the car around the workshop  without the engine running.   You go into P when parked as it also locks the transmission so the car cannot move. 

But I have never driven this  particular type of transmission. It could be different. Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong.

You soon get used to automatic transmission.  The secret initially is to concentrate on keeping your left foot firmly  planted on the floor so you wont be tempted to try and use it.    (Never drive with one foot for brakes, one for throttle )    There may be one or two other things  to learn such as putting your foot on the brake  or pressing a button on the lever when changing a selection. 

You may also find  it strange at first that engine  noise may not always match what you expect from road speed . Or that the amount of engine braking may differ from what you are used to in  a manual car. Could be more or could be less.  You soon get used to it   

 I found it more difficult when going back to a manual car . I keep forgetting to change gear