A solenoid spool valve including a spool valve having a sleeve provided with a supply pressure port, a control pressure port, an exhaust port and a spool supported in the sleeve for axial displacement within the sleeve; and an electromagnetic actuator for providing an axial drive force to the spool in a first axial direction; wherein the spool has a first piston with a first land for opening/closing the supply pressure port and a second piston with a second land for opening/closing the exhaust port, wherein the first piston has a larger piston face surface area in fluid communication with the control pressure port than does the second piston.