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I noticed many new cars today have these three driving options. Has any reputable automotive testing publication, print or digital, ever performed an acceleration and fuel economy test on each of these three modes? Would software changes from normal to sport result in the biggest speed gains in a CVT vehicle compared to the gains in a traditional geared transmission?
Does anyone here have a vehicle with Eco and sport mode and have tried all the settings pushed hard acceleration?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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That varies by the car. On my Challenger, eco mode is automatic but can be turned off. It's simply shutting down the fuel and spark to two cylinders when coasting or cruising on flat ground. Sport mode provides a firmer ride and aggressive shifting for more "spirited driving." In sport mode one does not worry about the mpg. I can also shut off the traction control for doing burnouts, and the trip computer has a 0-60 timer.
On my wife's 2014 Escape, sports mode is simply a shifter selection that allows you to shift manually with a button along side the shifter. Eco mode is not called out, but is basically any time you don't jump on it and kick the turbo in.
My Cayenne turbo will only go into 1st gear with sport on and or PSM turned off (Porsche Stability Management) With PSM off, I gain a VERY noticeable 10+% more power then with it on. It also won't go below about 2,500 rpm or shift into 6th gear, thus turbo's are running and won't shift until almost redline. The tank just hauls a** and is a blast to drive with sport and PSM off, boring when it's on. The fun causes my avg mpg to be around 13, but I didn't buy this thing to fuel save.
My car has multiple modes. The Eco setting changes shift points and makes it less responsive in order to discourage rapid acceleration. I tried that setting once and about three seconds was all it took for me to take it off. It's useful on wet or icy roads though, as my car is RWD and it helps keep the tires from spinning.
Sport mode adjusts the transmission and the suspension, but I can customize it so it only adjusts one or the other. I usually leave the transmission alone (I don't need the car at 3200 RPM all the time) but put the suspension in sport mode.
I use eco mode on both our vehicles on highway driving. In a few occasions where we drove hundred of miles, I did noticed that the gas mileage was definitely much better with the eco mode. In eco mode, the accelerator is much less responsive. In the sedan, eco mode is beyond just the acceleration, the climate temperature control is also optimized.
Every vehicle "eco" and sport mode will differ but basically boils down to eco=fuel saving and sport = responsive driving/handling
based on Motor trend they tend to just change the steering feel and make the engine and suspension responded quicker and the sporty the ride selection the stiff the ride some cars offer the ability for the one to customize their own settings for steering wheel weight and response on car with electric steering and suspension stiffness.
GM seems to have some of the Best electric dampers/suspensions on their cars trucks and SUV's based on Motor Trend as well the current 6th Gen 2SS Camaro is said to have better electronic suspension set up then the C7 Corvette (Non-Z06) and BMW M3/M4 based on their reviews then again it is based off the latest Cadillac CTS-V for 2/3RD's the price.
Our Kia has an eco mode. But it also has a weird Eco, Normal, Sport mode for steering wheel feel. Nothing gets my blood rushing than setting on sport steering mode in a Kia Soul
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