What Does Sport Mode Do?

Porsche Even if you drive a ubiquitous grocery getter, chances are it has a Sport mode. And no, it’s likely not the cruel joke it seems. Increasingly, new vehicles’ Sport modes carry the credentials to rise above gimmickry.Simply put, they can juggle the priorities in your favor, adding an edge to your inputs and more of a feeling of responsiveness when you want it, with fewer compromises the rest of the time. What has enabled Sport modes to become more robust? The transition to electric power steering and electronically operated throttle controls provided the start, followed by the shift toward connected modules and software-defined vehicles. They allow automakers to offer a completely different calibration and experience via lines of code rather than added mechanical complexity.What Changes When You Choose Sport Mode?In today’s new vehicles, Sport mode can amount to a second personality good for curvy roads or hilly terrain, or a better fit for the driving enthusiast in the household. Our best advice is this: Read the owner’s manual, as generally it outlines exactly what changes in each mode. Broadly, that button press or menu selection almost always includes quicker accelerator responses. In gasoline models with automatic transmissions, it may hold a gear longer and shift at higher rpm.Sport mode often goes well beyond acceleration, though. Steering might firm up or unwind differently from tight corners, and the rear-wheel steering, if the vehicle is so equipped, might be tuned toward an even more nimble impression. Firmer settings for an air springs and/or adaptive dampers might also be part of it. And in some models, exhaust flaps, valves, or electronic noisemakers can provide a little more soundtrack. ➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsIt might also change the all-wheel-drive torque distribution to favor the rear wheels a bit more. The traction and stability systems may allow slightly more tire slip before intervening with the brakes. And if you’re talking about a crossover or SUV, Sport might be one of several specialized drive-mode choices catered to specific traction demands, such as Dirt, Sand, Snow, or Rock, or general Off-Road or Tow settings—potentially allowing a particular amount of tire slip, or locking (or unlocking) differentials. You may want to power through sand or snow with some wheelspin, for instance, but that’s a very bad idea if you’re teetering on boulders or trying to pull a boat up a slick ramp. Hybrids and EVs: Even More of the AboveElectrified vehicles’ even more extensively software-defined systems provide a vast canvas for painting an entirely different experience with each mode—including different output numbers. In the Porsche Taycan, for instance, you’ll need to be in Sport or Sport Plus to approach its maximum power levels, while versions of it and some other models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N offer a boost button to access its quickest acceleration. Extending that idea, automakers have become especially creative with the names and the marketing of such modes—especially when it comes to those modes only intended for short bursts and performance driving. GMC is calling its maximum performance mode in the Hummer EV Watts to Freedom, for example, while the related version in the Chevy Silverado EV is called Wide Open Watts. And in the top-performance Ford Mach-E GT, the comparable mode is called Unbridled Extend. How Does Sport Mode Affect MPG?Sport mode will in all likelihood put a dent in overall efficiency no matter what the vehicle type, but there are some special notes for EVs and hybrids. Along with the sharper accelerator response, it might boost the amount of regenerative braking, which could add to driver control on curvy roads or city stop-and-go but work against smooth, efficient driving. It might also power multiple motors all the time versus only when they’re needed.Hybrid mpg will also be lower in Sport mode. In the Toyota Prius and other Toyota hybrids it will, for instance, keep the engine on longer, in addition to providing a firmer steering calibration and quicker accelerator response. On the flip side, Eco mode in the Prius runs the climate control system in an energy-saving way. Warranty and Weather: When Shouldn’t You Use Sport Mode? There are a few cases for caution in using Sport mode. On slick roads, some vehicles’ active safety systems won’t intervene as quickly in Sport mode. And while using Sport mode or the more aggressive performance settings of your vehicle often generally won’t impact your warranty, there are exceptions, so consult your owner’s manual. Using Sport mode can feel intentional, as relatively few vehicles will start up in it. Because of the way test regulations stipulate fuel economy numbers, some will “latch” to a less aggressive mode for your next trip, while others will revert to an Eco mode no matter what, or allow a custom mode of personal settings. But there’s not always a lot of consistency across brands or even models. Our advice? Drive any vehicle you’re considering in several of its modes, get to know them, and understand whether or not you’ll need to be making a button press or something more complicated part of your daily routine. The Future: Not Just the Mode but the ExperienceThe idea of a Sport mode that only responds in a little perkier way is already showing signs of being obsolete. Modes in modern vehicles are fast becoming immersive and experiential. For instance, in the Mustang Mach-E GT, Ford calls the drive modes Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, each of which brings in different instrument-cluster graphics, ambient lighting, and speaker-supplemented propulsion sounds. Another example is Mini, which offers eight different themed experiences including Vivid, Timeless, and Go-Kart; of those, only that last one affects steering and accelerator responses.Concept cars from a range of luxury brands have also teased a future including aromatherapy, air filtration, cabin temperature, and seat support, and some have suggested the idea of a different lighting signature depending on your chosen driving mode—and mood.If that’s a future that helps the driver stay more in tune with the vehicle and the road, all the better.A La Mode