A question about drive modes

[Dave O]

87... nothing fancy

Thank you for answering 87

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[Deleted member 37952]

Anecdotally, I experience the opposite and get better mileage in Normal/Eco modes compared to Sport but also if I am engaging Sport, I am usually about to participate in some spirited driving on mountain roads so my habits change and I gain more of a lead foot. That said, I dislike the simulated shifting that happens Sport mode too much do use it for any regular driving around with it.

Coming from an EV, I tend to prefer to drive in Eco mode for the greater regenerative braking so that's where most of my highway miles end up being.

My personal opinion is that MPG isn't all that greatly affected between the modes on a purely objective level. Sure it changes the accelerator curve mapping and the regenerative rate but it's the same drivetrain and your personal habits and driving style will have much more of an effect than the specific modes.

 

[GmanGM]

you are correct that I said "better in sport than Eco, you are also correct that I talked about my trip in sport and Normal.

my post was really about my trip, and the sport/eco argument is very anecdotal.

Got it, - I have a 2 week old hv awd and am trying to figure this stuff out as well and get the best milage - trying to remember to put it in Eco (crazy it doesn't go back to that mode once u select it) and pull up "This Trip" card (crazy it also doesn't go back to that once u select it too!) The stats on your trip don't help me w that because neither leg was Eco, but hopefully we all figure it out.

 

[colinl]

What Octane Level (87 - 93 Octane) are people using in the 2025 Maverick Hybrid 2.5L?

the 2.5L hybrid only needs and can only make effective use of 87 octane.

if you look at the official specs for this engine you'll see it actually has a 13.0:1 compression ratio which is very high, but the atkinson cycle leaves the intake valve open a long time, so this isn't at all like a sportbike engine with that kind of CR that should be running 93 octane. it runs fine on 87.

 

[Dave O]

the 2.5L hybrid only needs and can only make effective use of 87 octane.

if you look at the official specs for this engine you'll see it actually has a 13.0:1 compression ratio which is very high, but the atkinson cycle leaves the intake valve open a long time, so this isn't at all like a sportbike engine with that kind of CR that should be running 93 octane. it runs fine on 87.

Thank you Colin great information I appreciate it

 

[HeyBales]

so I have a 25 AWD Hybrid, and this is my first time having a vehicle with drive modes.

one thing I've noticed is that they are very different in how they handle and how they prioritize throttle response (if I used that term correctly) vs battery power, vs the engine... but

while not doing any kind of scientific study, I seem to anecdotally get a better MPG rating on sport mode than eco mode.

for instance I just went from Michigan to DC in sport mode and got almost 32MPG on my just over 500 mile trip, but I drove back in normal mode and got just over 30 MPG.

yes I know there are many variables like how much I went up hill vs downhill going through the mountains...I'm just sayin.

so am I crazy, or is it that I just don't have enough data in my 1600 miles thus far?

So highway speeds then?

That's been reported before. Driver did same out/back in different modes, so limiting wind factor somewhat.

The engine is likely going to run the whole time anyway, either mode.

But sport uses the motor more when the speed allows (<65 mph abouts) to provide torque.
So the ICE doesn't rev up as much when more power needed, so hills perhaps less gas more battery.
Sport keeps battery charged to max.

And then your regular variables over 1 trip probably not good indication anyway.

 

[HeyBales]

Got it, - I have a 2 week old hv awd and am trying to figure this stuff out as well and get the best milage - trying to remember to put it in Eco (crazy it doesn't go back to that mode once u select it) and pull up "This Trip" card (crazy it also doesn't go back to that once u select it too!) The stats on your trip don't help me w that because neither leg was Eco, but hopefully we all figure it out.

So use your terrain and traffic patterns to figure out if it's actually better for your normal driving - for some it's not.

Regen will be harder on coasting, rather than needing to tap the breaks to engage the same level of regen (it is the same overall if no physical brakes engaged).
But also needing to press Go pedal to actually coast well.

Throttle response is a tad slower to aid trying to stay under 10% power. And maybe make it easier to coast.

In either case you will get better at just dealing with Go and brake pedal to cause exactly the same response. But you may have to watch EV coach more than desired to not cross lines.

What some of the modes allow is less driver engagement to finely watch where you are at, or make it easier for cruise control to stay in some limit.

The mode not kept is probably because the smog/MPG figures are based on the default mode - so back it goes.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

What Octane Level (87 - 93 Octane) are people using in the 2025 Maverick Hybrid 2.5L?

Your owners manual recommends 87 octane for the hybrid. Anything higher is a waste of money in the hybrid. You may get slightly higher mileage using real gas (ethanol-free). But very unlikely the slightly increased mileage would justify the increased cost of it.

I did go through the mountains, I don't know if I went downhill more one way than the other.

This was probably a factor.

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