Best Drive Mode for Mountains/Switchbacks

[BlackMav23]

Hi there. I seem to remember seeing a reference to this before but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for when searching.

With other auto trans vehicles I could use the silly tiptronic mode to downshift manually and provide some form of engine braking without riding the brakes down steep declines and then easily shift into an appropriate gear to cruise.

Should L mode be engaged? Tow/Haul?

I have the FX4 package and 4k tow so I do have the option for a couple extra drive modes and a more capable cooling system in theory.

Thanks in advance.

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[Dad]

Hi there. I seem to remember seeing a reference to this before but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for when searching.

With other auto trans vehicles I could use the silly tiptronic mode to downshift manually and provide some form of engine braking without riding the brakes down steep declines and then easily shift into an appropriate gear to cruise.

Should L mode be engaged? Tow/Haul?

I have the FX4 package and 4k tow so I do have the option for a couple extra drive modes and a more capable cooling system in theory.

Thanks in advance.

Yep. I love having the shift paddles on our Hyundai for mountain driving. Not a daily drive, but they work as if you have a manual shift to downshift or up shift as needed.
While the Maverick lacks this feature, I believe your best bet is Tow/Haul. I have not yet had to use it, but in theory, it should be an automatic downshift when in going downhill or uphill. I say take a little trip just to try it out before hitting the adventure road.

 

[Tailender]

I put mine in L but it seems to slow me down too much for the mtns I traverse. Definitely would help if towing something so you don't have to ride the brakes.

 

[KSC Grey Ghost]

I have a XLT Hybrid went to Vegas from Tn. on interstate 40 over the Continental divide had it in regular drive mode Cruise set at 70 mph and did not have one problem at all climbing over the Rockies and coming down into Albuquerque never touch the brakes the regenerative braking and cruise control kept it right at 70 mph ,. I also have bigger tires Wild Peaks. 235/65 17s . Hope this helps.

 

[BlackMav23]

Just got my odb cable yesterday. Plan on unlocking them this weekend.

I'm just over 600 miles at this point. I've been babying it and was able to get well over 30 mpg on the expressway this weekend (driving much more conservatively than usual). City driving sucks though at this point. Rocking about 12 mpg in city driving. Granted it's been cold and we've been using the remote start and I only live a mile and a half from work. Hoping that eco helps with this.

I'm pretty tech savvy but I'm not not gonna attempt forscan until the weekend when I can really devote some attention to it. Out of curiosity, is there a backup or flash back to stock option? Don't wanna mess anything up.

 

[psuarmy]

I agree. Sport mode is fun in the mountains on windy roads.

 

[desmobob]

On one of my most frequent trips, I have a long, curvy steep downhill run of about two miles. Pushing the button for "Low" seems a bit too much and the revs get up pretty high.

The manual says you can shift into "Low" at any speed. I usually slow down first, so I figured that was why it was holding in such low gears and revving so high. So I tried hitting the "Low" button at about 45 or 50 and then freaked as the revs shot up to about 5K!

Now I use "Tow" mode, which seems more reasonable. It picks the gear to hold depending on your amount of braking. I haven't tried "Sport" mode on the decent and I guess I need to give it a try.

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