Yossarian's two mode highway test

[Yossarian]

I had the opportunity to take a little road trip with my wife this weekend, the first in my new 2025 Hybrid XL. Since we are new to the Mav and the hybrid world, I thought it would be fun to do a little comparison. Saturday morning we left Atlanta and drove to Augusta, with the return trip on Sunday morning. The routes were not exact mirror images of each other, but close enough for fun. This test compared Normal mode to Eco mode, with mostly cruise controlled highway driving. If this thread catches any interest, I am doing this same drive on April 11th(iykyk)and I can add another mode test or two into this, or recreate either of the two already tested. I thought I would test sport mode on the way back to Augusta, but I am in week 3 of an in-town, work commute driving mode test, and it is obvious that Sport mode is for fun, not efficiency, so I am conflicted. That in-town test will be reported on next week, depending on if I also test slippery mode.

Some of the test specs, to keep it as fair and comparable as possible;

• primarily the same routes to and from forward and backward
  • some minor differences in August arrival and departure locations
• cruise control set at 75-80 mph whenever possible,
• commute times were at about the same time of day and temperature.
• All metrics taken from the My Trip info card.
• I did fuel up in Augusta before leaving, so there was additional fuel weight in the truck

On to the results, which I found somewhat surprising.

​

Mode​	Time driven (hh:mm)​	Miles Driven​	Elec. Miles​	% Elec. Miles​	MPG​
Normal	2:35	153.6	20.3	13.22%	37.6
Eco	2:23	138.7	14.9	10.74%	35.8*

* there were 2 quick, "remain at idle" pit stops on the eco mode test

I knew that neither mode would be very fuel / electric efficient at the speed at which I drive on the highways, but I did not really expect Eco Mode to lose out on an efficiency test to normal mode. Admittedly, there are flaws in my test, especially with the two pit stops on the return to Atlanta, so maybe I will re-test that in April.

Let me know your thoughts or questions.

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[Tbone289]

What was the wind speed and direction for each of these trips?

 

[Yossarian]

What was the wind speed and direction for each of these trips?

15 MPH tailwind (West) on the outbound leg
8 MPH crosswind (South) on the return leg

Certainly could have been a factor.

 

[Blue_Max]

I did not really expect Eco Mode to lose out on an efficiency test to normal mode.

That's some catch, that Catch-22.

 

[Yossarian]

That's some catch, that Catch-22.

I see you are a well read man of culture.

 

[Blue_Max]

I see you are a well read man of culture.

“You have a morbid aversion to dying. You probably resent the fact that you're at war and might get your head blown off any second."

"I more than resent it, sir. I'm absolutely incensed."

"You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs, or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate."

"Consciously, sir, consciously," Yossarian corrected in an effort to help. "I hate them consciously."

"You're antagonistic to the idea of being robbed, exploited, degraded, humiliated, or deceived. Misery depresses you. Ignorance depresses you. Persecution depresses you. Violence depresses you. Corruption depresses you. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if you're a manic-depressive!"

"Yes, sir. Perhaps I am."

"Don't try to deny it."

"I'm not denying it, sir," said Yossarian, pleased with the miraculous rapport that finally existed between them. "I agree with all you've said.”

 

[Tbone289]

15 MPH tailwind (West) on the outbound leg
8 MPH crosswind (South) on the return leg

Certainly could have been a factor.

It certainly would be.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Surface winds along with elevation change.
Downhill from Atlanta, Georgia to Augusta, Georgia
Uphill from Augusta, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia has a mean elevation of approximately 1,050 feet (320 meters) above sea level

Augusta, Georgia, is located at an elevation of approximately 136 feet (45 meters) above sea level

 

[Yossarian]

Surface winds along with elevation change.
Downhill from Atlanta Georgia to Augusta.
Uphill from Augusta to Atlanta Georgia.

Atlanta, Georgia has a mean elevation of approximately 1,050 feet (320 meters) above sea level
Augusta, Georgia, is located at an elevation of approximately 136 feet (45 meters) above sea level

All true. maybe in April I will do an eco mode test, there and back.

 

[smoreho2]

I had the opportunity to take a little road trip with my wife this weekend, the first in my new 2025 Hybrid XL. Since we are new to the Mav and the hybrid world, I thought it would be fun to do a little comparison. Saturday morning we left Atlanta and drove to Augusta, with the return trip on Sunday morning. The routes were not exact mirror images of each other, but close enough for fun. This test compared Normal mode to Eco mode, with mostly cruise controlled highway driving. If this thread catches any interest, I am doing this same drive on April 11th(iykyk)and I can add another mode test or two into this, or recreate either of the two already tested. I thought I would test sport mode on the way back to Augusta, but I am in week 3 of an in-town, work commute driving mode test, and it is obvious that Sport mode is for fun, not efficiency, so I am conflicted. That in-town test will be reported on next week, depending on if I also test slippery mode.

Some of the test specs, to keep it as fair and comparable as possible;

• primarily the same routes to and from forward and backward
  • some minor differences in August arrival and departure locations
• cruise control set at 75-80 mph whenever possible,
• commute times were at about the same time of day and temperature.
• All metrics taken from the My Trip info card.
• I did fuel up in Augusta before leaving, so there was additional fuel weight in the truck

On to the results, which I found somewhat surprising.

​

Mode​	Time driven (hh:mm)​	Miles Driven​	Elec. Miles​	% Elec. Miles​	MPG​
Normal	2:35	153.6	20.3	13.22%	37.6
Eco	2:23	138.7	14.9	10.74%	35.8*

* there were 2 quick, "remain at idle" pit stops on the eco mode test

I knew that neither mode would be very fuel / electric efficient at the speed at which I drive on the highways, but I did not really expect Eco Mode to lose out on an efficiency test to normal mode. Admittedly, there are flaws in my test, especially with the two pit stops on the return to Atlanta, so maybe I will re-test that in April.

Let me know your thoughts or questions.

If the 25 has slippery mode, in my experience the gas mileage is better than normal or eco

 

[Yossarian]

If the 25 has slippery mode, in my experience the gas mileage is better than normal or eco

It does have slippery mode

 

[HeyBales]

With your avg MPH speeds 59.5 & 58.2, there must be a bit more in-town driving than the highway cruise speed sounds like, which is allowing for that higher EV miles figure.

Of course some major down hills 1 direction but not the other could account for some of it.

I was going to suggest Sport mode if mainly highway speeds, as some have seen improvements there, but you have enough in-town that would mess it up.

Eco mode causes higher regen on coasting, which is opposite the desire on the highway.
Now on cruise the system should be able to feather the Go response better than your foot might to overcome that resistance for good coasting.

The restrained Go pedal response in Eco may help in cruise to remain below the 10% power threshold before the ICE is enabled again.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

15 MPH tailwind (West) on the outbound leg
8 MPH crosswind (South) on the return leg

Certainly could have been a factor.

Definitely a factor. After all, you're basically driving something with the aerodynamics of a refrigerator.

 

[nospam56]

My first extended road trip will be this weekend. A well characterized trip to the inlaws that with the age old minivan was 26 mpg out and 25.5 back due to the rolling terrain. I am very curious to see how the truck does in comparison. Oddly , the Mav is almost the identical dimensions as a 2004 Toyota Sienna, so competing fridges on the highway.
When I was young and poor driving a manual transmission I would pop that car into neutral to coast quite often. I'm quite sure it made little differences, but back then a few bucks was important.
I am torn however. The wife's new car has adaptive cruise control and I haven't had a chance to give that a try on an extended interstate trip yet either. That's the one upgrade I waited 20 years for and couldn't justify getting with my truck.

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