Is Sport Mode Good For Highway Driving?

Modern vehicles give drivers more computer-controlled options and settings than ever before, with the majority of vehicles on sale today offering some sort of selectable driving modes that can alter how a car performs. While each car will vary in what specific modes it offers, as well as by how those modes work, a typical modern car will often have at least two different selectable driving modes. 

"Sport Mode" and "Eco Mode" are the two most common driving modes you'll find, with each altering things like throttle response, transmission behavior, and climate control settings. In Eco Mode, the car's throttle response and transmission settings will be slowed and dialed back in the name of improved fuel economy, while Sport Mode will do the opposite, sharpening response and holding gears longer for improved performance.

But is Sport Mode good for highway driving? While it's hard to give a definitive answer since each car and its individual Sport Mode programming is different, it will most likely depend on what sort of highway driving you are doing. On a twisty, mountainous highway where passing is common, or a freeway setting where you need to quickly merge into fast-moving traffic, using Sport Mode could be a big help. On the other hand, in extended, steady-speed highway drives, you should be fine without Sport Mode, as most of its settings will be unnecessary, likely while causing increased fuel consumption. 

Generally speaking, the more performance-oriented a car is, the more things its Sport Mode (or its similarly named driving setting) will change. The Sport Mode on Mazda's CX-series SUVs is a good example of a mainstream application of the feature, where it primarily focuses on throttle sensitivity and transmission programming. In other, higher-performance models, Sport Mode will go beyond just throttle and transmission settings and alter things like suspension stiffness, exhaust sound, or the feel of the steering. 

The most common change in Sport Mode is improving throttle response, quickening the speed at which the car responds to inputs from the accelerator, even if total power output isn't changed. When it comes to the transmission, the Sport Mode setting will typically hold gears longer during acceleration and be more aggressive at downshifting when you slow down.

As you can imagine, this could have a nice benefit if you are, say, accelerating from a traffic light or down a short on-ramp onto a freeway moving at full speed. Likewise, Sport Mode can be useful if you are on a two-lane highway or navigating a larger freeway where you need to quickly overtake slower traffic. Sport Mode may not give your car more horsepower, but in those passing situations, it can make it noticeably more responsive, thus reducing your stress level. And typically, the less horsepower and torque your car has, the more benefit you'll get from using Sport Mode in those situations.

How about once you get up to speed for a longer highway drive? In these situations, where you're going to be driving the same speed for an extended period of time, Sport Mode likely won't be needed. It's no secret that internal combustion cars are less stressed and more efficient at sustained highway speeds, and in these situations, the transmission and throttle settings of Sport Mode aren't really being used. You'll typically be in the same gear and with a small amount of throttle input, so leaving your car in Sport Mode during a long highway trip could result in increased fuel consumption without any benefit.

The good thing, of course, is that you can easily and quickly switch between the different modes, so if you are cruising on a long highway drive and need to pass a slow-moving truck, it's easy to engage Sport Mode for the pass and then go back to Normal Mode. The same goes for a quick freeway merge or any other situation where the mode may be beneficial. No matter the type of driving, it's important to think ahead and be aware of your surroundings, and when used well, Sport Mode can be a valuable tool for safe and stress-free motoring.