I've been wondering how much difference do the various drive modes make and did a few tests to see if it's worth switching between them.
My commute to work is pretty much the same every day and I tend to cover the route with the same speed and time. When I got the car I've been driving in efficency a lot and changed to dynamic whenever I was up for some spirited driving.
I've done this for several days and the results are pretty much the same with room for marginal error (+/- 5%).
In efficency, I get fuel consumption at around 6.3l/100km, which is 44.8mpg:
In dynamic, I get 6.5l/100km, which is 43.5 mpg:
Honestly, I thought there would be more difference between the 2 modes. The result I got clearly shows that there are barely any noticable benefits in fuel consumption, so using the driving modes is pointless, right?
I think there is no definite answer and it depends on how you drive and what you need from your car. In my opinion, the dynamic mode (gearbox in D, not S!) suits the car perfectly and this is how it should feel at all times. The heavier steering wheel, more responsive throttle and increased sound make the S3 as sporty as it should be. I also have a feeling that Quattro engages more quickly in this mode, as the car feels precise and more "planted" to the ground.
Efficency simply tunes the car down and makes it dull. The main differences I observed are the obviously lazy throttle response, quicker upshifts (not by much, I mostly noticed that the car stays in the 6th gear a bit longer, but If the conditions are right I just manually upshift to 7th) and tuned down climate control. The light steering wheel is ok for low speeds, but I really hate it when going a bit faster. Doesn't give me a good feel of what the car is doing and feels wobbly at times. Coasting can be a benefit, but it's much better to keep the car in a gear with minimal throttle input (easy to do when you have the current fuel consumption gauge displayed).
When driving in Dynamic, I also love the fact that you don't have to cycle through the drive modes when you feel like overtaking or having fun. The "*" switch on the steering wheel is hit or miss and randomly doesn't work for me. All you have to do is flick the gearbox into "S" and the car is at its best almost instantly.
Do I think that the drive modes are pointless? Not at all. It depends on your driving style. If you tend to be more aggresive, it will be easier to use the efficency mode when you want to save some fuel. The car will be a bit quieter with the flaps closed and a light steering wheel can be beneficial for longer journeys.
As for me - I'm keeping mine in Dynamic from now on!
My commute to work is pretty much the same every day and I tend to cover the route with the same speed and time. When I got the car I've been driving in efficency a lot and changed to dynamic whenever I was up for some spirited driving.
I've done this for several days and the results are pretty much the same with room for marginal error (+/- 5%).
In efficency, I get fuel consumption at around 6.3l/100km, which is 44.8mpg:
In dynamic, I get 6.5l/100km, which is 43.5 mpg:
Honestly, I thought there would be more difference between the 2 modes. The result I got clearly shows that there are barely any noticable benefits in fuel consumption, so using the driving modes is pointless, right?
I think there is no definite answer and it depends on how you drive and what you need from your car. In my opinion, the dynamic mode (gearbox in D, not S!) suits the car perfectly and this is how it should feel at all times. The heavier steering wheel, more responsive throttle and increased sound make the S3 as sporty as it should be. I also have a feeling that Quattro engages more quickly in this mode, as the car feels precise and more "planted" to the ground.
Efficency simply tunes the car down and makes it dull. The main differences I observed are the obviously lazy throttle response, quicker upshifts (not by much, I mostly noticed that the car stays in the 6th gear a bit longer, but If the conditions are right I just manually upshift to 7th) and tuned down climate control. The light steering wheel is ok for low speeds, but I really hate it when going a bit faster. Doesn't give me a good feel of what the car is doing and feels wobbly at times. Coasting can be a benefit, but it's much better to keep the car in a gear with minimal throttle input (easy to do when you have the current fuel consumption gauge displayed).
When driving in Dynamic, I also love the fact that you don't have to cycle through the drive modes when you feel like overtaking or having fun. The "*" switch on the steering wheel is hit or miss and randomly doesn't work for me. All you have to do is flick the gearbox into "S" and the car is at its best almost instantly.
Do I think that the drive modes are pointless? Not at all. It depends on your driving style. If you tend to be more aggresive, it will be easier to use the efficency mode when you want to save some fuel. The car will be a bit quieter with the flaps closed and a light steering wheel can be beneficial for longer journeys.
As for me - I'm keeping mine in Dynamic from now on!
