Sport vs Normal vs Eco

It's all in the manual and the MFD

Powertrain(throttle response and maybe regen braking): 1. Eco, 2. Normal, 3. Sport
Steering: 1. Eco/Normal(looser steering at low speeds), 2. Sport(tighter steering)
Air Conditioning: 1. Eco(lowers fan speed and A/C power), 2. Normal/Sport

 

How does it make sense that sport adds MORE regen than eco?

It would be absolutely backwards logic that eco loses regen vs sport.

 

A sports car tends to run the engine at a higher rpm. That means more engine braking when foot off the pedal. Sport mode is about simulating that.

Regen doesn't save fuel. It just reduces the loses of slowing down. Would actually be better if Eco didn't have any regen with foot off the pedal to allow longer coasting distances.

 

Agree.

Maybe, but I find the solution (at least for the gen 5 Prime, can't compare to other models or generations) is to feather the throttle to avoid regen, riding the line between regeneration and acceleration. This effectively coasts, without any downside that I am aware of, except for having to accurately adjust the throttle which requires a bit of attention. I have to figure out whether this method is easier with Eco vs. Normal acceleration curves.

I would appreciate a "full coast on lift" setting in Eco or Custom, but it is possible to coast with no regen.

 

Wth does a sports car have to do with the Prius? Who cares what a sports car does with it's RPM? Why the fxck would a sports car be engine braking if you take the foot off the pedal? Unless you shifted into a lower gear after you gunned it, but who does that?

We're talking about modes here on the Prius. Just because it's labeled "sport" doesn't mean it has anything to do with a sports car.

Sport should be the worst fuel economy and the most responsive. Minimal regen (because how does it makes sense to have that sporty feel when your car is bogged by regen), minimal ICE off time, the pedal curve change for accel is dumb though and that feature makes no sense... "hurrrrrr they press the pedal lighter and it go fast in sport mode" nah it's just gimmicky.

My original statement stands that it is backwards logic to expect more regen in sport mode. Braking regen makes sense still because why not recoup braking to battery, but coasting regen should be off or as close to off as can be. The only way "sport mode has better regen" makes any sense is if you're thinking about the fact that the ICE will be on more. But still, a dumb connection to make because ICE charging the HV isn't regen. We all think of regen as either brake regen or idle regen from natural deceleration. Sport mode being expected to regen more is nice person backwards. And if it actually does so that's stupid and is counter intuitive to the label.

 

Multi-Function Display. The one above the steering column. I tend to use MFD for that one and Infotainment Screen for the other one. The proper term is Combination Meter, but I think only Toyota techs call it that. I think the custom driving mode is only changeable through the MFD.

 

In the first couple generations, the MFD always meant the big infotainment screen

In gen 3, they introduced another bitmap display built into the combination meter, and called it the MID (multi-information display). Unlike the MFD, it's not a touchscreen so it doesn't offer you "functions". Some gen 3s still had a big infotainment touch screen too, in the center stack, though others just have simpler radio there.

I haven't checked for the later generations, but if the combination meter has a bitmap-display area where it can show assorted information but you don't poke your fingers at it, I wouldn't be surprised if they're still calling that MID.

 

Yep, I just checked the manual and it's still the Multi-Information Display(MID) and Multimedia Display. I'll try to use the correct terms from now on.

 

Sports mode exists on other models, some being power hybrids. Toyota isn't going to rebuild it from scratch for each one.

Extra pedal off regen is about being responsive. If the accelerator isn't applied, you want to slow down, and if you are driving aggressively, which is what sport mode is for, you probably want to slow down faster. Accelerator applied won't have any 'bogging' down by the regen.

The pedal curve is also for responsiveness. Press less, and get more response from the system to accelerate.

Now, why does the Sport mode have to equal more fuel use? The driving it can encourage will result in that, but there is no reason for the system to burn more fuel by turning it on.

 

I agree with Trollbait. To me, Sport driving is about response from the vehicle. When the regenerative braking is stronger (as in "B" mode rather than "D" mode) the driver needs use the brake pedal less frequently. If I am driving in (mental) Sport mode, I am more attentive to accelerator position, and use that to control speed.

 

Yes, OR... I came to rather enjoy one-pedal driving after ten days with a Tesla 3, and think it's one of those things once you get used to you don't want to go back to the old way. Like "natural scrolling" on Mac trackpads, if anyone remembers when they changed the default direction of two-finger scrolling ~10 years ago. WERE IT EVER THUS!

Some sort of feedback in the pedal, when it's in 100% coast mode, or a natural way to keep it in coast, is what I'm looking for.

 

Nice job on your car, that is sharp looking. White was my first color choice but our dealer could only get us Cutting Edge Silver.
I haven't used Sport mode much but do drop it into B mode when I want strong regen braking when spirited driving. Is there a noticeable difference with the steering response in Sport?
I do wish the car was quieter, highway noise is definitely noticeable vs my Honda Ridgeline.

KH

 

How? One of the criticisms my wife has regarding the drivetrain is that the car "breaks" when not pushing the gas (in D) compared to our old car. I guess its just a getting used to it phase but would still be cool if theres a way to change it. PDA (and Cruise Control in other scenarios) brake enough already when its needed.

 

Toyota programmed it to mimic an automatic's drag when coasting. Feathering the accelerator near off, there is a point where the car stops applying propulsion but not yet applies that transmission drag regen.

How easy or difficult that is varies with conditions, and at higher speeds, the best you can get is light EV input instead of true coasting. Otherwise, you could just shift to neutral when coasting.

 

I've not used the sport mode yet, pretty much leave it in "normal" but will test out the sport as I really liked it in my Lexus for the increased agility in tight traffic. If it's similar to that I know I'll like it.

 

Our other car (mazda 3) is an automatic though and coasts way longer.
Hitting that perfect point might be harder than just getting used to it. I personally dont mind - but interesting what other people notice right away.

Today I tried the sport mode and at least the steering felt like in the mazda again.

 

Yea, Stupid for sure !