Sport mode slower than Drive?

U.S.C

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It’s weird. When I put the car into sport and take eco off it feels slower than leaving it in drive and having eco on. Anyone else experience this?
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Last time I tried sport mode, it felt like the engine had less power in the low-mid range, actually. Haven't even bothered with it in weeks.
 

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This has been brought up elsewhere, but I’m pretty sure Civics with eco button and auto transmissions don’t have sport mode
 

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Honda loosely defines S on the CVT as Sport but it's just a transmission mode that offers higher rpm cruising and better engine braking. It's not a full blown true Sport mode like the Si has.

What I find odd is that the Sport hatch CVT's don't offer the additional L mode the other models get.
 

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Honda loosely defines S on the CVT as Sport but it's just a transmission mode that offers higher rpm cruising and better engine braking. It's not a full blown true Sport mode like the Si has.

What I find odd is that the Sport hatch CVT's don't offer the additional L mode the other models get.
Only models without paddle shifters have L. It's not needed with paddle shifters.
Paddle shifters in the manual S mode mean drive in any gear you like. That is, within the 7 gear presets available to paddles (actually 7th means 7 or higher) and automatic limitations preventing redline or lugging.
 


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Only models without paddle shifters have L. It's not needed with paddle shifters.
Paddle shifters in the manual S mode mean drive in any gear you like. That is, within the 7 gear presets available to paddles (actually 7th means 7 or higher) and automatic limitations preventing redline or lugging.
For sheer power, L mode in my car feels like a freight train. My previous car was a traditional automatic (after 25 years of driving manuals) with a manual mode. It was reasonably precise in manual mode especially on downshifts. I've heard mixed reviews on the Civic's CVT simulated shifting w/paddles.
 
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There have been multiple tests done on this. If you want the fastest 0-60 shift into L mode. It turns off the simulated gear shifts and keeps the car in it's optimal torque range the entire acceleration. It also offers a touch more low end torque for take off. Also good for hill climbs.

Sport mode has the slowest 0-60 time and is actually better suited for passing or going up hill as the instant higher revs once already in motion help get you moving quicker. But it really isn't justifiable to keep in this mode all the time, use it for passing/climbing and then shift out of it again.

They've even tested regular drive mode with/without Eco mode on, and found Eco mode on is slightly quicker to 60 than off (but you have to floor the pedal to prompt the engine past the 2000rpm dead zone that the Eco mode uses in regular driving to save fuel).
 

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Yet, the Sport hatch CVT has always tested noticeably slower than than CVT turbos with L even with slightly more hp. Of course part of that is the heavier weight of the hatch and more aerodynamic drag. But for sheer power, L mode in my car feels like a freight train.

My previous car was a traditional automatic (after 25 years of driving manuals) with a manual mode. It was reasonably precise in manual mode especially on downshifts. I've heard mixed reviews on the Civic's CVT simulated shifting w/paddles.
It still doesn't seem like not including L in addition to paddles is "odd" or that anyone still needs L while already having the paddles only to beat 0-60 times by a fraction of a second. What is "noticeably slower"? I think a car doing 0-60 below 6 s is just noticeably faster than the 1.5T civicx.

The 3007lb 2017 Hatch ST CVT was clocked at 6.9 s, while the 2899lb 2017 Sedan EX-T at 6.8 s. (The weight handicaps the HB here by >0.2 s.) I don't remember what difference the L makes.
I've seen also 6.48 s for 2017 Hatch S CVT. https://www.mtdemocrat.com/roadbeat/the-road-beat-2017-honda-civic-hatchback-sport-wow/

I don't trust all these times to the 0.1 s accuracy, let alone anything less. There are too many factors and not so careful testers. Some people measured the 2017 Hatch Sport MT at 7.5 s, others at 6.99 s.


There have been multiple tests done on this. If you want the fastest 0-60 shift into L mode. It turns off the simulated gear shifts and keeps the car in it's optimal torque range the entire acceleration. It also offers a touch more low end torque for take off. Also good for hill climbs.

Sport mode has the slowest 0-60 time and is actually better suited for passing or going up hill as the instant higher revs once already in motion help get you moving quicker. But it really isn't justifiable to keep in this mode all the time, use it for passing/climbing and then shift out of it again.

They've even tested regular drive mode with/without Eco mode on, and found Eco mode on is slightly quicker to 60 than off (but you have to floor the pedal to prompt the engine past the 2000rpm dead zone that the Eco mode uses in regular driving to save fuel).
Any links to tests of 0-60 CVT in S manual (paddles) ?
 

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This is correct. Only models with a button that says sport have sport mode. S is not sport. Nowhere in the entire manual does Honda say S is sport mode. S and L are just CVT equivalents of the old 3/2 settings on the automatics.
Of course L and S always meant Low and Second in Honda automatic transmissions, including CVT's. Earlier generation CVT manuals actually spelled it out, but it's gone from the gen X manuals. There is no problem if someone understands S drive as Sport. In a limited sense it does provide more responsive driving so there is no harm and Honda doesn't mind, but there is a difference between this and the Sport mode in MT type R or Si.

https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/om/ch0303/ch0303o00166a.pdf
 


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There have been multiple tests done on this. If you want the fastest 0-60 shift into L mode. It turns off the simulated gear shifts and keeps the car in it's optimal torque range the entire acceleration. It also offers a touch more low end torque for take off. Also good for hill climbs.

Sport mode has the slowest 0-60 time and is actually better suited for passing or going up hill as the instant higher revs once already in motion help get you moving quicker. But it really isn't justifiable to keep in this mode all the time, use it for passing/climbing and then shift out of it again.

They've even tested regular drive mode with/without Eco mode on, and found Eco mode on is slightly quicker to 60 than off (but you have to floor the pedal to prompt the engine past the 2000rpm dead zone that the Eco mode uses in regular driving to save fuel).
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.
 

gtman

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On the other hand, just get a KTuner or Flashpro and it's quick in every mode.:cool:
 

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This is my first CVT, but just sharing my thoughts on the Drive(S)...
If you don't flick the paddle-shift, it seems to act like the Drive(D) but retaining the RPM at around 4k and above.
I find that it accelerates better from stop or slow speed, but on high speed, I feel that it really doesn't need that high RPM to maintain the speed.

Flicking the paddle shift puts it is a sort of simulated semi-automatic.I think that theoretically you may accelerate faster, but (and maybe it's just me not being familiar with the ideal RPM and the simulated gear ratio for this car yet) I find that the CVT does a good enough job in Drive(D) and Drive(S). Would be a different story on manual or real semi-automatic (like selespeed) though.
 

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And here I thought the S on my 18 Hatch EX CVT was Sport :rolleyes:. Never really play with it, so hadn't noticed it doesn't do shit.
 

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Any links to tests of 0-60 CVT in S manual (paddles) ?
I'm sure there are, i never paid much attention to them because i drive coupes, and they don't have the paddle shifters. If i find something i'll post, but i seem to remember seeing a video somewhere that tested the Sport Hatch with paddles, and it didn't really effect the 0-60 time at all. Don't quote me on that, but if i find it i'll post it.
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