May sound stupid. I didn't test drive on the sport mode, and never use the sport mode on my own RDX neither.

So, when do we actually use the sport mode ? Do we use it when we want to play with the paddler shift ?

I assume it will consume even more gas right ?

 

Sport mode is more effective when using the paddle shifters, but you can use the paddle shifters in the D mode as well.

The sport mode when used in automatic just changes the shift points which would be most effective when driving more aggressively. When in sport mode and using the paddle shifters, it will stay in manual shifting mode where in D mode it will revert to automatic when you come to a stop. And yes it would use more gas in sport mode.

 

Best for passing on the highway, or holding a gear in a turn. As far as passing is concerned, you can just mash the gas too and the computer will take over and down shift for you.

Mike

 

In sport mode, wthout using the paddles, the transmisison wiil upshift later (letting the engine rev higher) and downshift sooner. The result is quicker throttle response, but you're often in a gear lower that you otherwise would be and that will burn gas. If you want to push things even more, use the paddles to keep the engine revving way up high. The advice I once read somewhere about a manual transmission is to upshift somewhere between the engine's torque peak and its horsepower peak. You'll burn lots of gas that way.

 

The advantage of using the paddles is that you can do something the car can't -- anticipate your next shift. To pass, you can hit the gas and wait for the transmission to downshift or you can hit the paddle before you start the pass. Same for a corner -- you can set up the gear you'll need comimg out of the corner.

That said, in practice the RDX does a good job of keeping up with your needs. And I say this as someone who drove a manual transmission for many years. When you hit a hill and give it a little more gas, the car will downshift before the hill starts to slow you down. And when you pass, some cars make you to mash the gas pedal and wait a second or two for the downshift, but the RDX catches on pretty quickly.

The paddles and S mode are for when you want to have a little fun in a performance car. D mode is fine almost any other time.

 

Agreed. In another folder I mentioned that I use Sports mode if the route I'm driving takes me on the Interstate for most of that drive. Getting on and off the ramps, and overtaking in the Sports mode gives me a little bit more control. The additional use of gas in the Sports mode is offset by the reduced consumption when highway cruising. Fun!

 

Could use a lot of gas. If I recall correctly, in sport mode the transmission will never shift itself into 5th gear, so you do most of your cruising in 4th. On a long trip, that can add up. Unless you mean using sport mode and doing all of your own shifting. That is fun.

What I like about the RDX is that I can keep it in D most of the time but I can grab a quick downshift with the paddle when I need one and let it drop itself back into D mode when I ease off the gas. I use sport mode when I'm on fast-moving streets. I'd rarely get to 5th gear there anyway and the better throttle response is good for navigating through slower traffic.

 

You can shift into 5th manually in sport mode, so you can cruise all you want and keep it in 5th which on a really long ride would save gas by keeping it from downshifting into 4th or even 3rd if you get a little pedal happy.

 

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, when left in fully automatic S-mode, it's the same as "D3" in other automatics. . . meaning the transmission won't automatically shift out of 3rd gear. As is correctly noted, though, you can take full control and push it into 4th or 5th, but you'll have to reselect "D" to bring it back to automatic mode.

 

Actually I think you are mistaken, the RDX S mode will shift like a D4 and will not automatically go into 5th gear but will automatically go up to 4th gear. usually D3s are found on 4 speed automatics where the RDX is a 5 speed automatic and it would be just plain weird for them to call it D4....

 

Love my RDX but really really miss a manual transmission...

 

Ooh, yeah. When I'm in Sport mode, I shift manually all the way from 2nd through 5th. I let the computer downshift when it wants to (and when I need extra power), but I bring it up to 5th once I'm cruising at high speed.

Edited to add parenthesized thoughts

 

Well again I'm not sure. . . as an owner you probably know best, but for what it's worth V6 Accords (5 speed automatics) have a D3 setting. Also, 3rd gear is good for 110mph, so if it's really D4 it's just for mileage.

 

def nice car

 

I think we are mixing up the modes. Sport mode (S) simply raises shift points to higher RPMs, will hold gears longer in certain situations (cornering), and will downshift more readily. It still uses all 5 gears however. It's not like D4 or D3 on other cars. You can leave it in sport mode all the time for better response. It will drink more gas for city driving, but for highway driving you probably won't notice much MPG difference when cruising along in 5th with the TC locked.

If you have it in sport mode (S) and then hit a paddle, it goes into manual mode and you are in total control except for a few cases where it will babysit (such as dropping into 1 if you come to a stop).

And then there is the transient manual mode -- if the shifter is in D and you hit a paddle, you will get temporary manual override, again with some babysitting. But it shortly reverts back to D.

 

It will not use all 5 gears automatically. that was the point. so in this respect it is like a D4 on a 5 speed automatic. In order to get it into 5th gear in S mode, you have to shift it manually.