Should I Use D or S Mode on the Highway?
3 Answers
Using S mode is better than D mode on the highway. Here are the relevant details: 1. D Mode: D mode is the drive gear, primarily designed for comfort and fuel efficiency. When in D mode, the transmission will automatically shift gears according to the preset program. 2. S Mode: Simply press the accelerator while driving to engage S mode, which is the sport mode. In this mode, the hydraulic system connects only 2 gears, delivering stronger power. When driving on the highway, the car is usually in a steady cruise state. Compared to city driving, S mode can play a significant role on better roads. S mode is more powerful than D mode because it provides greater power, and even without acceleration, its fuel consumption is higher than that of D mode.
On highways, I prefer using D mode for better fuel efficiency and comfort. Maintaining a steady speed during cruise control feels particularly stable. For someone like me who frequently drives long distances, even four or five hours behind the wheel don’t feel tiring—the engine runs at low RPM with minimal noise, and the key benefit is significant fuel savings, which keeps my wallet happy. If traffic is light and I want a hassle-free drive, pairing cruise control with D mode is perfect, as it eliminates the need to keep my foot on the accelerator. Of course, when tackling long uphill climbs or needing sudden overtaking power for large trucks, switching to S mode does provide extra punch, but remember to shift back afterward, or fuel consumption will spike. For 90% of highway driving, D mode is more than sufficient—no need to overcomplicate things.
I personally find switching to S mode on the highway absolutely exhilarating! Especially when you need to accelerate for overtaking, the throttle response is much quicker—unlike in D mode where you have to wait half a second for the power to kick in. Back when I drove an old Accord, I loved using S mode on the highway—the acceleration push was incredible. However, be aware that the engine revs higher, making the noise significantly louder, and after a while, your ears might start ringing. Fuel consumption is also about 10% higher than in D mode—I tested it over 500 km and found it could cost half a tank more. Nowadays, with adaptive cruise control in new cars, you can just leave it in D mode—it’s more convenient and smarter.
