What Happens When You Push the Sport Button?

So many choices - eco, normal, sport. So what exactly changes as you move over into "S" Sport Mode. 

Sport Mode can vary by vehicle. Activating Sport Mode triggers a series of adjustments throughout your car from the gas pedal all the way to the tires.

Sport mode is designed to enhance acceleration, so you’ll see a noticeable difference in how your throttle responds and enables your car’s ability to achieve more rapid acceleration.

Most automatic transmissions are built to shift at lower RPM, but Sport Mode overrides this to allow the engine to rev higher. By shifting at a higher RPM, you’ll be able to accelerate longer and more quickly than your car typically allows.

Most cars nowadays utilise electric power steering as opposed to a hydraulic pump. With electric power steering, the steering feel is able to be changed on the fly, to give it a sportier, and more weighted, feeling. Kind of like a race car.

Adjustable shock absorbers are typically found on higher-end luxury and sports cars, sport mode will actually adjust the dampening levels in the car’s shock absorbers to tighten up the ride for less body roll and a sportier feel.

Some models, like VOLVO,BMW, AUDI...., can even trigger changes to the style, colour and animation of their instrument clusters.

Some models even offer specialised  ‘SPORT+’ settings, taking performance levels even higher.

In some models you may also experience a more dynamic (fake) engine sound in SPORT mode.

Though It’s Fun, Sport Mode Does Have Drawbacks.

Activating Sports Mode is going to put a greater strain on your engine. Prolonged period of time could wear down your engine faster than it may in a car that does not use Sport Mode. 

Sport Mode going to take extra fuel to keep up with the sudden power demands, and although it may not seem like much of a difference in the beginning, it can add up over time.