Audi Efficiency Mode ? What does it achieve
Discussion
Hi All,
My 2016 A6 Allroad has the usual MMI interface that offers a choice of driving modes, including AllRoad, Comfort, Efficiency, Auto, Dynamic and individual.
Other than the engine seeming really sluggish in Efficiency mode, and the that it will 'coast' knocking the drive train out of gear when the foot is taken off the pedal, I'm not seeing any difference in the consumption.
I've just had a long drive from York to Southampton and back. Both had similar low traffic / fixed speed driving.
In Efficiency mode there it managed 43.2mpg. In Auto Mode home 43.1mpg.
Is this right? Why no real difference ?
And what is it meant to achieve ?
Thanks.
My 2016 A6 Allroad has the usual MMI interface that offers a choice of driving modes, including AllRoad, Comfort, Efficiency, Auto, Dynamic and individual.
Other than the engine seeming really sluggish in Efficiency mode, and the that it will 'coast' knocking the drive train out of gear when the foot is taken off the pedal, I'm not seeing any difference in the consumption.
I've just had a long drive from York to Southampton and back. Both had similar low traffic / fixed speed driving.
In Efficiency mode there it managed 43.2mpg. In Auto Mode home 43.1mpg.
Is this right? Why no real difference ?
And what is it meant to achieve ?
Thanks.
You've answered your own question.
All that really does is change the throttle response, by making use of the fly-by-wire throttle virtually all cars now have. As you've already observed, efficiency mode simply numbs the response from the throttle right down.
It's not going to suddenly make the car more aerodynamic, run on less cylinders, engage a higher gear ratio. It's as simple as adding greater resistance to a switch (throttle pedal).
All that really does is change the throttle response, by making use of the fly-by-wire throttle virtually all cars now have. As you've already observed, efficiency mode simply numbs the response from the throttle right down.
It's not going to suddenly make the car more aerodynamic, run on less cylinders, engage a higher gear ratio. It's as simple as adding greater resistance to a switch (throttle pedal).
It's a box ticking exercise.
People who spend a lot of money on a car want lots of gadgets and settings to play with. So when they first get the car they have a bit of a play around, then after a while just pick one setting and leave it on that for the next couple of years.
And one of those settings must be labelled something like "efficiency", "eco" or "green" mode because of saving the environment.
People who spend a lot of money on a car want lots of gadgets and settings to play with. So when they first get the car they have a bit of a play around, then after a while just pick one setting and leave it on that for the next couple of years.
And one of those settings must be labelled something like "efficiency", "eco" or "green" mode because of saving the environment.
If it's an auto, it does change the point at which it will change up, and selecting Sport tends to make the car feel a bit more responsive. However, on a motorway journey even that won't make much difference to how much fuel it uses.
I've found that I sometimes use less fuel in "Sport" mode on cars that offer this function. I think that's because making a car feel more boring and unresponsive makes me want to drive it faster to compensate!
An exception to this was a 2.0 turbo petrol Insignia we had as a company pool car a few years back. Selecting 'Sport' mode on that only did two things. It made the 'live' fuel economy drop by about 5mpg even when on cruise control, and all the instruments turned red. It made no difference whatsoever how it drove! As I wasn't paying for the petrol, and I like red instruments when driving at night, I left it in sport mode. It was still dull to drive.....
I've found that I sometimes use less fuel in "Sport" mode on cars that offer this function. I think that's because making a car feel more boring and unresponsive makes me want to drive it faster to compensate!
An exception to this was a 2.0 turbo petrol Insignia we had as a company pool car a few years back. Selecting 'Sport' mode on that only did two things. It made the 'live' fuel economy drop by about 5mpg even when on cruise control, and all the instruments turned red. It made no difference whatsoever how it drove! As I wasn't paying for the petrol, and I like red instruments when driving at night, I left it in sport mode. It was still dull to drive.....
Oh well- it was worth asking.
It just seems that there is a difference between the modes in my previous A6 to this one.
Obviously the physical differences are noticeable, and no, I'm not mashing the pedal. If anything when I am in Efficiency I try to drive as conservatively as possible, the challenge to hyper mile or max the MPG.
When in Auto, I just 'drive'.
The MPG is almost the same.
It just seems that there is a difference between the modes in my previous A6 to this one.
Obviously the physical differences are noticeable, and no, I'm not mashing the pedal. If anything when I am in Efficiency I try to drive as conservatively as possible, the challenge to hyper mile or max the MPG.
When in Auto, I just 'drive'.
The MPG is almost the same.
As mentioned on a long m-way journey then i doubt there will be any difference between the modes, end of the day the majority of time is fixed rpm on the m-way
A journey where you may have a lot of throttle such as a long trip on a/b roads taking in some towns etc will yield a bigger difference
A journey where you may have a lot of throttle such as a long trip on a/b roads taking in some towns etc will yield a bigger difference
Funny but i have a Vantage and although its fitted with cruise i have never used it. Ive had to use it as a bit of a daily driver on the motorway recently and suddenly i now take more notice of the fuel.
Tried it on cruise control and that seriously made a difference in amount of fuel used.....a lot less!
Tried it on cruise control and that seriously made a difference in amount of fuel used.....a lot less!
k out of me.Eco vs Normal? 10-15% better economy in Eco mode is normal.
Trick is to switch off the cruise control. It makes a real difference if you coast whenever possible, which cruise control will not do. This is not about hypermile driving, just using my normal anticipation of what I see ahead. This is effective for all road types. Throttle response is marginally dulled, but again, anticipation, if you are mashing the accelerator, you've failed to observe.
If you are always using cruise, particularly ACC, then you're not going to see any improvements in fuel economy. it can't see what is happening any further ahead than the vehicle immediately in front of you.
Trick is to switch off the cruise control. It makes a real difference if you coast whenever possible, which cruise control will not do. This is not about hypermile driving, just using my normal anticipation of what I see ahead. This is effective for all road types. Throttle response is marginally dulled, but again, anticipation, if you are mashing the accelerator, you've failed to observe.
If you are always using cruise, particularly ACC, then you're not going to see any improvements in fuel economy. it can't see what is happening any further ahead than the vehicle immediately in front of you.
To quote the manual:
"Engine, transmission and the optional quattro® with sport differential respond in such a balanced way that further potential for savings can be utilised. For example, a modified shift program for automatic transmissions, with a deliberate adjustment of the shift point to lower engine speed ranges, achieves impressive fuel savings. The electromechanical power steering, optional cruise control, dynamic steering and adaptive cruise control help to reduce driving resistance. The air conditioning system is also adapted to requirements in that it is set to eco mode. This efficient driving style in the Audi drive select efficiency mode can achieve more mileage per tank of fuel, reducing CO2 emissions at the same time."
I see lower consumption using Efficiency mode on my 2013 auto A6 but also the AC doesn't get as cold as when in Dynamic mode.
"Engine, transmission and the optional quattro® with sport differential respond in such a balanced way that further potential for savings can be utilised. For example, a modified shift program for automatic transmissions, with a deliberate adjustment of the shift point to lower engine speed ranges, achieves impressive fuel savings. The electromechanical power steering, optional cruise control, dynamic steering and adaptive cruise control help to reduce driving resistance. The air conditioning system is also adapted to requirements in that it is set to eco mode. This efficient driving style in the Audi drive select efficiency mode can achieve more mileage per tank of fuel, reducing CO2 emissions at the same time."
I see lower consumption using Efficiency mode on my 2013 auto A6 but also the AC doesn't get as cold as when in Dynamic mode.
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