Seems strange that Sport mode is more economical? Holding onto gears longer and changing at higher revs does not logically equate with better mpg. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

If you are driving in a hilly area you may get better mpg in sports mode as lower gears are held for longer. Back in my motorbike days I lived in a very hilly area and it was general practice to fit a larger sprocket on the rear wheel which effectively lowers the gearing and this did give lower fuel consumption. Also, it is very easy if you are tring to improve fuel consumption to subconsciencely drive in a more economic way.

J

Jim that was what I had read in a few posts - something to do with more energy being used to move the car instead of within the gearbox as it shifts. I would say I am deliberately not driving any differently (in fact the acceleration is better so I’m probably being less efficient!). Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

I tend to use 'Sports Mode' when driving on minor roads and those hilly, bendy, cross-country roads.

I do it as it seems to give a smoother, more controlled drive on these types of roads.

To tell you the truth my mpg never varies from 33-35 mpg over a tankful, in either mode.

Types of roads and cruising speed seems to matter more, 27 mpg around town, and approaching 38-40 mpg on 65mph motorway cruises. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

We have just returned from a weekend staying with friends on the Isle of Wight. We usually leave the car in the West Quay multistory and travel by foot over on the Red Jet.

On our return journey this Monday morning, we got 28.7mpg from the i6, which I am pretty pleased with! Of course, the majority of it was motorway miles at a steady 72mph per the GPS.

Also of note for us i6 owners, on the trip down on Friday afternoon, I saw another i6; very rare occurrence to have two i6s within close proximity of each other on UK roads! Tim

Freelander 2 HSE i6 Stornoway Grey with Alpaca & Tundra interior
Driven many miles in:
2 FL2s
1 Range Rover P38
4 Range Rover Classics
Many military LWB & 1/2 ton Lightweight Series IIA & III

Just as a little update:

Tank almost empty so stuck £50 worth of diesel in. Estimated range came in at 200 miles. Reset trips and have been checking distance travelled vs estimated mile remaining. For the first time ever, more miles have been travelled than subtracted from the remaining miles on the trip.

I have driven my normal journeys and used exclusively S mode, except on the one or two dual carriageway trips once I’m up to speed.

I can promise I’m not driving more cautiously - in fact the improved acceleration encourages me to not 😎

This is very much an edge case and my journey styles are terribly inappropriate for this vehicle, but it’s nice to see the avg MPG around 29 now instead of 24. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental