Just returned from a trip to Scotland towing the caravan.

On my first leg prior to pulling into the services I was averaging 19mpg at 60/65mph using 6th gear where possible. Which I thought was quite a low mpg.

I set off towing again puting the car into the "grass, gravel & snow" option, my thinking in this was that the car must alter the way in which it provides power to the wheels, (full time 4X4?)

I reset the trip computer and low and behold I was then averaging 24mpg.

Has anybody else towed a van and what was your average with or without special program selected?

Only did a test tow today for a couple of hours on mainly flat A roads, with some hills and build up areas, I only had the normal program selected and I averaged 26.5mpg (inc the use of cliemate control) Our Bailey Ranger 550/6 (1350kgs) is lightweight for the car so this may help with the fuel consumption??

My Stirling Europa 540 is 1490kg and was quite loaded for my two weeks away.

But the mpg did change quite abit with the program selected.

I don't tow a caravan but I tried the same tonight driving home from work (12 miles).

My avarage mpg is 31 around town to and from work (stop start in heavy traffic). Changed to the "grass, gravel and snow" setting and was surprised to see the mpg go up to 36.2

Would this cause any damage to the car to do this continually

Can anyone explain why the mpg would increase  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

Interesting how this can make the mpg go up might try this on tomorrows drive to work ......

Guys, if you want to make that kind of consumption comparisons, note that it doesn't make sense unless you drive really a lot of miles or Km. under the same circumstances. (same roads, traffic, load, wind and driver).

(same roads, traffic, load, wind and driver).

I guess if the driver had wind then it would affect the mpg  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

of course, when the driver has wind, you've got extra propulsion  

The Grass / gravel Snow mode , has the following : - accelerator pedal map shallower at low pedal travel to reduce wheel spin ; DSC and traction control allow smaller levels of wheeelspin and yaw before engine and brake intervention ; chnages up earlier and down later to restrict wheel spin; electronic coupling pre-charge decreases more quickly when on the move;torque distribution biased towards front axle ( when ther is not wheel spin ) ; yaw control set to prtect against lift off over steer . A combination of this and yuor driving style might explain the greater economy but conditions would need to be identical to compare . No harm is done driving in any mode for long periods or even forever !

Hey Insider,

Thanks for the tech reply, now I know whats happening with the car when I select that mode....

Cheers  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650