2011 Sport AT here. I'm interested in getting the best mpg without advanced hypermiling techniques. I just try to drive conservatively (gentle acceleration/braking, top speed 65mph on freeway).

I thought that using paddle shifters in S-mode would be the better method since I could control the gear selection, reduce unnecessary shifts, and keep rpms low. But I only got 31.8 mpg on approx 75% freeway/25% local driving. The 31.8 mpg was confirmed through trip mpg gauge as well as hand calculation at fillup.

So I was thinking, would D mode possibly get better mpg than paddle shifters due to more conservative algorithm? Since the throttle is drive-by-wire, does D mode give gentler acceleration given the same gas pedal position?

Although that shouldn't make a difference at 65mph on the freeway, right? According to the real-time mpg gauge, I get 35mpg (1 tick below 40) at 65mph on flat freeway. That doesn't seem that great to me, because I got combined 35mpg on my 2001 Civic MT with 75% freeway/25% local

 

At 60mph on flat highway the real time mpg is 40ish for me. I have about 1200 miles on my 2011 Sport. MPGs have improved over the first few fill-ups although I've also been trying to improve MPGs with my driving technique.

 

66mph / AC on / 38mpg on flat Florida highways...in D...

A 90fwhp car certainly isn'e peppy enough for these paddles..lol

 

Just drove to Chicago this past weekend from northwest Ohio. Tires pressure at 38. Averaging between 65-70mph using control, I got 36mpg. On the way back, averaging 70-74mph and using cruise control, I got 32mpg. I admit I'm not completely happy with those numbers..... :/

 

none of these replies have anything to do with OP's topic of paddle shifter VS just leaving it in D. so far its just been a collection of people posting what they get for MPG. none of you stated if you were using the paddles or not. as for me, i have a manual so i can't really chime in. Still interested though.

 

The OP already has his baseline for using S-Mode with paddles. I posted my D-Mode cruise contol numbers because they are similar to his D-Mode average, and I am similarly disapointed.

 

Based on Tauwolf's post, it seems that at 65 mph, it makes no difference whether it's D mode vs paddle shifters, which is what I expected since both should just be in 5th gear locked up, no difference.

My theory is still that D mode will get better city mpg than paddle shifters due to more conservative throttle response. I think I notice that in s-mode, the throttle is extremely sensitive, the slightest push, and the car will take off. Whereas in D mode, you have to modulate the throttle more.

 

Does the coast fuel cutoff turn off if in the "S" mode when using the paddle shifter option? If so then that could explain some of this.