[JohnLH]

Just thought I'd take a couple of days and experience the difference of driving in each of the modes. I have been driving in "normal" so that is my baseline, so to speak.

In my previous car the variances were more subtle but in my Soul Turbo they are more dramatic.
In "Sport", the car is much more responsive with higher shift points and a little more engine noise. Steering response feels tighter, too. Arguably, you get a "sports car in a box".

Eco mode, on the other hand makes the car drive and feel somewhat the way I expected the Soul to be before I actually drove one. As a Senior Citizen I can say it drives like a senior citizen is behind the wheel. (grin) Engine noise is quieter and shift points are lower and smoother while steering is noticeably not as tight. However, there is an upside. In my condo development I have to drive about a quarter of a mile no faster than 15 miles per hour. I experience what virtually every review of the Turbo with DCT describes - noticeable repeated shift changes as it seeks the right gear. But, in Eco mode, virtually all of that goes away as the smoother shifting doesn't have a problem at 15mph.

Normal mode, they say, is somewhere in between and I'm going to agree with that. It has that low speed DCT problem, too, but not as bad as "Sport".

Supposedly, Eco mode will give you the best gas mileage - IF you drive the car the same way. I suspect it would be very difficult to drive the car exactly the same way in each mode simply because the mode differences are enough to make it seem like you have 3 different vehicles.

Question for those with the 2.0 non-turbo: are the differences as dramatic on yours?

 

[Tree 44]

Just thought I'd take a couple of days and experience the difference of driving in each of the modes. I have been driving in "normal" so that is my baseline, so to speak.

In my previous car the variances were more subtle but in my Soul Turbo they are more dramatic.
In "Sport", the car is much more responsive with higher shift points and a little more engine noise. Steering response feels tighter, too. Arguably, you get a "sports car in a box".

Eco mode, on the other hand makes the car drive and feel somewhat the way I expected the Soul to be before I actually drove one. As a Senior Citizen I can say it drives like a senior citizen is behind the wheel. (grin) Engine noise is quieter and shift points are lower and smoother while steering is noticeably not as tight. However, there is an upside. In my condo development I have to drive about a quarter of a mile no faster than 15 miles per hour. I experience what virtually every review of the Turbo with DCT describes - noticeable repeated shift changes as it seeks the right gear. But, in Eco mode, virtually all of that goes away as the smoother shifting doesn't have a problem at 15mph.

Normal mode, they say, is somewhere in between and I'm going to agree with that. It has that low speed DCT problem, too, but not as bad as "Sport".

Supposedly, Eco mode will give you the best gas mileage - IF you drive the car the same way. I suspect it would be very difficult to drive the car exactly the same way in each mode simply because the mode differences are enough to make it seem like you have 3 different vehicles.

Question for those with the 2.0 non-turbo: are the differences as dramatic on yours?

Well, I’ve had a 2020 EX — the base one — sin the first week in March. Unfortunately, a week later everything here In PA shut down so I’ve only put about 3400 miles in it, probably 95% local driving. Virtually all of it in normal mode. There is no Eco mode with the IVT. Sport mode when I’ve tried it does seem to tighten up the steering ever so slightly and does raise the shift points on the transmission. But I’ve found the the normal mode to be perfectly satisfactory for driving.

 

[Chuck79pacecar]

Just thought I'd take a couple of days and experience the difference of driving in each of the modes. I have been driving in "normal" so that is my baseline, so to speak.

In my previous car the variances were more subtle but in my Soul Turbo they are more dramatic.
In "Sport", the car is much more responsive with higher shift points and a little more engine noise. Steering response feels tighter, too. Arguably, you get a "sports car in a box".

Eco mode, on the other hand makes the car drive and feel somewhat the way I expected the Soul to be before I actually drove one. As a Senior Citizen I can say it drives like a senior citizen is behind the wheel. (grin) Engine noise is quieter and shift points are lower and smoother while steering is noticeably not as tight. However, there is an upside. In my condo development I have to drive about a quarter of a mile no faster than 15 miles per hour. I experience what virtually every review of the Turbo with DCT describes - noticeable repeated shift changes as it seeks the right gear. But, in Eco mode, virtually all of that goes away as the smoother shifting doesn't have a problem at 15mph.

Normal mode, they say, is somewhere in between and I'm going to agree with that. It has that low speed DCT problem, too, but not as bad as "Sport".

Supposedly, Eco mode will give you the best gas mileage - IF you drive the car the same way. I suspect it would be very difficult to drive the car exactly the same way in each mode simply because the mode differences are enough to make it seem like you have 3 different vehicles.

Question for those with the 2.0 non-turbo: are the differences as dramatic on yours?

I love sport mode, boost gauges and keep the shifter to the left! I’m having a ball.

 

[Joemsj51]

Sport Mode is fine for owners that sell or trade-in their vehicle. But if you are 1st & last owner like me, Sport Mode will shorten both engine and transmission life. The reasons are so obvious, it doesn't require me to explain it here.

 

[Chuck79pacecar]

I know, I know, but I’m looking for SPG, smiles per gallon!😀

 

[wild willy]

Sport Mode is fine for owners that sell or trade-in their vehicle. But if you are 1st & last owner like me, Sport Mode will shorten both engine and transmission life. The reasons are so obvious, it doesn't require me to explain it here.

Agree......

 

[Rock the Box]

Not sure about Sport Mode being bad to use, meaning reducing the life of the engine/trans. A surprise for Ford owners with the 3.5L Ecoboost engine is they aren't driving them hard enough to open the wastegate which then can seize costing a lot of money to repair. So to make it last, they need to hit the gas hard. For my EX, I switch modes for a little while when driving around town to exercise all the parts. Just my thoughts.

 

[LoneStarSoul]

On our S:

Normal mode is, well, normal.

Sport mode keeps the revs up higher, as though you’re sitting one gear lower than cruising so you have more power availableif you need it. Works great on a busy freeway especially for merging from the on ramp or if you’re in a hurry and changing lanes etc.
I normally switch to sport mode when I get to the on ramp then switch to normal once I’m settled down and cruising.

There is no eco mode that I noticed.

 

[SailDesign]

Makes me glad I have the base manual - no "modes" and no transmission "hunting"

I wouldn't mind a better throttle response, though.

 

[JohnLH]

Makes me glad I have the base manual - no "modes" and no transmission "hunting"

I wouldn't mind a better throttle response, though.

Like I said earlier, that transmission "hunting" at slow speeds goes away or at least I can't notice it, when in "Eco" mode.

 

[SailDesign]

Like I said earlier, that transmission "hunting" at slow speeds goes away or at least I can't notice it, when in "Eco" mode.

Judging by my behaviour in the last car I owned that did have a "Sport Mode" (pic below) I would be always in it. There was an aftermarket "button" for the Fiat that worked backwards - "Sport" was the default.....

And Yes, it towed very well.