Starting with 825 miles on the odometer and 40mpg, i quickly learned that speed, hills and towing were the biggest hits to fuel economy on my 2021 HEV's first big trip. I drove from Tucson to Boise, Idaho, to pick up a 850lb teardrop camper i'd chosen to match the Sportage. It does best around 55mph, but highway speeds or mountain climbs bring the numbers down. With the trailer in tow, i still averaged about 35mpg ranging from 25 to 35 depending on terrain. Towing in Smart mode felt smooth and powerful, even on hills, though it did take longer to stop. The auto wipers and headlights worked well most of the time, and overall, the Sportage handled the trip so easily it went almost exactly how i'd imagined.
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Feedback on my first ever long trip
- Thread starter noreem85
- Start date
Smart mode is a good choice although I'm curious how much difference it made if you tried Eco mode or just highway cruising without the trailer, it could give a sense of where the biggest gains or losses are. Also, did you notice the battery holding up on the climbs, or did it drain quickly under load?
Great point. I didnt try Eco mode yet, mostly stuck with smart for the trip. On the climbs, the battery held up pretty well overall, but i did notice it dropping faster when i hit steeper grades with the trailer. Do you think running Eco on the uphill stretches would make a noticeable difference?Smart mode is a good choice although I'm curious how much difference it made if you tried Eco mode or just highway cruising without the trailer, it could give a sense of
Hey @noreem85, sounds like quite the trip! Running Eco uphill might help a bit, but with a heavy trailer, it’ll likely limit power more than it saves much battery. Smart mode usually balances it best for towing, especially on mixed terrain. Did you feel any lag when climbing, or was it still smooth enough?