D vs. S fuel consumption data

Tags: #automatic-transmission · #fuel-consumption

This card gathers specific numeric owner-reported fuel-consumption comparisons between D and S modes (complementing the general D-vs-S characteristics already covered in the drive-modes card).

Refueling frequency in S mode. One owner asked whether S mode burns significantly more fuel; another confirmed yes — "higher RPM, more consumption"¹². Doing the math out loud, one owner estimated that habitual S-mode driving would mean refueling roughly 3 times a month, versus about 2 times a month they were currently doing; a heavy S-mode user in the thread said they refuel every 2-3 days, typically putting in around 2,000 (RUB worth of fuel) per stop, and reported burning through roughly 20 (currency/liters, ambiguous in source) per day on some days³⁴⁵⁶. That heavy user clarified they mostly drive in D and only switch to S when anticipating an overtaking opportunity⁷.

Mode-switching while moving. In the same thread, a member asked whether transmission mode can only be switched at a complete stop (e.g. at a red light); another confirmed switching is possible on the move, specifically between S and D⁸⁹¹⁰.

Direct D vs. S consumption test (MKAD highway, Oct. 2024). One owner ran a like-for-like comparison on the MKAD ring road — same wheels, same 92-octane fuel, same approximate route — specifically to compare which mode used more or less fuel, not to establish an absolute "ideal" figure¹¹¹². Results: D mode: 10.4 L/100km; S (Sport) mode: 9.7 L/100km; for reference, driving on the manual transmission variant came in noticeably higher, around 12 L/100km, in the same owner's estimation¹¹. The finding that S came out more economical on the highway is attributed to fewer gear shifts at speed¹³. This owner's overall takeaway: which mode to drive in depends on the driver's own read of the situation and experience — there's no single universally-better answer¹¹.

City driving trade-off (same source). In city/traffic conditions, S is described as less comfortable than D: S holds longer gears, letting RPM climb as high as ~3,500 on a single gear, producing excess engine noise; S also shows noticeably stronger engine braking on throttle lift-off, which can feel like extra "kicks"/jerks when crawling in traffic in the 1,500-2,000 RPM range¹⁴.

Manual-transmission fuel consumption — 2018 facelift typical figures. A facelift manual-transmission car (80,000 km) reports typical consumption of 12.5 L/100km in mixed city/highway driving at a steady 3-3.5k RPM. Range observed: 9 L/100km on the highway, 13.5 L/100km in city driving. Winter consumption increases by 1-2 L/100km. Consumption is reported to improve with additional mileage^{1516171819202122}.

Media

Dashboard/consumption-related photo shared alongside a report of driving in S mode with cruise control on the highway

Related pages

• Fuel consumption factors and dashboard display
• Fuel consumption reports by year and conditions
• Fuel consumption by driving conditions
• AKPP drive modes and shifting behavior
• AKPP fluid specification — conflicting claims

Sources

This page is compiled from 22 community messages. Every fact carries a numbered reference to its original author and message.

Last updated: 2026-07-24