How does the "S" mode work in automatics?

When I drive my 2018 Sport in D it often times gets hung up in 5th. I go over to S mode and "shift" it up to 6th.

I have since chosen to drive in S mode 100% of the time. No reason to be running 3K rpm up small hills

Due to it not shifting up to 6 on the highway it was just wasting gas and my MPG have gone up

 

As said... if I'm in D it won't upshift to 6th and runs excessive RPMs.. this only happened a couple times though. Set the cruise at 70 and won't upshift.

 

S6...

 

Now that I think of it, it wouldn't shift to 5th in those rare occasions from 4th. Bizarre behavior. Have driven in S6 since and no issues.

 

Doesn't mean the truck will go to 6th gear though just because you set it to S6? This is why Toyota needs to have the gear indicator in the truck so you can see what gear you're in.

 

I don't think you can crank 3000 rpms in 5th.
Playing with tunes, the most i saw 2500 (going uphill at 70+), which yelds 100% of the engine load and forces the downshift to 4.
But sounds normal for 4th gear.

 

You guys have some weird transmissions. I get normal operation just as the tundra i had, but with more overdrive that saves gas.

 

Cruising at 70 in 4th yields 3000rpm. It has never done that once in S mode. Over 3 months it did it probably 3 times in D

 

No it doesn't mean it will, HOWEVER it disables the transmission learning algorithm.

 

YUP!!

 

Good explanation.

My wife has Manual Shift Mode on her 2017 Elantra and of course she's never used it. As for me, I've just left it at factory setting and drive it. EDIT I just checked and it has Upshift & Downshift...same as the 1 thru 6 gears on my Sport AT.

Wife's Elantra has two drive mode selections: Eco & Sport. Now this button I have used in Sport Mode and enjoy the quick jaunts on Hwy 1/13.

On my Sport, I have not used it at all. I let the gears change as they do.

 

No S6 in my truck, just S5 and its perfect for my towing needs. If i want 6th gear, gotta go back to The D mode. All seems normal to me. Love the auto in this truck, its super smooth, and spot on.