For that long of a trip, I would just use Hybrid with Battery Hold. Save the battery for stops or any slow/city driving.

As far as D or B... you can get very similar results with both. However, in my experience it's easier to coast and get slightly better MPG with D.

I've really tried mastering B mode over the last year and like it a lot. For fun, I recently switched back to using D and have found I'm already getting a little better MPG overall. Obviously there are a LOT of factors that go into this, so direct comparison between anyone is tough.

 

Interesting question. I suspect running in hybrid mode makes sense despite the lower suspension height in power mode. Or perhaps hybrid mode until the battery is depleted followed by power mode, but is suspect hybrid mode will still be better due to the occasional regenerative braking.

 

also, since i will be driving over night, with constant speed and ACC, i suppose the "B" makes no sense and can just drive with "D" and in that case with power mode, i dont think i should have higher fuels consumption with power mode and since the car will be "lower", it should have also lower consumption

 

These are my preferred road trip settings, 2021 T8 w/air suspension:

Individual mode
Suspension: Pure
Powertrain: Hybrid w/hold engaged
Steering: Light/soft (can’t remember the exact setting name)
B mode usually, D if it’s really flat

 

thanks for that, just need to check in car, what does " pure" suspension mean and check what are the defautl settings for steering!

 

I’ve only had my XC90 for 7 months but Pure seems to be the “middle” suspension setting. Hybrid is normal ride height, Pure is lower (and maybe softer?), but not as low or firm as Power/Polestar. I have the Polestar tune and find that setting uncomfortable for long freeway stints on the garbage freeways in California.

 

I'd use 'Battery Hold' and put the car in ACC. Save the electric power for the in-town driving when you're at your destination. I wouldn't use B mode on the highway.

 

It would really be great if they would add an individual mode. Pure+Lower Height or Hybrid + Lower Height would be very logical. Why on earth would anyone with a T8 drive in Power mode, ever?

 

We lucky Sensus users do have an individual mode that does just that. That's what Folsom142 was referring to. From your comments I assume yours is AAOS and doesn't.

In Sensus I run Hybrid+hold mode for long freeway stints with the Power/Polestar suspension setting to keep it low. Yours should automatically lower the air suspension at high speeds for better fuel mileage - I want to say above like 70mph? So you're probably not missing much, other than I like how the car feels at its lowest suspension setting even below highway speeds (when the road is smooth enough).

Power/Polestar mode is fun on occasion for things like merging on the freeway or roads with a lot of up and down hills. It's also the recommended setting for pulling a trailer to maximize the power delivery. Or just to show off

 

Hybrid with battery on hold in B mode (I always drive B mode, why wouldnt you want your battery to recharge when you break) just in case you are close to empty and need some juice to get to nearest gas station. Power or Polestar (if you end up getting the software update) Off road and AWD use the most energy/gas for me.

 

I always drive B mode, why wouldnt you want your battery to recharge when you break

In most normal driving situations, light-to-moderate braking in D gives nearly exactly the same regen as one-pedal braking in B.

 

Sorry for the super dumb question... How do you switch between B and D? This is my wife's car primarily so I haven't spent a ton of time learning.

Also I'm interested to understand how you guys are saying that power mode will be the quickest? How could that be if it doesn't use the electric motor at all in power mode? I'm still perplexed by the naming of that drive mode.

I believe hybrid mode should be the quickest, using the gas engine for the front wheels and the electric for the rears, yes?

 

Sorry for the super dumb question... How do you switch between B and D? This is my wife's car primarily so I haven't spent a ton of time learning.

Also I'm interested to understand how you guys are saying that power mode will be the quickest? How could that be if it doesn't use the electric motor at all in power mode? I'm still perplexed by the naming of that drive mode.

I believe hybrid mode should be the quickest, using the gas engine for the front wheels and the electric for the rears, yes?

Power mode uses both the gas engine and electric motor for best performance. Hybrid sort of alternates more depending on your use.

To switch between D and B on the AAOS car at least, you just switch to D and B by tapping the shifter down.

So from Park, one bump down to D, another to B. Another one brings you back to D.

 

B mode works best when you are in congested traffic - not only easier to drive but you get the maximum benefit from the regen. If you're not urban then there isn't as much benefit to it.

 

I use the B mode only in the mountains of Colorado and West Virginia. The drive on I70 from the loveland tunnel to Denver is downhill almost all the way and I "coast" almost all the way down without having to put my foot on the brake. Same for the mountains in eastern West Virginia. I don't like the B mode in town since I like to just let off the gas and "coast" when possible instead of the on and off of the gas. I am 71 and grew up driving this way

 

I left out a comment in the note above, I have 2022 S60T8 with sensus. I also "warm up" the ICE a few before I hit the highway ramp if I know I am going to want to save the battery for city street driving.

 

I want the lowest, stiffest suspension settings when traveling at higher speeds. I like how it handles in Power mode, but the gas mileage is less than hybrid mode. I think this might be because it may be charging the battery while in the Power mode so there is battery available when you goose it. I will try Power mode with Battery Hold on my next road trip to see how the mileage is.

 

Power mode will also keep the revs in a higher band to be more immediately responsive, whether in hold mode or not. I imagine that would lead to a decrement on fuel mileage over a long trip.

 

Yep. The only time I've seen the revs drop fully (going into 8th gear I assume) in Power/Polestar mode is when you engage cruise control.