In the 2024 manual on page 380 " SI-DRIVE (If Equipped)". Which version(s) have this feature?
SI-Drive
bluie
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Not really sure that the SPORT mode is the "normal" mode. I went from a '18 Crosstrek that didn't have S/I (like the USA Outbacks) to a '21 Crosstrek that does. The ''21 in "I" mode has just slightly better performance than the '18 because the '18 had 2.0 L while the '21 has the 2.5l engine. While in SPORT mode the '21 has much better performance than the '18. For me, the question is how are Subarus that don't have S/I setup?
Also, the throttle plate is controlled via "fly by wire". That is, there is a sensor at the accelerator pedal that the ECU uses to control the throttle plate's position. In SPORT mode, the ECU moves the throttle faster in response to movement of the accelerator pedal than in "I" mode. This improves the gas mileage in "I" mode, while increasing performance in SPORT mode. S/I also alters the control of CVT. Maybe other items?
Older Subaru's just had one operating mode, and that was the peak (and relatively conservative) factory tune, because that's what you expected of your car back then from factory. The introduction of SI-Drive allowed Subaru to make the tune even more conservative and they dubbed the normal tune "Sport" mode instead. Makes sense when you think about it.
Fly by wire simply looks up a throttle map. Basically when you are pressing the pedal a certain percentage down, request this much power from the engine.
The Sport map simply requests more power from the engine at an earlier point in that map compared to Intelligent mode, eg: instead of only requesting 10% power at 15% throttle, request 20% at 15% throttle instead. When at 60% throttle, request 80% from the engine, etc etc. Some aftermarket tunes, and products like Pedal Commander for the most part simply increase these values. You are likely requesting 100% from the engine before you've actually got 100% throttle down, for example.
SI-Drive is more than just the throttle map. In Sports mode, it changes the engine management to respond quicker and open up to use more fuel. The transmission management is altered to do less ratio changes and feel less laggy in response.
For example, my Outback 3.6 feels noticeably touchier on throttle in Sports Sharp mode. There is zero lag, the sprint from zero to 100kph is just one long mega gear, no ratio changes, and the car as a whole feels very perky allowing me to launch very nicely in the Traffic Light GP. Switch it back to Intelligent mode and now the CVT is lag city with lots of ratio changes trying to find the most fuel efficient point to be at, the car feels a lot lumpier and my zero to 100kph time gets a whole four seconds added to it. But this is the best mode to be in day to day especially in city traffic.
My old Liberty/Legacy 2.5i didn't have SI-Drive (though I did have it aftermarket tuned), but it was a reasonable setup from factory that I can feel is the same as Sports mode on newer 2.5's today. Intelligent mode is much laggier.
Fly by wire simply looks up a throttle map. Basically when you are pressing the pedal a certain percentage down, request this much power from the engine.
The Sport map simply requests more power from the engine at an earlier point in that map compared to Intelligent mode, eg: instead of only requesting 10% power at 15% throttle, request 20% at 15% throttle instead. When at 60% throttle, request 80% from the engine, etc etc. Some aftermarket tunes, and products like Pedal Commander for the most part simply increase these values. You are likely requesting 100% from the engine before you've actually got 100% throttle down, for example.
SI-Drive is more than just the throttle map. In Sports mode, it changes the engine management to respond quicker and open up to use more fuel. The transmission management is altered to do less ratio changes and feel less laggy in response.
For example, my Outback 3.6 feels noticeably touchier on throttle in Sports Sharp mode. There is zero lag, the sprint from zero to 100kph is just one long mega gear, no ratio changes, and the car as a whole feels very perky allowing me to launch very nicely in the Traffic Light GP. Switch it back to Intelligent mode and now the CVT is lag city with lots of ratio changes trying to find the most fuel efficient point to be at, the car feels a lot lumpier and my zero to 100kph time gets a whole four seconds added to it. But this is the best mode to be in day to day especially in city traffic.
My old Liberty/Legacy 2.5i didn't have SI-Drive (though I did have it aftermarket tuned), but it was a reasonable setup from factory that I can feel is the same as Sports mode on newer 2.5's today. Intelligent mode is much laggier.
if anything it's "i" a normal mode in US ..
S holds higher RPM and they will never sacrifice 1% mpg for it here in US
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Correction: ALL Outbacks (at least in the US) don't have it, including my top-of-the-line '24 Touring XT, which is a shame. Hopefully fixed with the upcoming Gen7.
Your Outbacks already do sacrifice fuel. Yours are way thirstier than ours, though there's other factors that also contribute to that such as the higher ride height even in your standard Outbacks.
it may just how they get tested and our XT is min 87 (RON 91) and AU is min 91 (RON95)
3 years ago going from 87 to 91 would be $100 a month on octane difference , maybe $60-70 if i can get some of it back in MPG savings
I think what @tw33k1963 was referencing was "NA" being North America rather than Naturally Aspirated
FWIW, my 2024 Canadian-spec Legacy GT (2.4T, the only sedan trim available as 2024 in Canada) is equipped with the SI drive. I can confirm that it appears to improve overall response, and makes the car more enjoyable, at the expense of fuel economy (RPM are higher for the same speed).
Yes, exactly.
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60 Posts
Having used the S mode in my 2023 XT OB a few times now, there’s no way I’d be driving it in that as the normal mode. It’s far too aggressive and definitely adjusts throttle and transmission performance and would be sh#+ful to drive around town in all the time.
Agreed - It's definitely too touchy for stop-start traffic.
My 08 H-6 has SI. Startup is in sport and after the red lite on the temp goes out I can go to Sport#. I drive mine in S# all the time. Only way to get into the really low power mode is by pushing down on the center consul SI dial. In that mode it losses much of the power and I almost was in a acciden because of that. The dog is moving from my lap to hers and stepped on the SI dial and I did not notice till I pulled out to pass a logging truck up a hill. Floored it and pulled out and the car barely accelerated, couldn't get back behind the truck as all the cars behind me had pulled up to the rear of the truck. By the time I just got around many angry drivers in both lanes. I don't worry about that anymore as I jammed plastic under that damn dial so it's S or S# for me.
In Australia, we are all in Intelligent mode by default at switch-on. We also cannot select Sport Sharp (not sure about Sport only, have to check that) until the engine has warmed up (in Gen5 and Gen6 it pops up a message on the combination meter display advising you of that).
Intelligent mode extends my 0-100kph time by a full four seconds compared to Sport Sharp mode.
Sorry to hear about that accident, no doubt was one of the many reasons the SI-Drive functionality moved to buttons on the steering wheel.
Intelligent mode extends my 0-100kph time by a full four seconds compared to Sport Sharp mode.
Sorry to hear about that accident, no doubt was one of the many reasons the SI-Drive functionality moved to buttons on the steering wheel.
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212 Posts
i saves fuel s is for sport
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212 Posts
Hmmm , I’m hear in Canada and just got my 2022 Outback limited XT today but it doesn’t appear to have the s/i button in the steering wheel.
I liven in Europe and we get the S-I drive modes.
The main thing that it does is changes the throttle map and and eliminates the fake shifts. The fake shifts , while fun, actually slow you down. In S the CVT behaves like an old school CVT. meaning the RPM jumps to peak power and stays there, and CVT changes the ratios non stop, like it should do. As Hyrax is saying, it is significantly faster because of the lack of fake shifts.
The main thing that it does is changes the throttle map and and eliminates the fake shifts. The fake shifts , while fun, actually slow you down. In S the CVT behaves like an old school CVT. meaning the RPM jumps to peak power and stays there, and CVT changes the ratios non stop, like it should do. As Hyrax is saying, it is significantly faster because of the lack of fake shifts.
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212 Posts
I just want the best fuel economy I can get, I’m assuming once I get up to highway speed and let off the throttle and engage the additive cruise the turbo will just spool down and my gas mileage should be similar to the 2.5L
Products like the PC do not eliminate the fake shifts.
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212 Posts
What exactly is a peddle commander? I’ve seen it heard of it somewhere before
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