Jeep Grand Cherokee is arguably one of the fanciest SUVs, thanks to its impressive on-road and off-road capabilities. Its appeal is further boosted by the fact that it is equipped with plenty of luxury features coupled with the Jeep’s characteristic rugged look.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Sport Mode is perhaps of the features that make driving your Jeep more exciting. The best thing about this feature is that you can easily activate it via a button toggle/switch, and it is not reserved for sports cars only. What’s more, it is easy to engage the mode even when driving down the main road.
However, if you have never come across or used the Sport Mode, then you may wonder what the setting is all about and if it is good or bad for your Jeep. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this mode, including the advantages and disadvantages associated with it.
What does Sport Mode do on Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The Sport Mode is a driving setting offered in most modern vehicles, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Unlike the Normal Mode, which acts as the default driving mode, the Sport Mode is specially designed to alter the regular driving dynamics, thereby resulting in a more spirited driving experience.
Simply put, the Sport Mode allows you to take on tight corners more safely thanks to the increased stability when driving at higher speeds. That said, the Sport Mode is more enjoyable when cruising through a relatively twisty highway or track, but you can also engage the mode even under ordinary driving conditions.
Ideally, the Sport Mode transforms your Jeep Grand Cherokee in a couple of ways. First, it maximizes your Cherokee’s power and this is attributed to the increase in the responsiveness of the engine. The mode is also associated with improved steering wheel feedback, which is a plus for anyone looking to enjoy a bit of extra kicks especially when off-roading.
In addition, the Sport Mode alters your Jeep shifting patterns in a way that boosts the overall power and torque. The result of this is increased acceleration which in turn increases the overall speed. However, the increased speed translates to more fuel consumption, and this is perhaps one of the main reasons why some people prefer to drive with the Sport Mode turned off.
The Sport Mode is especially helpful when the driver needs to accelerate quickly, such as when overtaking several cars, climbing an uphill, or when taking on a bumpy highway. Generally, when driving in Normal Mode, the car often takes extra seconds to respond to emergency situations. However, upon activating the Sport Mode, it responds speedily and swiftly, thereby helping to evert any danger.
How to Turn On Sport Mode in Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Sport Mode is one of the features that help to spice up your driving experience, and luckily this setting is easy to activate and have the mode up and running within no time. To activate the Sport Mode, all you need to do is press the designated button, and you’re good to go.
Ideally, the Sport Mode button is installed near the gear stick, but the exact location may vary depending on the model of your Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you are not familiar with the setting yet, we recommend you pack your Jeep in a safe place and activate the mode before you continue driving.
How to Turn Off Sport Mode in Jeep Grand Cherokee
For safety purposes, it is always a good idea to have the Sport Mode off and only enable it on a need basis. Now if the mode is enabled, but you wish to drive at a slower speed, all you need to revert to standard driving settings by disengaging the Sport Mode.
Turning off the mode is generally easy, but it may vary from one Jeep Grand Cherokee version to another. As such you may want to consult your manual for specific instructions, but in most cases, you will only need to press the provided button (or sometimes turn a knob) to deactivate the Sport Mode.
Advantages of Sport Mode on Jeep Grand Cherokee
Increased acceleration: As we’ve mentioned above, Sport Mode helps to boost the power and torque generated by the engine, thereby elevating your acceleration. In other words, the Sport Mode allows you to cruise around much faster than when driving when the mode is not active.
Improved suspension: Apart from increased speed, the Sport Mode is also associated with a firmer vehicle suspension which translates to a smoother ride. In addition, it also facilitates a stiffer suspension, thus making it easy to maneuver through tight spaces at a relatively higher speed.
Improved steering wheel feedback: Another advantage of engaging the Sport Mode is that it not only enhances your handling characteristics but it also makes the steering wheel more responsive. The improved feedback is especially helpful when taking on an extremely twisty road since it makes the steering wheel more receptive to the steering inputs.
Improved transmission: Whenever you engage the Sport Mode, it usually overrides existing transmission settings, which helps improve the overall performance of your Jeep. Ideally, the improved transmission system also allows your gear to shift at a relatively higher RPM for enhanced efficiency.
Disadvantages of Sport Mode on Jeep Grand Cherokee
Increased gas expenses: Perhaps the most obvious drawback of the Sport Mode is the effect it has on your wallet. Sport Mode is associated with an increase in horsepower and acceleration, which means that you’ll need to dig deeper into your pockets in terms of footing the bill for the extra fuel required to sustain the operation.
It compromises comfort level: Another drawback of engaging the Sport Mode or leaving your Jeep on this mode constantly, is that it somehow requires you to sacrifice your comfort level. This often results when you suddenly need to alter the ground clearance or the ride height to allow you to maneuver through some tight spaces.
Decreased engine life: Although Jeeps are designed to take on tough terrains and withstand occasional abuse, we cannot dismiss the strain the Sport Mode imposes on the engine. In addition, engine wearing can worsen if you like to activate the mode all the time or more often than usual.
The Parting Shot!
Cruising around the town with Jeep Grand Cherokee is something to be admired, and having the Sport Mode on makes it even more exciting. However, to get the most out of this driving setting, you may want to take some time and learn how it works and how to activate the mode.
In addition, you’ll need to keep in mind the fact that the mode may often result in some drawbacks. For instance, you may need to refill your tank more often to accommodate the increased power demand, but as long as you don’t overdo the Sport Mode, this should be pretty manageable.
