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2014 Sport mode

20K views 45 replies 25 participants last post by  GCL2014 
#1 ·
I know on the 2011-13 sport mode was on the Select terrain dial, which changed the torque split from front to rear tire bias heavily to the rear and modified the traction control to make it a little more easy to spin the tires and get sideways, does anyone know if the same thing is done on the 2014? Or if on the 14 it just changes the shift points?
 
#4 ·
Hey Bill, is it possible to shut off Eco mode without going into sport mode?
 
#3 ·
I assume it works the same as in the previous model years. It sets more aggressive shifting, lowers the air suspension to Aero mode and drives much more aggressive which I love when I need to get the vehicle moving.
 
#6 ·
Sport mode on the 2014's is worlds improved over the 11-13's. On the 11-13's it did nothing to make it a more "fun" driving experience. When you select sport in a 14 it feels like a totally different vehicle!! As far as the torque split I dont know, but it sounds like other guys have answered that for ya.
I remember on my 2012 Overland V6 putting it in sport mode went from shitty shift points, to even shittier shift points to where right at 45 mph it wouldnt shift and I would be cruising at a high RPM. Man I hated that 5spd tranny in that thing and have no regrets selling it. If I do decide to get another Grand Cherokee it will without a doubt be a 14 with the new tranny and a sport mode that actually does something :)
 
#9 ·
Sport mode on the 2014's is worlds improved over the 11-13's. On the 11-13's it did nothing to make it a more "fun" driving experience. When you select sport in a 14 it feels like a totally different vehicle!! As far as the torque split I dont know, but it sounds like other guys have answered that for ya.
I remember on my 2012 Overland V6 putting it in sport mode went from shitty shift points, to even shittier shift points to where right at 45 mph it wouldnt shift and I would be cruising at a high RPM. Man I hated that 5spd tranny in that thing and have no regrets selling it. If I do decide to get another Grand Cherokee it will without a doubt be a 14 with the new tranny and a sport mode that actually does something :)

Well on my V8 powered 2012, Sport Mode does make a big difference in how the vehicle performs and responds. If it didn't also come with a drop in gas mileage I'd leave my WK2 in Sport mode all the time.
 
#7 ·
I played with it a little but never really ran it hard in sport mode, does it really make a big difference? Do you think it would shave time off of the 0-60? As of right now my truck is a little faster and the sport mode makes a noticeable difference the Jeep might actually keep up with my truck...I can't have my wife driving something faster than my truck!
 
#8 ·
John,

Yes as answered


----------------

LSU_Fan,

Big difference. From a stand still, even the Hemi is a bit sluggish in drive (Damned 3.09 rear)

In sport mode it will throw your head back.



.
 
#10 ·
On my 13' Overland with Hemi, I've noticed a difference in Sport Mode. Not only does it lower the vehicle's ride height with quadra lift, it seems to stiffen up the suspension, as well as it leaves out of the hole a bit harder. It appears to hold gears longer as well. One thing to note, even if I'm in Sport Mode, if I'm just toodling around, it'll still drop into ECO mode, which I don't mind.
 
#13 ·
I just took it for a ride in sport mode and it is very different! The rpms are always high and it jumps with the slights throttle, slowing down was almost scary as it made the tires bark once during downshifting...Definitely not for use in a low traction situation!

My wife was happy to know that according to my stop watch it is faster than my truck. The Jeep 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and the best I ever got with my truck is 6.8, both done by hand so the time is not official but it's pretty close.
 
#20 ·
It's much easier to shift into sport mode with it on the shifter. Just pull back on it while in drive, and sport mode is activated and pull back again to go back into drive.
 
#22 ·
Has anyone noticed some sort of "shudder" on sport mode when the jeep is coming to a stop? I can kinda feel on the break pedal and the car itself, like it was late shifting back to 1st gear and kinda looks like the abs in action not quite but you could think of something like that, this happens most of the time when coming to a stop on a red light or stop sign. I don't have that on D with or without Eco Mode on, only in Sport mode and only when the jeep is coming to a stop, like right before a complete stop... still have to check when stopping the jeep more aggressively

is this normal or do I have to go to the dealer and see what's going on? I have nothing weird accelerating and giving it full throttle, breaking and full throttle again... really just on full stops
 
#23 ·
I don't get the shudder, but I do feel the transmission doesn't shift down quick enough when in sport mode. For some reason it holds onto 3rd and 2nd gear far too long when I'm braking and coming to a complete stop.
 
#24 · (Edited)
So to be clear, there are actually 3 drive modes, all different: eco, regular drive and sport, correct?
 
#25 ·
Yes.

Drive and Sport mode are on the electronic shifter. Eco is activated via a button on the center stack and actually just alters the shift schedule of Drive to be much more conservative.

TBH, I roll with Eco on 98% of the time. With it coming on by default at vehicle start-up, I just forget about it I suppose.
 
#29 ·
As far as I know, you can use the paddle shifters whenever you want to. No matter what mode I've been in, when I push one of them, the gears change.

So it shouldn't matter. And no, using them doesn't put you in Sport mode.
 
#30 ·
I also noticed the "shudder" or lurching when the vehicle was downshifting to the lower gears when braking to a stop in Sport Mode on my test drive in a 5.7L 2014. My 2011 never did this.

I hope the transmission learns and is able to smooth out the downshifting. I found it annoying.
 
#31 ·
Hi all. I'm new here, just joined yesterday. Anywho, I've been reading the comments regarding the transmission problems in the Sport mode. Last month I bought a GC and mine also does that bogging down thing when you decelerate or brake. Also, my radio makes some sort of popping sound, kinda like an electrical popping sound. I've made a service appointment for Saturday. I'm just wondering, is this bogging down of the transmission something everyone is experiencing? Is this germain to GC or is this a problem? Also, has anyone had a problem with their radio popping? Again, germain or a problem. I just wanted to know, so I'll be armed with a little knowledge when I take my GC in.
 
#32 · (Edited)
There are a number of folks reporting problems with the way their transmissions shift. I believe some of the folks have a problem. The thing with the internet is that if one person reports a problem, 10 others go looking for it so they don't feel left out.

When in sport mode you should expect to feel harsher shift on up shifts, and a lot more 'engine braking' when down shifting. The shift points are at different rpms in each mode. If you drove a standard shift and got equally smooth shifts no matter how aggressively you drove, you were burning out your clutch.

At least in some cases when the dealer says this is normal, he/she just might be right. ;)
 
#34 ·
We have had no problems with it bogging down, whether in sport mode or not, I guess I would ask you what bogging down means to you? On the popping noise my wife's has it or certain radio stations. Hers has the ra2 radio. I just leased a 2013 ram with the ra4 radio and it has the same issue, although to be honest the reception in the truck leaves a lot to be desired, HD radio is pretty much useless as it kicks in and out all the time. I had a JVC deck in my escort with HD radio and that thing was awesome with reception with HD radio. To me the reception is the key to the popping, that is why it happens only on some stations. Let us now what you find, I'm taking my wife's in next week for a while bunch of issues with her radio and cd player, and yet another rattle...
 
#36 ·
In sport mode it will NOT shift until you hit the paddle (when using the paddles). In normal mode it will shift at the redline.
 
#38 ·
Thanks everyone for answering so quickly. This isn't my first Jeep. I owned a Liberty and before that a Cherokee. I never had any real mechanical issues with either of these SUV's. I said that to say, the way the GC downshifts isn't smooth the way it was in my previous Jeeps. I realize the GC is a horse of another color, but it really feels like the trans is stuttering (for lack of a better word), and it's really pronounced. I just wanted to know if others had this going on, and if it's an issue or if it's part of GC's make up.

And thanks lovesracing1988 for that radio info. I've had quite a few vehicles, and I've never had one pop like this. When it first happened I thought a rock hit the windshield. It was that loud. Then I realized it was the radio. I'll let you know what the dealer finds after my service call on Saturday.
 
#46 ·
A number of people have had similar issues with the tranny, including me. There are a number of threads on this topic alone. There are a couple of fixes that have work for some, battery reset or fuse pull. Our Jeep is shifting better now, but still is far from perfect.
 
#44 ·
One item I have never read on the Forum concerning Sport Mode is the 8 speed transmission in Sport Mode does not shift completely through the gears. If I'm not mistaken it only shifts 1 trough 5 and you manually have to shift with the paddles shifters or drop it down into drive. Many may not know in the cluster there is an indicator that tells you what gear you are in. It is so faint I was not aware it was there until I read the manual telling me where it is.
Anyway your mileage suffers greatly if you leave it in Sport Mode for daily driving.
But I really like the feeling in Sport Mode.
 
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