Why does the GLE450 default to Comfort Mode rather then ECO Mode on startup? What's the downside to ECO mode vs Comfort Mode?

 

All of our GLE's do, Comfort mode is the default every time you start the vehicle. There's not really a downside to running in Eco mode. you do save in fuel consumption. Some like myself don't like the engine being stop and started at traffic stops. I have this warp sense of unnecessary wear and tear on the engine itself, So most of the time I leave it in comfort mode or set it to my individual mod

 

I would think Eco mode also has a weaker throttle response, but maybe that's not the case. I never actually used it. There's definitely a difference in the throttle between Comfort and Sport.

 

The only difference i've noticed between the two would be the ability for it to go engine off/cruise mode/coasting mode in eco where as comfort mode it wont happen. As for throttle response, I don't feel much if any difference. With engine in eco mode, I do notice the throttle coaching icons pop up here and there (recommend foot off the gas pedal icon). There is a about a 30-35 mile fuel savings difference between comfort v. eco on a weekend drive we take to a second home regularly that is about 100 miles each way, so there is some mpg savings to be had.

The car will automatically default to comfort mode and you would have to manually select individual/sport plus/eco as you wish. I had start in last mode coded by benzninja along with other features so it just starts and defaults into individual mode; settings are Engine Eco, Suspension Sport, Handling Sport.

 

My MPG gauge immediately increases when I switch from comfort to Eco when holding speed on a flat road.

I have E-ABC and the road surface scan is disabled in Eco so bumps are most definitely noticed between the two modes during daylight hours.

 

Like Sport and Sport+, Eco is a mode that's not suited for every situation and therefore isn't the default. It reduces the engine power for example, so it's not recommended for situations where you need to accelerate quickly such as for merging. It's more suited for just plodding along once on the highway or at slow city speeds to save fuel. It also reduces the effectiveness of the A/C, so on very hot days it may not manage to keep your cabin comfortable, so you select it when it suits the driving situation, rather than being the default mode. Comfort is designed to be the everyday mode. It gives full engine performance while providing driving comfort and reasonable fuel economy w/o compromising the performance.

 

I believe in ECO mode, you start with gear 2 vs 1 on comfort mode from a stand still (I personally things it is more smooth starting in gear 2).
Also, on eco mode, especially on one with 48v system, it will turn off the engine for "glide" mode on flag or slight downhill road with no throttle input, vs keeping engine running on comfort mode under the same condition.

 

I've a S560 and in ECO mode the throttle response is indeed slower, especially when in Distronic on interstates. Example: in distronic on interstate you come upon a slower vehicle and can't change to the left lane right away because of another car passing on your left side. In ECO, when it's clear to pass, I notice the vehicle is slower to get back up to speed i.e.75-80 mph vs if one is in Sport. That irritates me if I'm on a trip over ?? 500-600 miles away from start.

 

I got my barely used 2024 GLE 350 4Matic about a month ago. I was using Comfort mode at first and on my commute to work I would average between 23-25mpg. Last week I started using eco mode and now my average mpg was 28. Mostly highway with some urban areas on the way to work. I also noticed I get more mpg on my way to work than on my way home (on eco I average 24-26mpg on the way home) I'm assuming because I live in a little bit higher elevation so it's going down on the way to work and up on the way home.