L mode is widely misunderstood. To quote from the Ford Kuga manual, " In low (L) mode your vehicle decelerates more noticeably than in drive (D) when the accelerator pedal is released ". This is to maximise the amount of electricity returned to the EV battery during regen braking, extending your range. D mode is only there for people that can't get used to using L mode. Why buy a hybrid but ignore the feature that makes the most of the vehicle's abilities?