Hi,
I run a 2017 version of this motor, so very similar with a bit of an update. I almost always immediately stick it in sport mode as a minimum when driving. This tightens the throttle and speed up the gear responses dramatically and although it turns off some of the eco things like coasting I find it has no measurable impact on general economy. If I fancy a spirited run I'll use sport plus mode if the roods are smooth or, for the typical and usually rough British B road, I have a custom mode set up with tight throttle and gears but the softer suspension. I find race mode a bit too brutal to use regularly but OK for a bit of fun.
Quite often I'll just take full manual control either permanently by setting the box to manual or by overriding, and since the override holds for quite a while I usually find it stays in manual from corner to corner as I'm changing gears often enough.
I agree the standard mode is slushy; it's like there's an elastic band in the throttle link and the gears seem to be half asleep. Try some of the other modes / manual and you'll find a more responsive drive.
Hope this helps.
