If you’ve test driven any cars lately, taken a look at some new spec sheets or endured the sales spiel of a car dealer, you’ve probably heard the extols of ‘drive mode’ buttons. With the help of some electronic aids, drivers can now manage the behavioural characteristics of their car by changing whichever mode it’s in.
From the supple support of comfort mode to the snarling, firmed-up responsiveness of track modes for wiping out lap times – these settings are designed to turn one car into several, depending on the preferences of the driver.
Drive modes can alter the gearbox, suspension and steering weight to make the car feel more sporty, more comfortable or even more fuel efficient. On this page we’ll explain how the work, which cars have them and whether you really need drive modes in your life.
How do drive modes work?
More and more vehicles are coming onto the market with selectable drive modes. There’s often up to four or five settings, all of which have their own distinct pre-set configurations. These can take the form of Economy, Comfort, Sport, Race or Off-road/Winter modes.
Eco – or Economy mode
The whole point of ‘economy’ mode is to save on fuel consumption. By selecting the economy button, often displayed as ‘eco’, the engine will change to be a bit less responsive. This is because it limits the top end power and reduces the accelerator’s response to any input from the driver, gradually gaining speed through the gears, rather than throwing down all the car has right from the get-go .
Comfort
Switch your car into Comfort mode and the adaptive suspension (if fitted) will become softer, the throttle and gearbox (if automatic) slower to respond and the steering lighter.
It’s the most common driving mode, since it makes driving very easy and doesn’t compromise fuel economy like the racey ones do. Some premium cars also allow individual changes to be made to existing settings and saved in a personally tailored mode, meaning sporty heavy steering can be teamed with comfort suspension settings, for instance.
Sport
Sport driving mode is for keen drivers, inclined to testing out the performance of their cars. The gear changes are longer, so the engine can use the torque produced at higher revs to climb to higher speeds faster. The steering is heavier to insist on greater driver input and offer increased feedback. More cautious drivers might consider this a more aggressive mapping of the engine, but to driving enthusiasts, such changes signal fun, provided the weather conditions allow for it.
Other changes in more premium models can result in a change in the suspension so dampers become stiffer and allow for less body roll. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) may also be affected, which again lessens the car’s automatic response to a loss of traction and gives the driver more to do.
Race
Race mode is a button to deliver all the power with the electric aids off, leaving the driver to handle the car without any assistance. It’s like Sport mode on steroids and it tends to be reserved for performance cars that are likely to be taken to a race track, rather than on public roads.
Over the years, engineers have developed electronic controls so the car can respond appropriately to mistaken inputs, or lack thereof, by the driver. With such controls disengaged, the risk of accident is greater.
Off-road/Winter
Off-road drive mode engages whatever all-wheel drive capabilities the vehicle has. With power across both axles, rather than just front- or rear, the vehicle is easier to handle at lower speeds, especially down hill descents . With greater traction and raised suspension to offer greater ground clearance, the changes also lend themselves well to driving in snowy conditions.
Some models have an automatic driving mode. This allows the vehicle to switch between settings depending on how it’s being driven and the road conditions. For example, a motorway run with cruise control on might send the car into Comfort or Economy mode, while an enthusiastic drive along a country road could activate a sportier setting.
Do I need them?
The best drive mode selectors can really change the feel of a car, like on the new BMW 7-Series. One minute you can be driving along in what feels like a nimble sports car, and the next in a comfortable motorway cruiser.
However, other systems make little discernible difference, especially if the car doesn’t have an automatic gearbox or expensive adaptive suspension – features which help make the most of switchable driving profiles.
If you’re not convinced, take a test drive and see if you can tell the difference between each drive mode.
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Drive mode selectors can be specced as an option on more humble cars such as the Hyundai i20 and Audi A3, yet feature more commonly on expensive models such as the BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XF.
Looking for more jargon-busting motoring meanings? Head over to our Parkers Car Glossary page and take a look at our other definitions
