[wzx]

Hello,

I'm confused by the menu:
"Handling in D": Comfort, Normal or Sport
"Handling in S": Normal or Sport

My question is:
1) if I select "Sport" for both D and S, does that mean that "D" and "S" buttons both become "Sport" with exactly the same behavior?
2) if I select "Sport" for D and "Normal" for S, have I reversed the two buttons?
3) or "Sport" for D is actually less "sportive" than "Normal" for S?

I'm even more confused by "Performance in S", where I can again select "Normal" or "Sport".

I could think that "Handling in D" or "Handling in S" is related to suspension, and "Performance in S" related (only) to engine power output, but in the description of modes for "Handling in ...", the Owner's manual does also talk about engine:
"Sport – Provides a sportier driving
experience. The suspension stiffens, with
an emphasis on handling and control.
The engine responds more directly to
your inputs and takes on a more powerful
tone. ..."
So those "Comfort", "Normal" and "Sport" modes represent a mixture of suspension, engine power, etc. not only about suspension.
If "Performance in S" deals with engine power, it means that it gives yet more power to "Sport" mode?

Actually, I just got my MKC. In the first mileage, I don't want to force too much the engine, so I use "Comfort". But I find the suspension too soft in "Comfort", so I'm asking if there is a way to get the stiff suspension of "Sport" mode without its high RPM.

Thanks in advance,

ZX

 

[todd92]

The S (Sport) button on the shift stack selects Sport mode. You can select either Normal or Sport handling AND Normal or Sport performance via the Drive Control menu for Sport mode. Handling stiffens the suspension in Sport, while Performance sharpens the throttle response and raises the shift points (it does not increase power). In this way, you can either sharpen handling or sharpen engine response or both via pressing the Sport button, depending on personal preference.

I'm pretty sure that with My Key, different setting are retained for each key, so the vehicle is personalized for whichever driver is using it.

 

[wzx]

Thanks for your response.

"The S (Sport) button on the shift stack selects Sport mode.": which "Sport mode" are you referring to? Is it the mode in the "Comfort", "Normal" and "Sport" list? or for your, you make the difference between your Sport "Mode" and the Sport "Handling mode"?

So we have an hierarchy of selection:
D button: "Drive" mode (let's call it this way)
Comfort, Normal, Sport handling mode
S button: "Sport" mode
Normal, Sport handling mode
If this is true, D with Sport handling is different from S with Sport handling?

Thanks,

ZX

 

[todd92]

No.

The D and S button just select which modes you have assigned to them via the Drive Control menus.

 

[midnite cruiser]

"S" is also set up with original settings for the faster throttle 'linkage' and a drop in power assist in the steering for better road feel.

 

[wzx]

No.

The D and S button just select which modes you have assigned to them via the Drive Control menus.

So the statement "The S (Sport) button on the shift stack selects Sport mode." is not exact, and you can actually "reverse" D and S buttons' function by assigning to them "Sport" and "Normal" mode respectively. If it's true, it's a real design mistake for me.

Furthermore, "Performance in S" applies to the "S" button or "Sport" mode?
If it's the button, then even when S is in "Normal" mode, the engine performance will increase?
If it's the mode, then the performance will apply to D button when it's assigned "Sport" mode?

Real mess!

Thanks in advance,

ZX

 

[todd92]

You are making this way more complicated than it is.

When you press D, you are selecting whatever handling mode you have assigned to D in the Drive Control menu, Comfort, Normal or Sport. Performance is always Normal in D.

When you press S, you are selecting whatever handling mode you have assigned to S in the Drive Control menu, Normal or Sport and whatever performance mode you have assigned, Normal or Sport.

Sport handling is the same in D or S. Comfort handling can only be assigned to D. Sport performance can only be assigned to S. The default settings are N for D and S + S for S.

If you choose N for D, and N + N for S, they will be exactly the same. Of course, there would be no reason to do that. But I set N for D and S + N for S, as I don't like the high shift points of S performance.

The buttons make it easy to access your assigned preferences without fiddling with the menus. You have the flexibility to set it up any way you like.

 

[wzx]

Thanks a lot. You are patient ;-)

To summarize:
There are three modes: Comfort, Normal, Sport.
You can assign:
- Comfort, Normal, Sport to D
- Normal, Sport to S
(with the possibility to reverse D and S buttons' function by assigning Sport to D and Normal to S)

Performance in S: Normal, Sport
It can only be assigned to the S button (not to the Sport mode).
(So you could have N+S for S)

While now I fully understand how it works, I still find those possibilities strange, but I agree that you get flexibility.

Another question:
In Sport (handling) mode or in Sport performance mode, the owner manual says that the engine "takes on a more powerful tone.".
I've read someone on the internet saying that in this case, engine noise is fed (amplified) through the stereo speakers in the car. Is it true?
I hope it's not true and the "powerful tone" is only the natural result of higher RPM (and possibly more throttle).

Thanks again,

ZX

 

[wzx]

Or maybe the Active Noise Control is disabled in this case? So no opposite wave is sent out from the speaker.
Noise are not amplified, but no longer canceled. Guessing right?

 

[todd92]

I have no idea what changes engine tone in performance mode S. Could be a flap in the exhaust, a change in intake resonance, an attenuation of the noise canceling feature, some combination of these or none of these. I didn't know about this and haven't really noticed any difference.