Kia Cadenza: Driving your vehicle / Drive mode integrated control system

DRIVE mode

The drive mode may be selected according to the driver’s preference or road condition.

The mode changes whenever the DRIVE MODE button is pressed.

• SMART mode : SMART mode automatically adjusts the driving mode (ECO " COMFORT " SPORT) in accordance with the driver's driving habits.
• COMFORT mode : COMFORT mode provides soft driving and comfortable riding.
• SPORT mode : SPORT mode provides sporty but firm riding.
• ECO mode : ECO mode improves fuel efficiency for eco-friendly driving.

If it is in ECO mode, ECO mode will be set when the engine is restarted.

(However, if it is in SMART/COMFORT/ SPORT mode, the driving mode will be set to COMFORT mode when the engine is restarted.)

SMART mode

SMART mode selects the proper driving mode among ECO, COMFORT and SPORT by judging the driver's driving habits (i.e. mild or dynamic) from the brake pedal depression or the steering wheel operation.

• Press the DRIVE MODE button to activate SMART mode. When SMART mode is activated, the indicator illuminates on the instrument cluster.
• The indicator illuminates in blue, when the driver's driving is categorized to be mild. It illuminates in white, when the driver's driving is categorized to be comfort. It illuminates in red, when the driver's driving is categorized to be dynamic during abrupt braking or sharp curving.
• The vehicle starts in COMFORT mode, when the engine was turned OFF in SMART mode.
• SMART mode automatically controls the vehicle driving, such as gear shifting patterns, engine torque, riding quality (if equipped with the electronic suspension system), and power distribution (if equipped with the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system), in accordance with the driver's driving habits.

✽ NOTICE

• When you mildly drive the vehicle in SMART mode, the driving mode changes to ECO mode to improve fuel efficiency. However, the actual fuel efficiency may differ in accordance with your driving situations (i.e. upward/downward slope, vehicle deceleration/acceleration).
• When you dynamically drive the vehicle in SMART mode by abruptly decelerating or sharply curving, the driving mode changes to SPORT mode. However, it may adversely affect fuel economy.

Various driving situations, which you may encounter in SMART mode

• The driving mode automatically changes to ECO mode after a certain period of time, when you gently depress the accelerator pedal (Your driving is categorized to be mild.).
• The driving mode automatically changes from SMART ECO mode to SMART COMFORT mode after a certain period of time, when you sharply or repetitively depress the accelerator pedal.
• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART COMFORT mode with the same driving patterns, when the vehicle starts to drive on an upward slope of a certain angle. The driving mode automatically returns to SMART ECO mode, when the vehicle enters a leveled road.
• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART SPORT, when you abruptly accelerate the vehicle or repetitively operate the steering wheel (Your driving is categorized to be sporty.). In this mode, your vehicle drives in a lower gear for abrupt accelerating/decelerating and increases the engine brake performance.
• You may still sense the engine brake performance, even when you release the accelerator pedal in SMART SPORT mode. It is because your vehicle remains to be in a lower gear over a certain period of time for next acceleration. Thus, it is a comfort driving situation, not indicating any malfunction.
• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART SPORT mode only in harsh driving situations. In most of the comfort driving situations, the driving mode sets to be either in SMART ECO mode or in SMART COMFORT mode.

Limitation of SMART mode

The SMART mode may be limited in following situations. (The OFF indicator illuminates in those situations.)

• The driver manually moves the shift lever : It deactivates SMART mode. The vehicle drives, as the driver manually moves the shift lever.
• The cruise control is activated : The cruise system may deactivate the SMART mode. When a higher system is set by the cruise system, it starts to control vehicle speed and deactivates SMART mode. (SMART mode is not deactivated just by activing the cruise system.)
• The transmission oil temperature is either extremely low or extremely high : The SMART mode can be active in most of the comfort driving situations. However, an extremely high/ low transmission oil temperature may temporarily deactivate the SMART mode, because the transmission condition is out of comfort operation condition.

SPORT mode

SPORT mode focuses on dynamic driving by automatically controlling the steering wheel, engine and transmission system.

• When the DRIVE MODE button is pressed and the SPORT mode is selected, the SPORT indicator (yellow) will illuminate.
• When the SPORT mode is activated, and the ENGINE START/STOP button is turned off and on it will change to COMFORT mode. To turn on the SPORT mode press DRIVE MODE button again.
• If the system is activated:
  - After speeding, it maintains the gear and RPM for some time even though the accelerator pedal is not depressed.
  - Up-shifting is delayed.
• The steering wheel and suspension may be optimized to sporty handling and hard ride by ECS.

✽ NOTICE

In Sport drive mode, the fuel efficiency may decrease.

ECO mode

When the Drive Mode is set to ECO mode, the engine and transmission control logic are changed to maximize fuel efficiency.

• When ECO mode is selected by pressing the DRIVE MODE button, the ECO indicator (green color) will illuminate.
• If the vehicle is set to ECO mode, when the engine is turned OFF and restarted the Drive Mode setting will remain in ECO mode.

✽ NOTICE

Fuel efficiency depends on the driver's driving habit and road condition.

When ECO mode is activated:

• The acceleration response may be slightly reduced if the accelerator pedal is depressed moderately.
• The air conditioner performance may be limited.
• The shift pattern of the automatic transmission may change.
• The engine noise may get louder.

The above situations are comfort conditions when ECO mode is activated to improve fuel efficiency.

Limitation of ECO mode operation:

If the following conditions occur while ECO mode is operating, the system operation is limited even though there is no change in the ECO indicator.

• When the coolant temperature is low: The system will be limited until engine performance becomes comfort.
• When driving up a hill: The system will be limited to gain power when driving uphill because engine torque is restricted.
• When driving the vehicle with the automatic transmission gear shift lever in manual mode. The system will be limited according to the shift location.