Kia Sorento: Drive mode integrated control system. Drive mode

Drive mode

You may select the drive mode according to preference or road condition.

Turn the knob to activate the drive mode. The drive mode changes whenever you turn the knob.

• ECO mode helps improve fuel efficiency for eco-friendly driving.

• NORMAL mode provides smooth driving and a comfortable ride.

• SPORT mode provides sporty but firm riding.

• SMART mode automatically adjusts the driving mode according to your driving habits.

• SNOW mode appropriately distributes traction forces and prevents wheel slippage when you drive on snowy or slippery roads.

The drive mode defaults to NORMAL when you restart the engine unless you select ECO or SPORT. If you select ECO mode or SMART mode, the drive mode is retained when you restart the engine.

SMART mode

SMART mode determines your driving habits (for example, economic or aggressive (sport)) using information about brake pedal engagement and steering wheel operation to select the appropriate driving mode (ECO, NORMAL, or SPORT) in your Kia Sorento.

• To activate SMART mode, turn the drive mode knob. The indicator appears on the instrument cluster.

• The drive mode defaults to NORMAL when you restart the engine. If you want to use SMART mode, turn the drive mode knob to select SMART mode.

• SMART mode automatically controls your vehicle’s driving, including gear shifting patterns and engine torque, according to your driving habits.

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• When you drive conservatively in SMART mode, the driving mode automatically changes to ECO mode to help improve fuel efficiency. However, actual fuel efficiency may differ according to driving situations (such as gradients and vehicle deceleration or acceleration).

• Fuel economy may be adversely affected if the driving mode automatically changes to SPORT mode due to abrupt deceleration or sharp turns.

Various driving situations you may encounter in SMART mode:

• The driving mode automatically changes to ECO mode after a certain period, when you gently engage the accelerator pedal. (Your driving is determined to be economic.)

• The driving mode automatically changes from SMART ECO mode to SMART NORMAL mode after a certain period of time if you engage the accelerator pedal gently.

• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART NORMAL mode, regardless of your driving behavior, if you drive on an upward slope of a certain angle. When you return to a level road, the driving mode automatically changes back to SMART ECO mode.

• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART SPORT if you rapidly accelerate or repetitively operate the steering wheel. (Your driving is determined to be sporty.) In SMART SPORT mode, your vehicle drives in a lower gear to accommodate abrupt acceleration or deceleration and increase engine braking performance.

• You may still sense engine braking performance when you release the accelerator pedal in SMART SPORT mode. This is because your vehicle remains in a lower gear over a certain period of time until the next acceleration. Sensing engine braking performance in this case is normal and is not a malfunction.

• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART SPORT mode in harsh driving conditions. In normal driving conditions, the driving mode is either SMART ECO mode or SMART NORMAL mode.

Limitations of SMART mode operation

SMART mode may be limited in following situations (the OFF indicator appears):

• You activate Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Control:

  Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Control may deactivate SMART mode when the set speed is controlling your vehicle. (Simply activating Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Control does not deactivate SMART mode.)

• The transmission oil temperature is extremely low or high:

  SMART mode can be active under normal driving situations. However, an extremely high or low transmission oil temperature may temporarily deactivate SMART mode because the transmission is no longer operating in normal conditions.

SPORT mode

SPORT mode manages driving dynamics to enhance driver performance by automatically adjusting the steering effort, engine, and transmission control logic inside the Kia Sorento.

• When SPORT mode is activated, the indicator appears on the instrument cluster.

• The drive mode defaults to NORMAL when you restart the engine. If you want to use SPORT mode, turn the drive mode knob to select SPORT mode.

• When SPORT mode is activated:

  • Engine rpm tends to remain raised over a certain amount of time, even after releasing the accelerator pedal.

  • Upshifts are delayed when you accelerate.

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Fuel efficiency may decrease when you drive in SPORT mode.

ECO mode

ECO mode manages the engine and transmission control logic to maximize fuel efficiency across every journey in your Kia Sorento.

• When ECO mode is activated, the indicator appears on the instrument cluster.

• When you restart the engine, the drive mode remains in ECO mode.

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Fuel efficiency depends on your driving habits and the road conditions.

When ECO mode is activated:

• The accelerator pedal is only moderately engaged and the acceleration response may be slightly reduced.

• Air conditioning performance may be limited.

• The automatic transmission’s shift pattern may change.

• The engine noise may get louder.

All of the above conditions are normal when ECO mode is activated.

Limitations 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 is limited until engine performance returns to normal.

• When driving uphill:

  The system is limited to gain power when driving uphill because the engine torque is restricted.

• When you fully engage the accelerator pedal for a few seconds:

  The system is limited as it determines that the driver wants to speed up.