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

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 " NORMAL " SPORT) in accordance with the driver's driving habits.
• NORMAL mode : NORMAL mode provides smooth driving and a comfortable ride. When normal mode is selected, it is not displayed on the cluster.
• SPORT mode : SPORT mode provides a sporty but firm ride.

The driving mode will be set to NORMAL mode when the engine is restarted. If is in SMART/NORMAL mode, NORMAL mode will be set when the engine is restarted.

SMART mode

SMART mode selects the proper driving mode among ECO, NORMAL 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 normal. It illuminates in red when the driver's driving is categorized to be dynamic during abrupt braking or sharp curves.
• The vehicle starts in NORMAL mode if the engine was turned OFF in SMART mode.
• SMART mode automatically controls driving characteristics, such as gear shifting patterns, engine torque, and ride quality in accordance with the driver's driving habits.

✽ NOTICE

• When you drive the vehicle 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 situation (i.e. upward/downward slope, vehicle deceleration/acceleration).
• When you drive the vehicle dynamically drive the vehicle in SMART mode by abruptly decelerating or sharply turning, 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 NORMAL mode after a certain period of time when you sharply or repetitively depress the accelerator pedal.
• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART NORMAL 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 faster accelerating/decelerating and increased 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 in a lower gear over a certain period of time.
• The driving mode automatically changes to SMART SPORT mode only in dynamic driving situations. In most normal driving situations the driving mode sets to either SMART ECO mode or SMART NORMAL 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 cruise control is activated : The cruise system may deactivate the SMART mode. (SMART mode is not automatically 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 normal driving situations. However an extremely high/ low transmission oil temperature may temporarily deactivate the SMART mode, because the transmission condition is out of normal operation condition.

SPORT mode

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

• When the DRIVE MODE button is pressed and the SPORT mode is selected, the SPORT indicator (red) will illuminate.
• When the SPORT mode is activated, and the engine start/stop button is turned off and on, it will change to NORMAL mode. To turn on the SPORT mode, press the DRIVE MODE button again.

• If the system is activated:

- While holding vehicle speed, it maintains the gear and RPM for some time even though the accelerator pedal is not depressed.
- Up-shifting is delayed.

✽ NOTICE

In Sport drive mode, the fuel efficiency may decrease.