Automotive Drive Modes Explained
Hop in the car, put it in gear, and you’re off — right? Well, if your car is equipped with drive modes, you can also choose how your vehicle will adapt to the specific conditions you will be encountering on the road.
But what really happens when you hit the Sport, Eco, Snow, or other drive mode buttons?
A drive mode is a built-in setting for your vehicle that adjusts how the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) or 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) operates and responds to certain conditions and inputs. Selectable through a button, dial, screen, or switch, drive modes tell your vehicle what kind of performance you’re prioritizing. With the appropriate selection, you can achieve improved fuel economy, faster acceleration on highway on-ramps, or increased control on slick roads.
But what really happens when you hit the Sport, Eco, Snow, or other drive mode buttons?
A drive mode is a built-in setting for your vehicle that adjusts how the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) or 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) operates and responds to certain conditions and inputs. Selectable through a button, dial, screen, or switch, drive modes tell your vehicle what kind of performance you’re prioritizing. With the appropriate selection, you can achieve improved fuel economy, faster acceleration on highway on-ramps, or increased control on slick roads.
How Do Drive Modes Work?
A car’s drive modes work by electronically adjusting individual settings throughout the engine, transmission, steering, suspension, brakes, and other systems.
These changes could include:
- Throttle response: From the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal to amount of torque generated on takeoff
- Transmission shifting: Holding gears longer for more power or shifting earlier for better fuel efficiency
- Steering feel and response: From light and easy to firm and precise; between parking lot precision and backroad driving
- Traction and stability control: How involved are the driver safety and performance aids
- Powertrain management: Optimizing engine output and, if equipped, battery and electric motor use
- Brake sensitivity: Dialing up or down the sensitivity of various brake intervention systems like ABS and/or Active Yaw Control
Vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) systems can often be shifted in and out of AWD/4WD mode entirely. In certain drive modes the vehicle may require the vehicle to have AWD/4WD system on to ensure peak traction.
Drive modes are particularly important when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). To achieve the car’s peak efficiency and range, drivers can choose the most eco-focused mode.
A sportier mode can unlock the EV’s full performance capabilities. Or a drive mode can optimize the EV’s instant torque for better traction in the snow.
Drive modes are particularly important when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). To achieve the car’s peak efficiency and range, drivers can choose the most eco-focused mode.
A sportier mode can unlock the EV’s full performance capabilities. Or a drive mode can optimize the EV’s instant torque for better traction in the snow.
Common Drive Modes at a Glance
Drive Mode |
What It Does |
Best For |
Normal |
Balances eco, performance, and comfort |
Daily driving |
Eco |
Reduces throttle response, improves fuel economy |
Commuting, conserving energy |
Sport |
Sharper throttle response, transmission shifts, and firmer steering feel |
Responsive highway and backroad driving |
Snow |
Adjusts power delivery to reduce wheel slip |
Winter and icy roads |
Off-road / Mud |
Increases traction and torque distribution |
Unpaved roads, trails |
What started with simple solutions like a second-gear start switch for slippery roads or a “low” mode that holds an automatic transmission below a specific gear has evolved into a computer-controlled, multi-system solution for ultimate vehicle command.
Back behind the wheel, which drive mode will you choose?
With Mitsubishi Motors’ drive modes, you can customize your ride to even more specific conditions.
Back behind the wheel, which drive mode will you choose?
With Mitsubishi Motors’ drive modes, you can customize your ride to even more specific conditions.
Mitsubishi Drive Modes: Control and Confidence, Built-In
Across multiple models, Mitsubishi offers S-AWC, Super All-Wheel Control, an advanced all-wheel drive system with built-in drive modes that maximize the performance characteristics that matter in the moment. In any road or weather, S-AWC helps Mitsubishi drivers control their vehicle exactly as they intend.
Super All-Wheel Control is standard on the Outlander PHEV, Outlander, and Eclipse Cross, with drive modes including:
- Outlander PHEV: Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Eco, Normal and Power
- Outlander: Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Eco and Normal
- Eclipse Cross: Normal, Gravel and Snow
These modes give Mitsubishi drivers the kind of control they need for every individual trip:
- Normal: Offers well-balanced all-wheel drive dynamics, resulting in enhanced efficiency, traction, high-speed stability, and predictable handling across a variety of road conditions and driving styles.
- Eco: Improves the efficiency of the gasoline engine and S-AWC to support fuel-efficient driving.
- Power: Maximizes acceleration performance to enhance responsiveness during situations where more torque is required, such as passing on the highway.
- Tarmac: Provides enhanced agility and heightened performance when travelling on dry, paved roads.
- Gravel: Delivers maximum traction on coarser roads or whenever you might find yourself stuck in a rough patch or off-road terrain.
- Snow: Provides improved traction and stability, specifically for light to medium snow-covered or slippery roads.
- Mud: Enhances performance when driving through muddy or deep snow, especially when accelerating and/or turning from a stopped position.
Knowing which drive mode to choose for the road ahead makes all the difference.
When to Use Each Drive Mode: Real-World Scenarios
In your daily drives or adventurous escapades, you might encounter many kinds of roads, conditions, weather, and priorities. Mitsubishi’s drive modes allow you to be more in control of your vehicle.
Daily Driving and Commuting
Drive Mode: Eco or Normal
On dry, paved, urban and suburban roads, putting your Mitsubishi in Normal mode gives you the balance of power, comfort and efficiency that everyday driving demands. Some stop-and-go, some short highway jaunts, no obstacles or rough terrain — Normal mode is a go.
If you want to save a bit of fuel and embrace a calmer driving style, Eco mode delivers a muted throttle response and more conservative (lower) shift points to get the most power and distance out of the least amount of fuel.
On dry, paved, urban and suburban roads, putting your Mitsubishi in Normal mode gives you the balance of power, comfort and efficiency that everyday driving demands. Some stop-and-go, some short highway jaunts, no obstacles or rough terrain — Normal mode is a go.
If you want to save a bit of fuel and embrace a calmer driving style, Eco mode delivers a muted throttle response and more conservative (lower) shift points to get the most power and distance out of the least amount of fuel.
City Driving
Eco or Tarmac
Eco mode can give you an eco-friendlier presence in the urban center while saving fuel in a place where it’s typically more expensive. Tarmac mode can give you responsiveness and agility to overtake, avoid, and dart from light to light in inner city traffic.
Eco mode can give you an eco-friendlier presence in the urban center while saving fuel in a place where it’s typically more expensive. Tarmac mode can give you responsiveness and agility to overtake, avoid, and dart from light to light in inner city traffic.
Highway Cruising
Power or Tarmac
When you hit the pedal to take on the on-ramp, you want all your Mitsubishi’s power at your command. Power mode in the Outlander PHEV gives you the electrified system’s max performance capability for a lot of driving excitement.
Tarmac mode gets the stability control ready for on-road maneuvers, which can be especially helpful on meandering highways. In either mode, cruise control and efficient driving habits maximize fuel economy, too, at constant highway speeds.
When you hit the pedal to take on the on-ramp, you want all your Mitsubishi’s power at your command. Power mode in the Outlander PHEV gives you the electrified system’s max performance capability for a lot of driving excitement.
Tarmac mode gets the stability control ready for on-road maneuvers, which can be especially helpful on meandering highways. In either mode, cruise control and efficient driving habits maximize fuel economy, too, at constant highway speeds.
Winter Roads
Snow or Gravel
If it’s white on the ground, turn the dial to Snow mode, then hit the road with confidence in your Mitsubishi’s control. Optimizing power delivery and traction for slippery, snowy, icy conditions, Snow mode makes sure the powertrain is ready for quick adjustments and the steering is both reactive and predictable. Of course, responsible winter driving skills are still important, but Snow mode gets the vehicle primed for wintery conditions.
Snow often leads to rough, loosely surfaced roads due to the accumulation of frozen debris and rocks. In that case, Gravel mode helps deal with the slip of road grit without sacrificing power or efficiency.
If it’s white on the ground, turn the dial to Snow mode, then hit the road with confidence in your Mitsubishi’s control. Optimizing power delivery and traction for slippery, snowy, icy conditions, Snow mode makes sure the powertrain is ready for quick adjustments and the steering is both reactive and predictable. Of course, responsible winter driving skills are still important, but Snow mode gets the vehicle primed for wintery conditions.
Snow often leads to rough, loosely surfaced roads due to the accumulation of frozen debris and rocks. In that case, Gravel mode helps deal with the slip of road grit without sacrificing power or efficiency.
Rough, Uneven, or Unpaved Terrain
Gravel or Mud
For the rocky road ahead, Gravel mode fits the bill — until the rain comes, and then it’s a job for the Mud mode. Anticipating slip and guarding its power to maintain control, Mud mode activates a safe, efficient, in-control path ahead.
Whatever lies ahead, Mitsubishi’s dynamic drive modes can help you get there quickly and comfortably.
For the rocky road ahead, Gravel mode fits the bill — until the rain comes, and then it’s a job for the Mud mode. Anticipating slip and guarding its power to maintain control, Mud mode activates a safe, efficient, in-control path ahead.
Whatever lies ahead, Mitsubishi’s dynamic drive modes can help you get there quickly and comfortably.
Get the Most From Drive Modes
Before you explore your Mitsubishi’s drive modes, the owner’s manual has everything you need to know to use them properly and safely. Now that you know when to use each mode, we recommend taking your time exploring them until you are accustomed to the differences in driving feel and responsiveness.
Even when using drive modes, adapting your driving behaviors to suit the conditions is an important move. Drive modes are there for an assist, to help the vehicle operate at its best in that environment — but it doesn’t make the road dry and smooth.
That said, be sure you do take advantage of drive modes! By putting the vehicle in a more prepared state, using the right drive mode can improve fuel economy, increase traction and control.
That said, be sure you do take advantage of drive modes! By putting the vehicle in a more prepared state, using the right drive mode can improve fuel economy, increase traction and control.
Smarter Driving Starts with Smarter Settings
The drive modes in your car — or the ones you’ll get to use in your new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander, or Eclipse Cross — give you added confidence, control, efficiency, and fun behind the wheel. From eco-friendly to lead foot-friendly, these built-in vehicle tuning options help you get the most out of your car in distinct conditions.
Next time you get in the driver’s seat, see what you have at your disposal, especially if it’s rainy, snowy, off-road, or you’re a hyper-miler.
Even better: Experience Super All-Wheel Control drive modes at Mitsubishi Motors dealerships across Canada. During your test drive, discover how these advanced drive modes change and improve the driving experience.
Even better: Experience Super All-Wheel Control drive modes at Mitsubishi Motors dealerships across Canada. During your test drive, discover how these advanced drive modes change and improve the driving experience.
For detailed infotainment system specifications, compatibility, and instructions, please refer to your model’s official Owner’s Manual.
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