How do driving modes affect the vehicle’s dynamic behaviour? Comparing Renault’s Multi-Sense sport and comfort modes during on-road naturalistic driving

Abbink, David A. · 2019 · Vehicle System Dynamics

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Summary

This study addresses the lack of empirical evidence regarding how selectable driving modes affect vehicle dynamic behavior during naturalistic on-road driving. While modern vehicles often offer modes like "Sport" and "Comfort" to alter ride characteristics, previous literature has focused on individual active components rather than the holistic vehicle response. The authors specifically investigated the differences between Renault’s Multi-Sense Sport and Comfort modes, aiming to quantify impacts on lateral, longitudinal, and vertical dynamics. The researchers conducted an experiment using a 2015 Renault Talisman equipped with four-wheel steering and variable damping. A single driver completed eight drives (four in Sport mode and four in Comfort mode) along a 26.3 km route comprising rural and highway sections. The study recorded 887 CAN-bus signals, including rigid body motions, steering, and powertrain data. To identify the most significant differences, the authors calculated Cohen’s *d* effect sizes for the mean, standard deviation, and high-frequency variations of all signals. Additionally, they employed a quarter-car linear oscillatory model to estimate the sprung damper coefficient by fitting the model to empirical suspension travel data. The results revealed substantial differences in vehicle dynamics despite consistent mean driving speeds across modes. In longitudinal dynamics, Sport mode maintained higher engine speeds and gear ratios, resulting in increased engine torque and longitudinal acceleration for throttle inputs between 20% and 40%. In lateral dynamics, Sport mode exhibited higher rear-wheel angles due to distinct four-wheel steering strategies; specifically, Sport mode utilized more countersteering at lower speeds (15–80 km/h) and no rear-wheel steering at higher speeds, whereas Comfort mode used parallel steering above 55 km/h. Consequently, Sport mode produced higher yaw rates and lateral accelerations for a given steering input at speeds above 40 km/h. In vertical dynamics, parameter identification of the quarter-car model showed that the Sport mode’s damping coefficient was approximately 3.3 to 3.4 times higher than that of the Comfort mode, reducing oscillatory movements near resonance frequencies. This study provides the first quantitative insight into how driving modes alter vehicle dynamics in real-world conditions. By mapping specific CAN-bus signals to dynamic changes, the findings clarify the mechanical effects of Sport and Comfort modes, such as aggressive throttle response, altered steering agility, and increased suspension stiffness. These results offer a data-driven foundation for future chassis control designs and the development of new driving modes based on desired dynamic behaviors.

Key finding

The sport mode exhibited a damping coefficient 3.5 times higher than the comfort mode and yielded higher lateral acceleration and yaw rates for a given steering input due to different four-wheel steering strategies.

Methodology

naturalistic

Sample size: 1

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• steering pattern