Kia Sportage 2023 Owner's Manual page 275

Driving your vehicle
SMART mode
SMART mode selects the proper driving
mode among NORMAL, and SPORT by
judging the driver's driving habits (i.e.,
Economic or Aggressive (Sportive)) from
the brake pedal depression or the steer-
ing wheel operation.
僅 Toggle the DRIVE MODE button to
select SMART mode. When SMART
mode is selected, the indicator
appears on the instrument cluster.
僅 SMART mode automatically controls
the vehicle driving, such as gear shift-
ing patterns and engine torque, in
accordance with the driver's driving
habits.
NOTICE
When you dynamically drive the vehicle
in SMART mode by abruptly decelerat-
ing 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
僅 The driving mode automatically
changes to SMART COMFORT mode
after a certain period of time, when
you gently press the accelerator pedal
(Your driving is categorized to be eco-
nomical.).
僅 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
aggressive.). In this mode, your vehi-
cle drives in a lower gear for abrupt
accelerating/ decelerating and
Drive mode integrated control system
increases the engine brake perfor-
mance.
僅 You may still sense the engine brake
performance, even when you release
the accelerator pedal in SMART
SPORT mode. It is because your vehi-
cle remains to be in a lower gear over
a certain period of time for next accel-
eration. Thus, it is a normal driving sit-
uation, not indicating any malfunction.
僅 The driving mode automatically
changes to SMART SPORT mode only
in harsh driving situations. In most of
the normal driving situations, the driv-
ing mode sets to be in SMART COM-
FORT mode.
Limitation of SMART mode
The SMART mode may be limited in fol-
lowing situations. (The OFF indicator
appears in those situations.)
僅 Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Con-
trol is activated:
Cruise Control or Smart Cruise Con-
trol may deactivate the SMART mode
when the vehicle is controlled by the
set speed of Cruise Control or Smart
Cruise Control. (SMART mode is not
deactivated just by activating Cruise
Control or Smart Cruise Control.)
僅 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 con-
dition is out of normal operation con-
dition.
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