4Drive modes

[TKB]

I have a question about Formentor 4Drive modes as I struggle to find information regarding this topic on the web. I understand what different driving modes does to the throttle response, suspension, the sound etc. But do you know what does selecting different 4Drive mode change exactly?

I know we have an option to switch between Comfort 4Drive and Sport 4Drive modes in the individual configurator. I would maybe guess that the Comfort 4Drive option would stay longer in 2wd while in the Sport 4Drive option it would activate all wheel drive earlier to have more traction ready for a more dynamic drive...? Or maybe the Sport 4Drive mode somehow applies the all wheel drive more agressively in comparison to the Comfort 4Drive...?

Also I have noticed that in the Offroad mode configurator we have an option to choose between Comfort 4Drive and Offroad 4Drive modes. There is no Sport 4Drive mode there. Do you know what the Offroad 4Drive mode does exactly? Does it send more power to rear wheels earlier for optimal traction early on? Or maybe it tries to spin all 4 wheels in very similar speeds during the drive?

I hope you guys can enlighten me

 

[TheUkWizard]

AFAIK, sport and comfort are gearbox settings. So irrespective of mode. Sport mode keeps the revs high for reduction of turbo lag and no drop down in the gearbox.

So the modes seem the same as all are permanent 4wd.

The off road setting I would presume just affect the power split between front and back and likely abs..


I am still waiting for some ice and snow to test it out tbh.

I have the 300bhp vz2 btw.

 

[Peyton]

AFAIK, sport and comfort are gearbox settings. So irrespective of mode. Sport mode keeps the revs high for reduction of turbo lag and no drop down in the gearbox.

So the modes seem the same as all are permanent 4wd.

The off road setting I would presume just affect the power split between front and back and likely abs..


I am still waiting for some ice and snow to test it out tbh.

I have the 300bhp vz2 btw.

The car does not have permanent 4WD. I am pretty sure that the car is FWD 99% of the time - only throwing power back when it loses traction or is in launch control. Offroad mode may be slightly different - sacrificing MPG for traction.

I'd love to get some real data about this though.

 

[Vissa]

You can find some info in your user manual under driving profiles.

Offroad mode only adjust the acceleration and gearbox behaviour of the car.

 

[Peyton]

You can find some info in your user manual under driving profiles.

Offroad mode only adjust the acceleration and gearbox behaviour of the car.

I think the manual is not really clear about this. It is probably intentionally vague.

Here is a test using rollers of a Formentor alongisde Seat Ateca. It seems that the car does something different when in Offroad mode - it comes off the rollers much easier. Ateca on other hand looks almost the same regardless of the mode - maybe just a throttle map difference.

 

[TKB]

I think the manual is not really clear about this. It is probably intentionally vague.

Here is a test using rollers of a Formentor alongisde Seat Ateca. It seems that the car does something different when in Offroad mode - it comes off the rollers much easier. Ateca on other hand looks almost the same regardless of the mode - maybe just a throttle map difference.

Yes, the manual is very vague. I specifically "ctrl+f"ed the whole manual to read every entry where 4Drive is mentioned. Not much is said.

Yes, I watched this video yesterday as well and I noticed that the video creator briefly mentioned in the comments that "The main goal of offroad mode is to keep all wheels spinning with the same speed. That's not desired (or even dangerous) during normal driving". That's where I got the idea that maybe Offroad mode just spins the wheels at the same speed to get more grip or something.

You can find some info in your user manual under driving profiles.

Offroad mode only adjust the acceleration and gearbox behaviour of the car.

Acceleration - I don't know. But I doubt that it would affect the gearbox behavior just because of the fact that after selecting the Offroad mode, you then can configure it in every aspect of the car similar to how it is with Individual mode. In the Offroad mode configurator you can specifically choose between Offroad 4Drive and Comfort 4Drive. And that is not the only configurable option there. You can then choose between different engine modes there as well (Offroad and Comfort are the options there, I think) which I think changes how the gearbox behaves. I noticed that in the "Offroad engine" the revs sit higher at around 2500. And then of course there are the rest of the settings as well (steering, DCC etc.)

I mean why would they give us options if it wouldn't change anything in 4Drive

 

[Peyton]

I think that the confusion is because manufacturers use word "transmission" which sometimes means gearbox but here there is a Haldex that chooses when to send power to the rear wheels.

Would love to know exactly when it is sending power to the rear wheels.

You might be able to "feel this out" if you find a straight road and monitor your current fuel use. If Offroad mode engages rear wheels your fuel usage should go up. Maybe put on cruise control and do a little test.

 

[TheUkWizard]

This is the only closest description for the 4drive. Again, intentionally vague. And doesn't seem right calling it permanent 4wd, or AWD.
Seat 4drive

 

[Jejoma]

It certainly reads that the 4WD is permanently engaged with the power distribution being continuously monitored and changed between the four wheels so as to equalise the grip of each. Does that make sense?

 

[DEAN0]

Would love to know exactly when it is sending power to the rear wheels.

As soon as the system senses that the front wheels are starting to turn faster than the rear ( long before you actually feel it )

This is part of the reason you are advised to rotate the wheels.

If the fronts wear down before the rears ( normal behaviour ) - then the system can think the front wheels are spinning and bring in the rear.