Changing Drive Modes

weekone · Oct 11th, 2019, 15:21

Recently bought 2016 XC90 and 2019 S60 and very pleased with both.

The only annoyance I've found while driving is the convoluted way of changing Drive Modes.

I tend to use Eco for most driving because of the superb 'coasting' feature, the lower revs and the economy, but then will need Dynamic for certain parts of the journey where sharper response is required. Having to find the wheel with my left hand, click it, look at the centre screen, roll the wheel then click, many times during a journey is becoming tiresome.

I know (assume) that there is no alternative, so I am just posting this to make a point, and hope that one day Volvo will add a simpler method in the firmware. A configurable button on the steering wheel would be my choice.

nu11eaf · Oct 11th, 2019, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by weekone

Recently bought 2016 XC90 and 2019 S60 and very pleased with both.

The only annoyance I've found while driving is the convoluted way of changing Drive Modes.

I tend to use Eco for most driving because of the superb 'coasting' feature, the lower revs and the economy, but then will need Dynamic for certain parts of the journey where sharper response is required. Having to find the wheel with my left hand, click it, look at the centre screen, roll the wheel then click, many times during a journey is becoming tiresome.

I know (assume) that there is no alternative, so I am just posting this to make a point, and hope that one day Volvo will add a simpler method in the firmware. A configurable button on the steering wheel would be my choice.

I have individual mode set up as dynamic with a few tweeks, as it is at the bottom I can scroll straight down to the bottom without looking when I use the now dynamic mode (which is all the time now)

Kenp8257 · Oct 11th, 2019, 16:23

Good point!

So you can, without looking, hit the button, scroll diwn a few times to ensure you're on 'dynamic' and click to engage.... all without looking away from the road

And the same but scroll a few times up to get eco.

Seems straightforward enough to me.

Chief inspector · Oct 12th, 2019, 09:18

If you floor the throttle in eco mode it will respond as per dynamic mode other than the higher idle revs, so no particular need to change the mode unless you are in a real mode of making up time and continual overtaking.

skippyfox · Oct 13th, 2019, 22:17

Don't bother with scrolling the drive mode wheel, just press it and then tap the screen for Dynamic mode. The car will stay in that mode until you switch it off, or until you switch off the car and then it will revert to you personal driver profile. Could just be me, but when I put the car into dynamic mode I can definitely feel the car stiffen up and become more responsive.

V90 R Design D5 AWD 68 Plate and loving it..

badonkadonk · Oct 14th, 2019, 09:07

Totally agree with original poster. Mode change mechanism is a lot of faff just to have the bling roller wheel. A button on the steering wheel that could toggle between comfort and dynamic (or any two user defined modes) would be great.

I appreciate the improved effidiency of eco mode for normal plodding around, but for a nice bit of roads where you want to make progress dynamic mode makes a huge difference. The existing mechanism to switch modes is so clumsy...

soupytwister · Oct 14th, 2019, 09:32

The scroll button has always felt like a solution looking for a problem. A designer wanted a nice shiny scrolly thing, but couldn't really work out what for. I wonder if it was ever envisaged to be a scroll wheel for other things in Sensus.

It's awkwardly positioned, and it's not that great in operation - you have to push it down, then scroll, etc etc.

rxtian · Oct 14th, 2019, 13:50

I’ve no idea why they got rid of the sports mode on the gearknob from the previous generation - moving it to the side but not shifting manually should jump to dynamic mode!

As stated elsewhere it’s obviously a design decision.

BroadwayBlueshirt · Oct 14th, 2019, 19:10

Volvo would be better designing a wheel to let me scroll through the radio stations/song tracks without removing one of my hands from the steering wheel and taking my eyes off the road instead.

nu11eaf · Oct 14th, 2019, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadwayBlueshirt

Volvo would be better designing a wheel to let me scroll through the radio stations/song tracks without removing one of my hands from the steering wheel and taking my eyes off the road instead.

You mean like the right and left buttons do on the right side of steering wheel.

Oct 11th, 2019, 15:21	#1
weekone New Member Last Online: Apr 19th, 2021 12:36 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Kings Lynn	Changing Drive Modes Recently bought 2016 XC90 and 2019 S60 and very pleased with both. The only annoyance I've found while driving is the convoluted way of changing Drive Modes. I tend to use Eco for most driving because of the superb 'coasting' feature, the lower revs and the economy, but then will need Dynamic for certain parts of the journey where sharper response is required. Having to find the wheel with my left hand, click it, look at the centre screen, roll the wheel then click, many times during a journey is becoming tiresome. I know (assume) that there is no alternative, so I am just posting this to make a point, and hope that one day Volvo will add a simpler method in the firmware. A configurable button on the steering wheel would be my choice.

Oct 12th, 2019, 09:18	#4
Chief inspector Master Member Last Online: Mar 11th, 2022 08:02 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Global Village	If you floor the throttle in eco mode it will respond as per dynamic mode other than the higher idle revs, so no particular need to change the mode unless you are in a real mode of making up time and continual overtaking. __________________ 2018 V90 Momentum Pro

Oct 14th, 2019, 09:07	#6
badonkadonk Junior Member Last Online: Mar 26th, 2023 17:13 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Glasgow	Totally agree with original poster. Mode change mechanism is a lot of faff just to have the bling roller wheel. A button on the steering wheel that could toggle between comfort and dynamic (or any two user defined modes) would be great. I appreciate the improved effidiency of eco mode for normal plodding around, but for a nice bit of roads where you want to make progress dynamic mode makes a huge difference. The existing mechanism to switch modes is so clumsy... __________________ Volvo S90 D5 R-Design

Oct 14th, 2019, 19:10	#9
BroadwayBlueshirt Member Last Online: Jan 25th, 2023 20:39 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Kirkcaldy	Volvo would be better designing a wheel to let me scroll through the radio stations/song tracks without removing one of my hands from the steering wheel and taking my eyes off the road instead. __________________ Back to a German car again.

Oct 11th, 2019, 16:23	#3
Kenp8257 Member Last Online: Yesterday 14:20 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: LONDON	Good point! So you can, without looking, hit the button, scroll diwn a few times to ensure you're on 'dynamic' and click to engage.... all without looking away from the road And the same but scroll a few times up to get eco. Seems straightforward enough to me.

Oct 13th, 2019, 22:17	#5
skippyfox VOC Member Last Online: Mar 29th, 2022 15:52 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: rossendale lancs	Don't bother with scrolling the drive mode wheel, just press it and then tap the screen for Dynamic mode. The car will stay in that mode until you switch it off, or until you switch off the car and then it will revert to you personal driver profile. Could just be me, but when I put the car into dynamic mode I can definitely feel the car stiffen up and become more responsive. V90 R Design D5 AWD 68 Plate and loving it..

Oct 14th, 2019, 09:32	#7
soupytwister Master Member Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 23:18 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Edinburgh	The scroll button has always felt like a solution looking for a problem. A designer wanted a nice shiny scrolly thing, but couldn't really work out what for. I wonder if it was ever envisaged to be a scroll wheel for other things in Sensus. It's awkwardly positioned, and it's not that great in operation - you have to push it down, then scroll, etc etc.

Oct 14th, 2019, 13:50	#8
rxtian Senior Member Last Online: Oct 30th, 2023 18:03 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southampton	I’ve no idea why they got rid of the sports mode on the gearknob from the previous generation - moving it to the side but not shifting manually should jump to dynamic mode! As stated elsewhere it’s obviously a design decision.

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