Hyundai drive mode allows you to optimize your vehicle’s performance with the push of a button—but different Hyundai models offer different drive modes.

Written by Matt Nightingale

Edited by Pat Roache

Updated on Apr 17, 2024

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Hyundai drive modes: The basics
How to use Hyundai drive modes
Normal Hyundai drive mode
Comfort Hyundai drive mode
Sport Hyundai drive mode
Smart Hyundai drive mode
Eco Hyundai drive mode
Snow Hyundai drive mode
N-Mode Hyundai drive mode
Which Hyundai models offer which drive modes

Hyundai motor vehicles offer seven available drive mode options, including Normal, Comfort, Sport, Eco, Smart, Snow, and N-Mode, allowing you to customize your Hyundai driving experience in most models.

Hyundai owners can pick their preferred drive mode from the center console selector to optimize the car’s performance to their specific driving conditions.
Sport mode allows Hyundai drivers to increase their vehicle’s horsepower and acceleration, while Eco mode reduces these to increase fuel economy.
Smart mode automatically switches your Hyundai’s drive mode between Normal and Sport based on fine-tuned calculations of your driving habits.
Almost all hyundai vehicles come equipped with Sport mode, Smart mode, and Normal/Comfort mode, but Eco mode, Snow mode, and N-Mode are reserved for specific models.

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Hyundai drive modes: The basics

Hyundai drive modes allow you to toggle between various settings to optimize your driving experience, helping you get the most out of your Hyundai’s performance in any given situation.

When you choose a setting from your available Hyundai drive modes, your car automatically optimizes its performance in certain target areas:

Normal Mode: Default performance

Comfort Mode: Higher-end default performance

Eco Mode:

Optimizes fuel efficiency

Sport Mode: Increased engine performance

Smart Mode: Automatic toggling between Normal/Comfort and Sport

Snow Mode: Improved transaction for winter driving conditions

N-Mode Mode: Maximized high performance driving

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How to use Hyundai drive modes

The Hyundai drive mode selector is located on your car’s center console. To change your car’s drive mode:

Press the “Drive Mode” button.

Select the mode that best suits your needs using the dial or paddle selector.

Hyundai Veloster drive modes: The drive mode buttons on the

Hyundai Veloster

are located on your steering wheel—not your center console. Your drive mode will appear on your center display and will also be indicated on your instrument cluster.

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Normal Hyundai drive mode

Normal mode is your Hyundai’s default setting. In this mode, your vehicle’s acceleration and handling are set to address a standard combined city and highway driving style.

Comfort Hyundai drive mode

The Comfort setting is just a fancier name for the Normal setting in higher-end Hyundai cars—like the

Hyundai Palisade

and

Hyundai Tucson

Normal vs. Comfort mode: You will not find both Comfort and Normal settings on the same vehicle. They’re essentially different names for the same standard driving mode.

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Sport Hyundai drive mode

Sport mode boosts your Hyundai’s horsepower and acceleration with the following adjustments:

Upshifts are delayed, allowing your vehicle to capitalize on the torque produced at higher RPMs.

Steering becomes heavier and more precise, giving the driver increased input and control.

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Smart Hyundai drive mode

Smart mode automatically toggles between Normal mode and Sport mode based on your driving habits:

Your car will run on Normal mode settings as default

Your Hyundai will automatically switch to Sport mode when you need it—like when passing another vehicle on the highway.

This mode is included standard in most Hyundai models except the

Hyundai Accent

Keep in mind: Hyundai Smart mode is not designed to help conserve fuel like Eco mode, and switching back and forth between Normal and Sport mode could actually use more fuel.

Eco Hyundai drive mode

Perfect for long road trips, Eco mode helps improve your Hyundai’s fuel economy with the following adjustments:

Slows your vehicle’s acceleration

Modifies your transmission’s gearshift points

Tweaks your climate control system to reduce air conditioning

Eco mode is standard on

Hyundai’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid models

, as well as the V6 Palisade.

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Snow Hyundai drive mode

Snow mode makes the following calculated adjustments to help your car maintain traction in snowy road conditions:

Limits your vehicle’s RPMs and torque

Slows acceleration

Snow mode is available on all Hyundai models with all-wheel drive.

N-Mode Hyundai drive mode

The N-Mode is a high-performance driving mode available only on the Hyundai Veloster. This setting sharpens your Veloster’s throttle and steering and allows you to customize the following settings:

Engine response

Suspension

Exhaust sound

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Which Hyundai models offer which drive modes

All new Hyundais come equipped with drive modes, but the available options vary from model to model:

Normal and Sport modes: Included on all new Hyundai models

Smart mode: Available on all new models except the entry-level Hyundai Accent

Comfort mode: Included in place of normal mode on higher-end Hyundai models

Eco mode: Included on the V6 Palisade and all of Hyundai’s hybrid lineup

Snow mode: Included on all Hyundai models with AWD

N-mode: Only available on the Hyundai Veloster

Expert tip: Talk to the specialists at your local Hyundai dealership if you want a model with a specific drive mode. This will also give the chance to

test drive the model

to see how each Hyundai drive mode performs!

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