2013 RX 350 FWD - Sport Drive mode
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NC
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2013 RX 350 FWD - Sport Drive mode
I've had my 2013 RX 350 for a week and love it! I've been reading through the manual to become familiar with the vehicle and all the technology. I noticed that you can set the drive mode in the manual. When I press the menu button I only see the snow and park assist items. Is the Sport mode only available on the 450h? I didn't see anything in the manual indicating it was only for the 450. Thanks,
Samir
Samir
#3
When you put your tranny in the drive position it defaults to the right and changes gears automatically. You can move it to the left and change manually by ticking it up or down. That's the sport mode.
At least the 2010 thru 2012 models work that way.
At least the 2010 thru 2012 models work that way.
#4
Racer
...and the 2013 450h actually has a new unique capability as smd2972 suggests that changes the way the shifting automatically occurs. The capability is turned on via steering wheel menu button and selecting the option on the RXh only. Page 239 of this manual shows the function.
#6
The auto isn't that sluggish when shifting, it's probably quicker than most people if they had a manual tranny. Maybe the response isn't immediate but by no means is it slow when performing the gear change.
#7
Anyway, I just bought a 2013 RX 450h and it definitely has a new sport mode that increases the steering feel and throttle response. It makes the car feel more eager to jump into the power mode which is quite entertaining but will no doubt hurt gas mileage some.
Here’s an excerpt from the 2013 brochure:
The RX450h is the first hybrid vehicle to feature Intelligent Shift Control, a shifting system that can estimate whether you are traveling uphill or downhill and automatically provide the optimal engine response. Enhancing performance even further, a Sequential Shift mode enables you to upshift or downshift on the fly. And a new SPORT mode transforms the acceleration and steering response of the RX450h for more spirited driving.
I like the sport mode better but it defaults back to standard mode every time you start the car. I have not had a chance to check, but suspect the default cannot be overridden. It is kind of a pain to set the sport mode using the steering wheel buttons (it takes about 5 presses of the various buttons) but I am used to it now.
Trending Topics
#8
As I noted in my previous post, the sport mode in the 2013 450h affects steering and throttle reponse but the CVT still works the same otherwise.
#9
Racer
...I like the sport mode better but it defaults back to standard mode every time you start the car. I have not had a chance to check, but suspect the default cannot be overridden. It is kind of a pain to set the sport mode using the steering wheel buttons (it takes about 5 presses of the various buttons) but I am used to it now.
#10
Driver School Candidate
Sport mode is not as aggresive as the Audi Sport mode which held each gear you
manually shifted the Tiptronic lever, shifted down sooner, shifted faster/harsher and had a full 200 unique shift programs automatically seelcted by the transmission.
#11
Right. I confirmed this a few weeks ago when I took delivery of my 2013 RX450h. Unfortunately there is no way to permanently default the truck to sport mode. (I like it too, even if it does probably lower my MPG a bit, but given I have to turn it on each time I do the truck, find I don't enable it other than as a novelty when I happen to think about it. Too bad.)
All in all, this car is way cooler than I expected. I was going to get the new F Sport but my wife could not stand the ride. I actually like this car way better now that I have it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Juni14Ayal
RX - 3rd Gen (2010-2015)
31
03-28-14 04:09 AM
graviton
IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present)
9
11-15-13 08:49 AM