Electric Steering Feels Natural The first thing RC F drivers will feel in the electric power - assisted rack and pinion steering is more feel.
The new speed - and input - sensitive
electric steering feels firmer and more direct around centre, yet remains as accurate as the previous Polo's tiller, which was already among the best in class, and free from any road - induced rattle or kickback.
Almost no vehicle lean going around corners,
electric steering feels fine also.
Even in its Sport mode,
the electric steering feel isn't great, but at least it's responsive.
The electric steering felt direct and even when pushed hard, body roll was well in check and it felt willing in quick directional changes too.
The overly
electric steering feel wasn't as much of an issue at speed, mostly just when I maneuvered through parking lots.
Not exact matches
The CR - V's
electric power
steering is far too overboosted to let road
feel through to the wheel, and its ratio (16.7:1) is, by a wide margin, the slowest of the group.
Nissan chose an electrohydraulic power -
steering setup in place of some of its competitors» fully
electric systems, a best - of - both - worlds solution that provides the
feel of a conventional hydraulic setup with the economy benefits of an
electric rack.
I'll say the same about the Mazda3, though the Mazda might still hold the edge in
steering feel, having adopted electro - hydraulic
steering rather than going to full
electric, a half - step that comes at the cost of fuel efficiency.
Steering feel didn't seem to change all that much when switching modes, but no matter — it is well weighted and you never
feel as though you're waiting for the wheels to turn in as the
electric power system starts doing its thing.
The
steering, which relies on
electric power assist for its autonomous feats,
feels unnaturally weighted just off center.
For once, I'm wishing for the numb
electric power
steering that more and more German cars now have, because this is something I definitely don't want to
feel.
However, in slower corners the
electric power
steering is too light and the front end just doesn't
feel like it's keyed into the tarmac as you want.
However, although the
steering isn't bad for an
electric system, it still
feels too light in slower speed corners and fails to feed back enough information about what the front tyres are doing.
From the moment we rolled out of the hotel parking lot in Whistler, British Columbia, it was evident that the
electric power
steering in the NX is tuned for greater heft than the Lexus norm, and the fat - rimmed, flat - bottom
steering wheel
feels great.
Lane - keeping assistance wasn't something associate Web editor Eric Weiner enjoyed during his drive on the interstate between Ann Arbor and Las Vegas, and the
electric steering's lack of on - center
feel proved distracting.
The
electric power
steering offers little
feel, and the broken Michigan roads can upset the Sport Package - equipped chassis.
The
steering is a new
electric power system that has been tightened up considerably; braking
feel is similarly more responsive and immediate.
In terms of dynamic improvements, the 2015 Ford Focus ST has new front springs, different shock absorber tuning in the front and the rear, and revised
electric power
steering that's supposed to deliver better
feel.
The Renegade
feels alert, and the
electric - assist
steering is fine for a ute, where you want a higher degree of isolation from road rumble anyway.
The
steering is crisp and communicative, the brake pedal
feel is pretty conventional, and, of course, the torquey off - the - line acceleration is fabulous, just as it is in all
electric vehicles.
The
electric power
steering feels meaty and keen.
On the way to Sears Point, the RLX exhibits competent handling: the big sedan gets around the mountain roads with very little understeer and a bit of cushy body roll, although the inevitable
electric power
steering is average in
feel and feedback, which is to say, there's not enough of either.
Its dual pinion variable ratio
electric power
steering is on the heavy side and pointed the wheels into place without fuss during more aggressive cornering, while its four - wheel discs hauled things down easily with a firm
feeling pedal.
The
electric power
steering, in typical Mini fashion, is precise and provides good
feel.
Some will bemoan the change to
electric - power - assisted
steering — the previous hydraulic system was magic in terms of
feel — but the 13:1 - ratio rack, the quickest yet in an Aston, is predictable and communicative.
On gently flowing German backroads, the S7 changes directions with the
feel of a much smaller and lighter car thanks to the impressive grip and the nicely calibrated
electric power
steering.
Grab the wheel while LKAS is activated, and you'll
feel odd feedback that could only come from an
electric power
steering system, similar to Audi's lane - departure control system.
The somewhat digital
feel of the
electric - assist
steering quickly became unnoticeable, while the linear calibration of the throttle and the predictable, yet authoritative response from the brake pedal made fast driving pretty effortless.
Steering is direct and provides plenty of
feel, especially for an
electric setup.
Throughout the Charger lineup, new
electric power
steering loads up nicely under cornering but transmits little road
feel.
As with the petrol version, the TDCI Zetec S suffers from slightly empty -
feeling electric power
steering.
Just as so many car companies have begun to embrace
electric power
steering, Ferrari has reset the
steering feel benchmark — and, of course, it's with a hydraulic - assist system.
The
electric power
steering feels exactly like that in most modern cars — quick and precise but mostly devoid of feedback.
The
electric - assist power
steering has been tuned to deliver firmer effort and more on - center
feel, and while this tuning is usually a recipe for disaster in a system where the
electric motor is attached to the
steering column (as it is here) rather than the
steering rack, the 2015 Trax
feels fine to us.
Electric power
steering, also new this year, has less on - center
feel than the old hydraulic system but is still hyperalert.
The F - Type R's pleasurable
electric steering is now downright brilliant, with a new algorithm that sharpens
feel on - and off - center.
It also
feels refreshingly analog even though it has
electric power
steering and offers high - tech helpers such as brake - based torque vectoring.
But this is a car that has no power
steering, so you get the best of both worlds; no hydraulic p / s pump to sap 1 mpg off the city EPA number, and no
electric boost alternative to sap
steering feel in favor of that extra mpg.
The
electric power
steering is devoid of
feel, but it's pleasingly direct and the i3 has a fantastic turning circle, while the brakes (ventilated discs all - round)
feel over-engineered for the car.
And when you're driving along like a nun, you'll be praying to your local deity for some
steering feel —
electric power
steering has sacrificed it in the name of saving dinosaur juice.
The ride is composed and comfortable, though the
electric power
steering — never a Hyundai strong suit — lacks much road
feel.
Some electronic reprogramming adds welcome on - center
feel to the
electric - assist
steering, and additional structural reinforcement in the rack - and - pinion
steering itself and the front strut - type suspension deliver crisper response.
Its
steering, still hydraulically assisted,
feels sharper than the Corvette's
electric power setup, and its rear end rotates sooner in a corner.
The
electric - assist hardware is now mounted on the
steering rack itself instead of the
steering column, and the result is a clean, nicely weighted
feel from the
steering wheel in the corners, although it's slightly dead on - center.
Too bad we didn't
feel the same about the over-assisted
electric power
steering.
The
electric power
steering, though improved from older Hyundais, still
feels disconcertingly artificial.
For the first Jaguar to use an
electric power
steering system and they,
steering was predictably light and effortless, but not enough so to make the experience
feel artificial.
The compact also benefits from a new
electric power - assisted
steering system that's said to offer more engaging
steering feel compared to the outgoing car.
The
electric power
steering feels much like the old hydraulic system but is still a little light at highway speeds.