The suspension provides a stiffer ride
even in its comfort mode setting, but still not too uncomfortable for daily driving.
The suspension settings have been revised too to offer a softer
ride in comfort mode and despite those huge 20 - inch alloys, the B6 absorbs harsh road surfaces with minimal fuss.
Like the name suggests, the ride is the
best in the comfort mode, the engine and gearbox also feel lazy, while the steering is light to operate.
On our drive we found the steering a little
light in comfort mode but it became more responsive in sport mode.
The Dynamic mode makes the throttle response sharper and adds some more weight to the steering, but it didn't feel so
relaxed in the comfort mode, which we stuck to.
The suspension is soft
enough in comfort mode and sporty enough in sport mode to provide clear alternatives depending on your driving needs.
Like with the A5, the steering felt more natural and
direct in comfort mode but even here it is devoid of any feel or feedback.
The most intrusive thing about the
suspension in comfort mode in the coupe we drove was a distinct rattle from the left corner of the four - link rear - end.
The Polo GTI's engine starts and settles to an undemonstrative hum, and the car can be driven
around in Comfort mode as easily as if it were a mid-range model.
As for the ride, the steel - sprung PASM setup (standard on the Turbo and GTS, ir is a # 785 option on the other models) is more than acceptable for daily driving
when in its Comfort mode, but those expecting a softened - off luxury 4x4 may be slightly thrown by how much stiffer the Macan feels when in its Sport setting.
AMG Ride Control adaptive damping is standard on all, though it's best
left in Comfort mode at all times.
Yet even
in comfort mode on Germany's comparatively silken roads, DRC's ride is fairly stiff.
(Granted, I left the
transmission in comfort mode most of the time, so as not to wake the baby, but you shouldn't have to push a button before you're allowed to briskly pass slower traffic.)
Instead, it wafts along
in comfort mode with an aplomb that's only lessened by a fair slice of wind noise around the A-pillars and mirrors.
With the suspension
set in comfort mode, it's still not quite as smooth as the Mercedes - Benz S550.
The new Q7 simply glides over the
road in the Comfort mode courtesy its adaptive air suspensions, which automatically adjusts the vehicle level and the shock absorbers at each axle according to the load.
But having said that, although the steering gets slightly heavier in Dynamic mode, we found the steering response
in Comfort mode more natural, and eventually stuck to that.
It can cruise with lots of suspension travel, slow and smooth shifts and light - touch
steering in Comfort mode, or approach AMG levels of heft and stiffness when set in Sport Plus mode.
Damping properties of the air suspension adjust along with the Dynamic Select system, which means it's really
comfortable in Comfort mode and firms up for optimal handling in Sport and Sport + modes.
It rides harshly even with the dampers set
in Comfort mode because the Nürburgring rewards excellent body control.
And like its brethren, the Gran Coupe can feel a bit soft and removed when you're just plodding
along in comfort mode.
It rides
beautifully in Comfort mode and on our admittedly smooth - surfaced test route, Dynamic mode does little to ruffle the fluid composure of the car.
These traits are accented in the different driving modes; the ride is firmer in sport mode and noticeably
suppler in comfort mode.
Things get better
in Comfort mode which maintains a fine balance between decent economy and relentless performance.
However, even with the
dampers in Comfort mode, the ride is on the firm side, even on relatively small 17in wheels.
The ride on these cars has always been one of the plus points and
in comfort mode very civilised and the sport or Cupra setting genuinely make a difference.
You can thank the ZL1's trick magnetorheological dampers for that, which iron out pavement
imperfections in comfort mode and keep the big boy flat in the corners in sport mode.
BMW engineers somehow tuned this car's ride and handling exactly the opposite of what I'd prefer: Body
control in comfort mode is too loosie goosie, and yet somehow the car crashes and bangs over road imperfections.
On the one hand, it is a consummate cruiser, delivering vast flexibility and high refinement
in comfort mode out on the highway.
With the active damper system, it can be smooth and comfortable around
town in comfort mode or stiffened up in sport mode to make it a very respectable cornering machine.
After being sick and living in PJ's, I was
still in comfort mode and my Club Monaco Poncho was the perfect option.
Wanted a factory based high performance vehicle that won't draw high attention while picking up your kids from
school in comfort mode.
But even an air - sprung
Cayenne in Comfort mode is still a taut, responsive machine able to perform agility feats previously undreamed of in an SUV, helped by a nominally rearward torque split.
Leave the familiar, steering - wheel - mounted manettino
switch in Comfort mode and the ride is firm but not unyielding.