[williamsmichael]

Did not realize that even the FWD model also has two different drive modes. Would love for Honda to provide a proper breakdown of this tech and how each differs aside from power delivery.

https://www.dansher.com/misc/VTM-4_fyi.pdf

 

[williamsmichael]

https://www.dansher.com/misc/VTM-4_fyi.pdf

 

[williamsmichael]

Can anyone explain the differences in the above chart?

The chart describes the behavior of each variable during each awd setting.
DBW: Sensitivity of electronic throttle. (How touchy the gas pedal is.
Shift Map: How high of rpms the transmission holds the gears before shifting or down shifting.
AWD Rear Bias: How much power is sent to the rear wheels.
AWD Vectoring: How much and how actively the AWD sends power to the left or right wheels.
VSA: Vehicle Stability Assist (how active the braking based traction control is).

All of these variables adjust constantly in real time based on conditions. Each setting biases the AWD according to this chart.

Snow mode more or less softens everything, especially throttle response to give you less of a chance of spinning your wheels.

Mud and Sand modes are sort of the opposite. They send a lot of power to the rear wheels, hold gears higher, and give you bitey throttle. Sand is more aggressive.

Mud and Sand modes disable vectoring as this allows the rear wheel to lock at 50/50 distribution and effectively provide a limited slip differential on the rear (LSD). The LSD effect is preferable for traction in bad conditions. A lot of AWD and 4WD systems have locking diffs or mechanical LSDs. The Honda system achieves this electronically and in real time.

Econ and Sport modes likewise globally adjust the car’s settings. Econ softens like snow mode while sport sharpens like mud or sand. In winter snow storms I use econ and snow simultaneously to give me very gentle throttle.

The hondas also adjust steering and braking sensitivity based on speed which I quite enjoy. Those who complain about spongy throttle/brakes make that judgement at low speeds.

Hope that helps. I worked for honda for a few years and learned about these systems as they evolved. I found the graphic on a ridgeline forum so it could be different on the passport’s 9 speed, but I’d guess its pretty much the same.

Hope that helps. Happy to answer any questions.

 

[williamsmichael]

I’ll

The chart describes the behavior of each variable during each awd setting.
DBW: Sensitivity of electronic throttle. (How touchy the gas pedal is.
Shift Map: How high of rpms the transmission holds the gears before shifting or down shifting.
AWD Rear Bias: How much power is sent to the rear wheels.
AWD Vectoring: How much and how actively the AWD sends power to the left or right wheels.
VSA: Vehicle Stability Assist (how active the braking based traction control is).

All of these variables adjust constantly in real time based on conditions. Each setting biases the AWD according to this chart.

Snow mode more or less softens everything, especially throttle response to give you less of a chance of spinning your wheels.

Mud and Sand modes are sort of the opposite. They send a lot of power to the rear wheels, hold gears higher, and give you bitey throttle. Sand is more aggressive.

Mud and Sand modes disable vectoring as this allows the rear wheel to lock at 50/50 distribution and effectively provide a limited slip differential on the rear (LSD). The LSD effect is preferable for traction in bad conditions. A lot of AWD and 4WD systems have locking diffs or mechanical LSDs. The Honda system achieves this electronically and in real time.

Econ and Sport modes likewise globally adjust the car’s settings. Econ softens like snow mode while sport sharpens like mud or sand. In winter snow storms I use econ and snow simultaneously to give me very gentle throttle.

The hondas also adjust steering and braking sensitivity based on speed which I quite enjoy. Those who complain about spongy throttle/brakes make that judgement at low speeds.

Hope that helps. I worked for honda for a few years and learned about these systems as they evolved. I found the graphic on a ridgeline forum so it could be different on the passport’s 9 speed, but I’d guess its pretty much the same.

Hope that helps. Happy to answer any questions.

I’ll add that, like vectoring, VSA is disabled in mud and sand modes. The graphic kind of suggests the opposite but it’s inverted in that value. It’s a more aggressive setting, meaning less traction control. Not disabled entirely, though. There is a trick to fully disabling vsa though...