Hopefully I’m asking this question correctly:
I recently started working at a hotel and sometimes I’m driving the shuttle – a new Ford vehicle. I’ve noticed it’s steering wheel is exceptionally easy to whip left or right, making it almost fun to turn.
On the other hand, my car, a 2020 Kia Soul, has a stiffer feeling steering wheel. It’s not as snappy/”loose feeling” as in the Ford.
Is it simply a matter of engineering? A different type of steering column? Are bigger (and perhaps newer) vehicles typically designed to have a snappier steering wheel to help with turning, or is it something to do with the manufacturer?
In: Engineering
There’s a design tradeoff between being able to feel the road through the steering wheel (important in sporty cars) and reducing driver fatigue (important in commercial vehicles).
In some cars, the level of steering assist changes with vehicle speed (more assist for parking, more road feel at higher speeds), or with the vehicle mode setting (more road feel in Sport mode, more assist in Eco mode).
This is independent of whether the assist comes from hydraulic or electric actuators.
Latest Answers