At Autiar, steering feel is one of those topics that comes up every time our team swaps keys after a press drive. Powertrain specs change. Infotainment evolves. But when a car loses steering feel, something fundamental breaks. You can forgive a clunky UI. You don’t forgive a steering wheel that tells you nothing.
We’ve driven enough old hydraulic racks and modern electric setups back-to-back to know this isn’t nostalgia talking. Steering feel really is disappearing, and fixing it is far more complicated than bolting on a “sport” mode.
From Hydraulic Honesty to Electric Ambiguity
Hydraulic power steering wasn’t perfect, but it was mechanically truthful. Road forces traveled through the rack, into the fluid, and straight into your hands. You felt surface texture, lateral load buildup, and the onset of understeer naturally.
Electric Power Steering (EPS) broke that chain.
Modern EPS systems:
- Replace hydraulic pressure with torque sensors and assist motors
- Filter steering input through software layers
- Prioritize efficiency and packaging over raw feedback
We’ve driven everything from a last-gen BMW E90 (hydraulic) to the current G20 3 Series (EPS). The difference isn’t subtle. The older car chatters over coarse asphalt and weights up mid-corner. The new one is quieter, cleaner, and emotionally distant.
Takeaway: EPS didn’t just remove hydraulic fluid; it removed unfiltered mechanical conversation. What we gained in efficiency, we lost in honesty.
[Image: Hydraulic steering rack vs electric steering motor. Caption: One transmits force directly; the other interprets it through software.]
The Real Culprit Isn’t EPS, It’s Over-Filtering
Manufacturers will tell you EPS can deliver great feel. Technically, they’re right. Our team has spoken with chassis engineers who insist modern racks can simulate anything.
The problem is what they’re tuning for.
EPS calibration goals now prioritize:
- Lane-keeping assist compatibility
- Torque overlay for safety systems
- Vibration suppression for NVH targets
Compare a Porsche 911 (992) to a BMW M340i. Both use EPS. The Porsche still talks. The BMW mostly whispers.
Why?
- Porsche allows micro-torque fluctuations to pass through
- BMW aggressively smooths signals to reduce perceived harshness
- Assist curves in the BMW ramp more linearly, muting load buildup
Takeaway: Steering feel hasn’t vanished, it’s being deliberately filtered out in the name of refinement and driver aids.
Check This: How Software Is Quietly Limiting Performance in Modern Vehicles
Weight Doesn’t Equal Feel (And Sport Modes Don’t Fix It)
One of our biggest frustrations: the myth that heavier steering equals better steering.
We’ve tested countless “Sport” modes that simply:
- Increase static steering weight
- Reduce assist without restoring feedback
- Add artificial resistance unrelated to tire load
A perfect example is the latest Audi S4 versus an older B8-generation S4. The new car’s steering is heavier in Dynamic mode, but it still doesn’t communicate slip angle progression the way the older hydraulic rack did.
What’s missing:
- Self-aligning torque variation
- Texture feedback over mid-corner bumps
- Natural on-center buildup
Takeaway: Weight without information is just gym equipment. Steering feel is about signal quality, not resistance.
Tires, Geometry, and the Quiet Sabotage of Grip
Steering feel doesn’t live in the rack alone. It’s shaped by everything downstream.
Modern cars increasingly run:
- Wider, lower-profile tires
- Softer compound all-seasons for noise reduction
- Aggressive front camber compensation for stability
We’ve measured steering racks that are perfectly tuned, only to be undermined by numb tire sidewalls. Compare a Michelin Pilot Sport 4S to an OEM touring tire, and steering feel can improve dramatically without touching the rack.
Suspension geometry plays a role too:
- Reduced caster improves ease but kills feedback
- Compliance bushings absorb texture before it reaches the wheel
Takeaway: Steering feel is a system problem. Fixing the rack alone won’t help if tires and geometry are tuned for silence.
Safety Systems Are Rewriting the Rules of Feedback
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: modern steering can’t be allowed to be fully honest anymore.
EPS now integrates with:
- Lane centering
- Crosswind compensation
- Automated emergency avoidance
That means the system must override or reinterpret driver input at any time. Raw feedback becomes a liability when software needs authority.
We’ve experienced this firsthand in vehicles like the Mercedes C-Class, where the steering actively counteracts crosswinds. Impressive? Yes. Transparent? No.
Takeaway: Steering feel is sacrificed not because engineers forgot how, but because safety systems demand control over communication.
Why It’s So Hard to Fix (Even When Brands Try)
Some manufacturers are trying. Mazda, Porsche, and even Toyota’s GR division have invested heavily in steering calibration.
But challenges remain:
- EPS motors add inertia to the system
- Software latency, even milliseconds, blunts immediacy
- Global regulations prioritize consistency over character
Our team spoke with an engineer who summed it up perfectly: “Great steering feel today requires choosing not to optimize something else.”
And that’s the problem. In a market driven by efficiency, safety scores, and mass appeal, steering feel is an easy sacrifice.
Takeaway: Fixing steering feel isn’t about technology, it’s about priorities manufacturers no longer share with enthusiasts.
The Autiar Verdict
The Commuter
Buy. You’ll appreciate the stability, light effort, and reduced fatigue. Modern EPS works for daily life.
The Enthusiast
Wait, or buy carefully. Look for brands that still value steering nuance (Porsche, Mazda, select GR models).
The Budget-Conscious Buyer
Skip chasing feel. Focus on tire upgrades instead, they offer the biggest return per dollar.
Overall Takeaway: Steering feel isn’t dead, but it’s endangered. Finding it now requires intent, not luck.
High-Intent FAQ
Can software updates improve steering feel?
Sometimes. Most updates focus on safety and refinement, not feedback.
Do aftermarket steering racks help?
Rarely. Tires and alignment changes usually deliver better results.
Is steer-by-wire the final nail in the coffin?
Not necessarily, but only if manufacturers allow engineers to prioritize feel over isolation.
At Autiar, we don’t believe drivers are asking for the past. We’re asking for truth through the wheel. The industry knows how to deliver it. The question is whether it still wants to.
