As an ordinary office worker who frequently drives different cars, I always feel that the steering system greatly affects driving comfort. Variable steering ratio mainly refers to the change in the ratio between the steering wheel rotation and the wheel movement—for example, at low speeds like parking, a slight turn of the steering wheel makes the wheels move faster, feeling agile and effortless; at high speeds, the ratio decreases for more stability. On the other hand, integral active steering is more intelligent—it actively controls the rear-wheel steering. At low speeds, the rear wheels may turn in the opposite direction to reduce the turning radius, while at high speeds, they turn in the same direction to enhance stability. I once tried a friend’s car and experienced that variable steering ratio made turning less tiring in city traffic jams, but active steering kept the car from drifting when changing lanes on highways, doubling the sense of security. The biggest difference between the two is that one is a partial ratio adjustment, while the other is an active intervention across the entire system. Adding a bit of daily experience: I remember driving on a narrow road in the rain once—active steering automatically balanced the car body, preventing skidding, whereas pure variable ratio required more careful handling. For family cars, this makes a huge difference.
