It is not psychological. There is a difference.

One test would be drive a 5 mile loop in 'normal' mode, then drive it in 'sport' mode. Make sure you include some uneven pavement (potholes/manhole covers) and also take some turns aggressively. If after that you can't tell a difference, then have it checked out at your dealership.

I don't think I can detect any real difference. Here's a test: have a passenger randomly select the Sport/non-Sport button while driving and see if you can determine which setting is selected. Try it about ten times. (you might have to put some tape over the dash indicator light).

How about this: I inadvertantly left the sport button when driving my parents out to dinner and they asked why the car was so rough. I then remembered the sport button and switched it normal (without announcing it) and they definitely noticed the difference.

There is definitely a difference ! On certain bad roads, it's almost impossible to drive with the sports mode on. Way too harsh.

I'd like to recant the above statement. :doh: Upon further, more detailed consideration, I can tell the difference. I used to leave it in "Sport" mode all the time. Now I switch to non-Sport on certain roads - makes the ride much more comfortable (without too much of a reduction in handling ability).