System and method of controlling ventilation of a passenger compartment of a vehicle

A method of controlling ventilation of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining whether a key off condition is present;
• determining whether a cabin air temperature is greater than an adjusted ambient air temperature value when the key off condition is present;
• determining whether a precipitation condition is present;
• determining whether air humidity is less than a threshold humidity level;
• and
• opening an intake vent to allow ambient air from outside the vehicle to enter the passenger compartment through an intake passage when the cabin air temperature is greater than the adjusted ambient air temperature value, a precipitation condition is not present, and the air humidity is less than a threshold humidity value.

A system for ventilating a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

• an air intake for providing ambient air to the passenger compartment, the air intake having an intake vent and an intake vent actuator for moving the intake vent between an open position and a closed position;
• an air exhaust for exhausting cabin air from the passenger compartment to outside the vehicle, the air exhaust having an exhaust vent and an exhaust vent actuator for moving the exhaust vent between an open position and a closed position;
• an ambient air temperature sensor for providing data indicative of a temperature of ambient air outside the passenger compartment;
• a cabin air temperature sensor for providing data indicative of a temperature of cabin air inside the passenger compartment;
• a key sensor for determining whether a key off condition is present;
• and
• an air humidity sensor for providing data indicative of air humidity;
• wherein the intake vent actuator moves the intake vent to the open position and the exhaust vent actuator moves the exhaust vent to the open position when the key off condition is present, the temperature of cabin air exceeds the temperature of ambient air by a predetermined threshold temperature amount, and the air humidity is less than a threshold humidity level.