Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in a manual operating mode selection condition in which a user may select a required system operating mode by means of user-operable mode selection input means, and an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode, wherein when operating in the manual condition and a change from the manual condition to the automatic condition is made the system is configured to select a prescribed automatic mode selection condition vehicle ride-height independently of the selected operating mode.