Adaptive Smart Cruise Control

apatia77

apatia77

apatia77

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Recently I had the opportunity to drive a Kia Sorento KX-4, I did about 600 miles in the car while using the Adaptive Smart Cruise Control most of the time.
Whiles being a bit sceptical about the technology to start with I soon realised how awesome and useful the Adaptive Smart Cruise Control really was and how it can prevent accidents from happening.
It is a very strange feeling to drive a car at 70mph and let it stop on its own if there is traffic in front of you, something that gets a bit of getting used to.

The link below has a great explanation how this technology works.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an intelligent form of cruise control that slows down and speeds up automatically to keep pace with the car in front of you. The driver sets the maximum speed — just as with cruise control — then a radar sensor watches for traffic ahead, locks on to the car in a lane, and instructs the car to stay 2, 3, or 4 seconds behind the person car ahead of it (the driver sets the follow distance, within reason). ACC is now almost always paired with a pre-crash system that alerts you and often begins braking.

ACC is ideal for stop-and-go traffic and rush hour commuting that swings from 60 mph to a standstill. Adaptive cruise control as of 2013 ranges from $2,500 at the high end to as little as $500. Less costly “partial ACC” only works at speeds of 20 or 25 mph and up, but it’s markedly cheaper.
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http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/157172-what-is-adaptive-cruise-control-and-how-does-it-work

Is anyone here owning a car with Adaptive Smart Cruise Control and what is your experience with it?
 
I have it and find it's good in light traffic, but any more than that and it's a massive pain and makes you look like a **** driver.

Mine is admittedly and early system, so perhaps the newer ones are better, but if you try using it on a relatively busy motorway it brakes every time a car pulls out into your lane, even if it's a decent distance away, so you end up looking like one of those awful drivers who rides their brakes on the motorway.

In light traffic however, it's amazing. I used it last night on the m25 - it latched onto the back of a 6 series who was making decent progress and coasted down nicely when he braked for the cameras, without having to brake itself.

I think if most of my driving was at non-peak times, I'd consider it an essential option, as it is, I simply think of it as something that's nice to have, but I wouldn't insist on it in my next car.
 
My first experience of Active Cruise was when had a hire Golf for a business trip Scotland. The 500 mile round trip was bliss - I never had to touch the brake or accelater pedal once.
I'm happy its standard in my new car. BMW, Audi etc charge upwards of £1k+ for the option.

With Lane Assist the car also auto steers to keep you centered in your lane. So with adaptive cruise and lane assist effecitvely you don't need to do anything as a driver but sit back and enjoy the ride:p




geekman said:
Mine is admittedly and early system, so perhaps the newer ones are better, but if you try using it on a relatively busy motorway it brakes every time a car pulls out into your lane, even if it's a decent distance away, so you end up looking like one of those awful drivers who rides their brakes on the motorway.
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The newer systems have improved. The one in the Golf works great. If a car overtakes you and then pulls into your lane the system senses the car is moving away and doesn't brake.


 
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I wonder how many people will get used to technology like this, move to a car later without it and then have an accident.

I like some new tech in cars, but can't help that the attention of the driver is lessening bit by bit. As a motorcyclist, tech like this scares the **** out of me.
 
Rossi~ said:
I wonder how many people will get used to technology like this, move to a car later without it and then have an accident.

I like some new tech in cars, but can't help that the attention of the driver is lessening bit by bit. As a motorcyclist, tech like this scares the **** out of me.
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Same as auto headlights and auto wipers really.
 
Adaptive Cruise Control is pretty awesome as a concept. I don't think I could personally trust it though, I would just brake out of habit rather than letting the computer slow the car.

Who would be liable for insurance if you left the car to do its own thing and it plows into a car infront?
 
There are still issues with these systems. On the Golf UK forum someone experienced an unexpected full on emergency stop from motorway speed because a large plastic bag blew in front of their car.

Good to know the system works though :p
 
I've used it in the Golf, but I don't like it much.

I guess maybe if I was driving for hour after hour, but for 45-60 minutes journeys I don't enjoy the faff, I'd rather just drive.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Adaptive Cruise Control is pretty awesome as a concept. I don't think I could personally trust it though, I would just brake out of habit rather than letting the computer slow the car.

Who would be liable for insurance if you left the car to do its own thing and it plows into a car infront?
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The driver. Why would it be anything other than?

It'd be like saying Tom Tom is to blame because you followed the Sat Nav and it told you to drive into the side of a building :p

Though that raises an interesting question about driverless cars!
 
The driver is always held repsonsible.

The latest generation Golf went on sale in the UK in January 2013 and all, except for the entry-level S models, are fitted as standard with the system which the German car-maker calls Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Experts at Thatcham say that since launch, third party injury claims on the latest Volkswagen Golf are 45 per cent lower than an equivalent small family car
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Source : VW’s braking system cuts number of claims
 
Welcome to 1999 :p The S-Class had Distronic (adaptive cruise) 16 years ago. This isnt new tech.

My 2003 SL has it too....
 
I have it on our Mondeo and it's brilliant! We once drove from Birmingham to Camberley without needing to set foot on the gas pedal for the majority of the journey. It make regular cruise control seem somewhat pointless.

I tend to still be very alert though in case someone pulls in ahead of me without leaving much space.
 
Jez said:
Welcome to 1999 :p The S-Class had Distronic (adaptive cruise) 16 years ago. This isnt new tech.

My 2003 SL has it too....
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Did that work as well as their Voicetronic system :p

The Mercedes S range gets all new tech but it's only when it trickles down to the masses as standard that it becomes truely effective.
 
geekman said:
I have it and find it's good in light traffic, but any more than that and it's a massive pain and makes you look like a **** driver.

Mine is admittedly and early system, so perhaps the newer ones are better, but if you try using it on a relatively busy motorway it brakes every time a car pulls out into your lane, even if it's a decent distance away, so you end up looking like one of those awful drivers who rides their brakes on the motorway.

In light traffic however, it's amazing. I used it last night on the m25 - it latched onto the back of a 6 series who was making decent progress and coasted down nicely when he braked for the cameras, without having to brake itself.

I think if most of my driving was at non-peak times, I'd consider it an essential option, as it is, I simply think of it as something that's nice to have, but I wouldn't insist on it in my next car.
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I know what you mean, what I did was lower the distance to minimum between my car and the car in front of me, if the gap is not too big then you don't get the issue of cars switching lanes all the time.
Also I guess there are many different settings by different manufacturers, my drive was really smooth and the car wouldn't slow down if it was not needed or the slow down would be in pace with the car in front of me.

I guess the technology is still quite new and there is room for improvement.
 
geekman said:
I have it and find it's good in light traffic, but any more than that and it's a massive pain and makes you look like a **** driver.

Mine is admittedly and early system, so perhaps the newer ones are better, but if you try using it on a relatively busy motorway it brakes every time a car pulls out into your lane, even if it's a decent distance away, so you end up looking like one of those awful drivers who rides their brakes on the motorway.

In light traffic however, it's amazing. I used it last night on the m25 - it latched onto the back of a 6 series who was making decent progress and coasted down nicely when he braked for the cameras, without having to brake itself.

I think if most of my driving was at non-peak times, I'd consider it an essential option, as it is, I simply think of it as something that's nice to have, but I wouldn't insist on it in my next car.
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The Golf seems quite good on that front to me, it tends to just ease off when something pulls in ahead.

The one thing that bugs me is the separate, but related emergency stop system. So you'll be driving down the road at say 30, it will detect a bollard that you're planning to steer around, and slam on the brakes. Only happens once every 6 months, but it's still frustrating.
 
I've had this on an Insignia, but with a manual transmission so obviously it doesnt work as well. I've ordered in on my next car, which is an auto. This should give the 'stop and go' function in traffic. You also get traffic sign recognition which can be helpful at times.
 
sigma said:
I wouldn't really use it in a 30 limit anyway, there are usually too many variable to consider.
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The 30mph issue is separate to the adaptive cruise control, it's the emergency system that's on by default all the time and just slams on the brakes if it detects something too close in front. But admittedly it's a tangent to this thread.
 
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