There are various names for active driver assistance technologies (ADA) offered by automakers, but they all perform the same general function – keeping vehicles between lanes, accelerating and slowing traffic, and ensuring drivers keep their eyes on the outside world. However, the latest Consumer reports a review of 12 systems showed significant differences in how well they worked.
The legacy automaker from Detroit now holds the top two spots, with Ford receiving an overall score of 84 for its BlueCruise system to take the lead. General Motors came in second with Super Cruise at 75. Mercedes-Benz took the podium with a score of 72 to finish third. BMW took fourth place with 69, with Toyota rounding out the top five thanks to an overall score of 65.
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Absent from this group is Tesla, which pioneered the ADA world with its Autopilot system in 2015. In 2020 Consumer reports The review was second behind Super Cruise GM, but has fallen to seventh with a score of 61 due to the low score for driver monitoring and the ambiguity on when the system is safe to use.
“After all this time, Autopilot still doesn’t allow collaborative steering and lacks an effective driver monitoring system,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of automated testing at Consumer reports. “While other automakers have developed their ACC and LCA systems, Tesla has simply fallen behind.”
Still, Tesla ranks better than Rivian, Nissan, Honda, Volvo and Hyundai, all of which scored under 60. Hyundai and its Kia/Genesis brands took last place with a score of 47. Consumer reports made the South Korean brand loud for its unresponsive driver performance, which simply shuts down the system after a certain amount of time without slowing or stopping the vehicle. The lane keeping system also tends to go a bit back and forth.
In the evaluation, tests are held both on the track and in the real world. Consumer reports considering the five metrics of ADA functionality:
- Capability and Performance
- Keeping Drivers Engaged
- Ease of use
- Remove When Safe To Use
- Unresponsive Driver
As these systems become commonplace in new vehicles there is an increased emphasis on monitoring the driver to ensure safety. Now, Consumer reports said only Ford and GM were eligible for additional points in its scoring structure thanks to infrared cameras that monitor drivers’ eyes, ensuring they are always looking ahead when driver assistance systems are active.
“[ADAs] don’t build self-driving cars at all,” explains Fisher. “Instead, they create new ways of driving collaboratively with the computer in your car. When automakers do it the right way, it can make driving safer and more comfortable. When they do it the wrong way, it can be dangerous.”
