The relentless advancement of science and technology has brought about modern safety features in today’s automobiles. In the past, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) were typically reserved for luxury vehicles. However, active safety technology packages have now become more common in the mass-market segment.
Some active safety features are so well-loved by customers that they won’t purchase a vehicle without them. On the other hand, some active safety features can cause trouble and inconvenience for drivers.
To determine which ADAS features are most appreciated by motorists, the renowned American magazine, Consumer Reports (CR), conducted a survey with the participation of over 47,000 members. The magazine also indicated which active safety features drivers should look for when buying a new car.
The survey results revealed that motorists favor the following five active safety features the most:
- Rear Cross-Traffic Warning (RCTW)
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane-Centering Assistance (LCA)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
Motorists shared that they prefer features that can automatically steer, brake, and accelerate the vehicle in certain situations, such as traffic jams or long highway drives. However, they dislike systems that predict the driver’s actions, like Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA). These systems may sound an alert or interfere with steering even when the driver intentionally veers to give way to a cyclist or avoid an obstacle.
Kelly Funkhouser, program director of vehicle technology and ADAS expert at CR, was not surprised by the preferences of motorists. “The best systems help ensure safety and provide a relaxing feeling behind the wheel,” explained Funkhouser. “The worst systems can be distracting.”
5 Active Safety Features That Motorists Love the Most
Rear Cross-Traffic Warning
Motorist Satisfaction Rate: 72%
Rear Cross-Traffic Warning System
When your car is in reverse and about to back up, this system warns the driver of approaching vehicles from the sides or behind. In some car models, the RCTW system also alerts the driver to the presence of pedestrians or other objects.
Blind Spot Warning
Motorist Satisfaction Rate: 64%
As your car travels down the road, this feature detects vehicles in your blind spot and alerts you. The system typically warns you with a light on the side-view mirror. The intensity of the alert increases if you turn on the turn signal.
Warning light on the side-view mirror of the BSW system
Adaptive Cruise Control
Motorist Satisfaction Rate: 63%
Adaptive Cruise Control System
This feature is an advanced version of cruise control. The ACC system accelerates and/or brakes to help the driver maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. Most ACC systems can bring the car to a complete stop and restart the engine when traffic conditions allow. On the other hand, some systems automatically disengage if the car is traveling at a speed of about 20 mph (32 km/h).
Lane-Centering Assistance
Motorist Satisfaction Rate: 60%
Lane-Centering Assistance System
This feature assists the driver by steering the vehicle to stay in the center of the lane marked by lane lines. However, these systems are not designed to replace the driver.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Motorist Satisfaction Rate: 59%
The AEB system’s job is to detect the risk of a collision with the vehicle ahead and automatically apply the brakes to avoid a crash or reduce its severity. Some systems can also detect pedestrians and cyclists.
Automatic Emergency Braking System
According to research by AAA Insurance and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), systems like AEB and BSW can help reduce the risk of collisions. Meanwhile, systems like ACC and LCA help reduce driver fatigue in traffic jams or long highway drives.
Brands That Typically Equip Their Vehicles with These 5 Features
To determine which brands do the best job of equipping their vehicles with these five ADAS features as standard, CR analyzed over 280 new car models in the US market. The result? The luxury brand Genesis, owned by Hyundai, took the top spot. It is also the only brand to equip all its models with these five ADAS features.
In this study, CR did not consider AEB systems that only work at low speeds or cannot detect pedestrians. BSW systems that do not display a warning on or near the side-view mirror were also excluded.
Here is a list of the top 8 brands that typically equip their vehicles with the five most popular ADAS features, as of August 1, 2022:
1. Genesis
2. Lexus
3. Acura
4. Volvo
5. Lincoln
6. Honda
7. Infiniti
8. Toyota
Questions to Ask About ADAS Features When Buying a Car
Some active safety features perform better than others. When test-driving a car before purchasing it, ask yourself or the dealership sales consultant the following questions.
Does the blind-spot detection system display a warning on the rearview mirror?
Tesla places the blind-spot detection warning on the dashboard. This placement can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road. “You should frequently glance at the rearview mirror. So, this is the most suitable place for the warning,” explained Funkhouser.
Can the rear automatic emergency braking system be turned off?
Motorists shared that they appreciate systems that help them see clearly if the way is clear when backing out of a parking spot. However, they dislike the rear automatic emergency braking (AEB) system because it is too sensitive and makes it difficult to back up in crowded parking lots. Additionally, the system emits an annoying beep when a bike rack is attached to the back of the car. Before purchasing a vehicle, ensure that you can disable the rear AEB without affecting the RCTW system in the aforementioned scenarios.
Do the ADAS features of the car “fight” each other?
Some drivers complain that the lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance systems continuously sound an alert or steer the car back into the lane even when the driver intentionally veers to avoid a pothole or obstacle. Test this feature during your test drive.
Do the warning sounds scare you?
According to Funkhouser, motorists tend to prefer systems that warn them by vibrating the steering wheel or seat rather than beeping. However, some drivers have complained about excessive vibration intensity in some Honda and Acura models, which can be distracting.
Does the adaptive cruise control system work in stop-and-go traffic?
[CAR REVIEW] User Reviews of VinFast VF 9: Stylish, Luxurious, Smooth Ride, and Perfect for Families
When it comes to the VinFast VF 9, users see it as a spacious, modern family car that offers a friendly user experience. However, for the driver, there are a few areas that could use some improvement, although the overall driving experience is still emotionally enriching.
Toyota Yaris Cross takes off in Southeast Asia’s second largest car market
Over the past 7 days, more than 5,000 customers from Thailand have placed orders for the Toyota Yaris Cross – a positive sign for this compact SUV model.
VinFast begins accepting pre-orders for the VF 7 car
From 12:00 PM on December 2nd, 2023, until 11:59 PM on December 30th, 2023, VinFast will officially accept reservations for the VF 7 model. Customers can make reservations via the website https://reserve.vinfastauto.com or at any of our showrooms and distributors nationwide. With a deposit of 50 million VND, customers will enjoy a discount of 30 million VND (non-refundable, non-cancelable, deducted directly from the vehicle price), and receive one year of free public charging at charging stations.
Hyundai Accent 2024 makes its official debut, starting at just 310 million VND!
The curtains have been lifted on the Hyundai Accent 2024 (known as Verna in the Indian market). The car boasts a completely redesigned exterior and interior, along with a brand new 1.5L TGDi petrol engine.
New enhancements added to the Toyota Corolla Altis 2023 in Vietnam
Toyota Vietnam has recently launched the enhanced edition of the 2023 Corolla Altis model in the Vietnamese market.
