CNN —
Tesla’s Autopilot, which at its core combines lane keeping assist with traffic aware cruise control to help guide a car down a highway, was once groundbreaking technology.
But today more than half of new vehicles are available with similar advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS. And in a recent ranking by Consumer Reports, which tested ADAS from 12 different carmakers, Tesla’s ranked seventh.
The best such system, according to Consumer Reports, is Ford’s BlueCruise.
In addition to Ford’s system, ADAS technology from General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, and Volkswagen all ranked higher than Tesla’s.
These include systems offered by luxury brands like GM’s Cadillac, Toyota’s Lexus and VW’s Audi. The system offered by Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, three closely related South Korean car brands, received the lowest score in Consumer Reports’ testing.
BlueCruise has two major differences from Tesla Autopilot, and most of the others. First, the Ford system is designed to allow drivers to leave their hands off the steering wheel for long periods of time while driving on highways that have been pre-mapped in detail. Second, BlueCruise uses an infrared camera inside the car to monitor the driver’s face and make sure they are paying attention to the road ahead. GM’s Super Cruise, which ranked second, is the only other system tested by Consumer Reports that works this way.
Ford’s driver monitoring technology is one of the major reasons that BlueCruise ranked so highly in Consumer Reports’ testing. Tesla Autopilot and most others, by contrast, can detect only the pull of a driver’s hand on the steering wheel to ensure that the driver isn’t entirely distracted.
Vehicles with ADAS are not self-driving cars. (No self-driving cars are yet on the market.) Drivers are supposed to pay attention at all times and be ready to take over the wheel in the event something happens that the car’s automated systems can’t safely handle.
Some systems that used only the weight of a hand on the steering wheel to indicate driver attentiveness still allowed drivers to not touch the steering wheel for a worryingly long time, according to Consumer Reports.
“In our tests, both Mercedes-Benz and Tesla allowed the vehicle to drive down the highway hands-free for about 30 seconds before the first audible alert was given to the driver to put a hand back on the steering wheel,” Kelly Funkhouser, head of connected and automated vehicle for Consumer Reports, was quoted as saying in an report on the results.
Consumer Reports auto testers put the various systems through 40 different tests to gauge things like how well the systems steered the vehicles, how they ensured the driver remained alert and how they dealt with inattentive or even an unconscious driver. More advanced features, such as automated lane changes, which are available in some systems, were not evaluated.
Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” optional feature, which promises to one day provide assistance in a broad range of situations including urban driving, was not evaluated in these tests. Attempts to email Tesla with questions about Consumer Reports’ assessments were unsuccessful. Tesla does not generally respond to media queries.
The ways in which different technologies communicate with drivers were also tested. When using these sorts of technologies, drivers need to be instantly aware of whether the systems are operating, when they might be only partially operational and when they shut off for any reason. The systems also have to communicate to the driver when they are available for use and when they’re not.
GM’s Super Cruise system, for instance, uses a bright colored light bar in the top of the steering wheel rim to alert the driver to the system’s status or to warn when the driver needs to take over. In Ford vehicles, the gauge cluster screen changes color to indicate the system’s status.
Some of the systems, like Ford’s, GM’s and Rivian’s, are only fully operational when the vehicle is being driven on specific designated highways, usually divided interstate-type highways. Other systems have no such restrictions and, while they might be intended for highway use, nothing prevents them from being used on undivided roads with intersections. Tesla and Lexus systems were specifically pointed out by Consumer Reports for allowing their use in potentially unsafe situations.
In terms of just steering the vehicles down the center of a lane, systems from Ford, Mercedes and Tesla all did a good job of steering smoothly and keeping the vehicle continuously in the lane center even on curvy roads.
The Hyundai, Kia and Genesis system tended to make the vehicle swerve back and forth between the lane lines, according to Consumer Reports. Kia’s system, in particular, was unable to stay in a lane through curves, according to Consumer Reports. Kia and Genesis did not immediately respond to requests from CNN Business for comments on Consumer Reports’ assessments.
“We are constantly evaluating the performance of our models utilizing internal data, input from third parties like Consumer Reports, direct reports from owners, and a variety of other sources with the goal of continually improving our vehicles and technologies,” Hyundai Motor America said in a statement.
For the most part, vehicle owner’s manuals were of little use in learning how to use the systems, Consumer Reports said. The consumer advocacy group found the manuals to be “vague” and, in its report, wrote that they “seem more more like tools used to reduce manufacturer liability rather than to help drivers fully understand, and use, these high-tech systems.”
Consumer Reports calls Ford’s automated driving tech much better than Tesla’s
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer