When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
By now, you’ve probably heard of ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems).
This tech has created a lot of buzz and is somewhat controversial.
Mercedes Level 3 Drive Pilot
you could think of ADAS as cruise control on steroids.
Most new cars have Level 2 systems, but only a few have Level 3.
Level 4 is available on a limited basis (Waymo and Cruise robo-taxis, for example).
Mercedes Level 3 Drive Pilot
There is currently no vehicle with Level 5 autonomous driving.
Ive tried them all, and here are my thoughts.
Today, you might only engage Drive Pilot if a narrow set of conditions are met.
Mercedes Level 3 Drive Pilot button control
But heres what’s really cool.
Once Drive Pilot is active, the lights turn turquoise, and youre being driven.
While Drive Pilot is active, you could relax and let the car drive you.
Mercedes Level 3 Drive Pilot heads-up display
At that point, youll hear a chime, and the lights will turn red.
Plus, Mercedes assuming liability is the icing on the cake.
In addition, GMs Super Cruise offers vehicle-initiated automatic lane changes, something that Mercedes and Tesla also support.
Ford F-150 Lightning
With this tech, the car will automatically switch lanes to pass other vehicles or to take an exit.
Fords BlueCruise is available on the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning EVs, and on several combustion vehicles.
It costs $2100 for three years, $800 per year, or $75 per month.
Tesla Model 3
GMs Super Cruise is an option for all of its EVs and a bunch of combustion vehicles.
Pricing varies between $2000 and $2500 per car and includes a free, three-year subscription.
The cost is $25 per month after that.
Its a hands-on, eyes-on Level 2+ system on steroids.
And while its very impressive, it always requires the drivers full attention.
With that caveat out of the way, FSD goes way beyond automatic steering plus acceleration and braking.
You simply input your destination in the cars navigation system, and FSD basically drives you there.
But its also quite sensitive to inclement weather and direct sunlight.
Its still in beta, though, which is obviously controversial.
That being said, while FSD isnt autonomous driving, it generally works pretty well.
When it fails, however, it often does so spectacularly.
As such, FSD requires the driver to be extremely attentive.
It also includes Autopilot, Autopark, and Summon which are Teslas more basic Level 2 features.
My takeaway
Level 2+ and Level 3 ADAS are here today, and here to stay.
Theres no doubt the tech is impressive, but obviously, the benefits vary widely between systems.
Just remember to use common sense and pay attention, ok?
