There’s nothing quite like turning on the cruise control and relaxing to music during a car ride. And while cruise control is useful, the latest premium feature you’ll want in your next vehicle is adaptive cruise control (ACC), and here’s why.
Whether you’re buying a fancy electric vehicle or the latest RAM 1500 Rebel, cars these days are packed with all sorts of exciting technologies. Many of the luxury features from a few years ago are becoming mainstream and available on more models. Here’s what you need to know about adaptive cruise control, how it works, and if it’s worth the upgrade.
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What is adaptive cruise control?
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a popular feature of many vehicles and goes by a variety of names. Brands can advertise it as ACC, dynamic cruise control, intelligent cruise control, radar speed or even automatic cruise control.
These names should tell you everything you need to know. Like regular cruise control, adaptive cruise control (ACC) helps a vehicle maintain a safe speed set by the driver. It’s not just a setting that keeps your car cruising the freeway at 78 mph, though.
Instead, it’s an entire system designed to help vehicles maintain a certain speed and a safe distance from others on the street. This system still adjusts speed automatically so the driver doesn’t have to, but it can also apply the brakes and stay within a set distance of other vehicles.
How adaptive cruise control works
Your vehicle’s ACC type determines some of its features or operation. The system uses on-board computers and sensors, often including radar or lasers, and can automatically monitor other vehicles and objects on the road.
Once you set your preferred speed in the system, the computers take over throttle and brake controls. With many ACC systems, you can even adjust the distance to the vehicle in front. Then the vehicle will automatically slow down and match the speed of the vehicle in front, allowing you to safely “tailor” as shown in our image above. When this car passes, your modern car will automatically accelerate again and reach your desired speed.
You don’t have to slam on the brakes, tap the cruise control to slow down, or do anything when a slower car is in front of you. The system regulates everything.
Many modern vehicles also offer ACC with stop-and-go or brake-hold functions, where all settings can be combined into one. For example, some Ford models can handle stop-and-go traffic, maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front, and follow a car to a stop. If possible, reach the designated speed later or after a traffic light turns green. If you’ve never driven a car with ACC, it’s a game changer.
Some cars even take it a step further with adaptive cruise control, letting owners set a driving mode. For example, you can select ACC with economy mode and it will accelerate slowly to reduce fuel consumption. Or some enable “Sport” mode, in which the vehicle accelerates back to the preferred speed as quickly as possible.
In addition, more advanced ACC systems integrate with the mapping and navigation system, cameras and other autonomous driving functions to slow down on sharp turns, automatically reduce speeds based on posted speed limits, etc.
You can even pair it with lane assist for truly comfortable driving. But remember, you always want to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.
What is the difference between normal and adaptive cruise control?
Modern cruise control was invented in 1948 by American engineer Ralph Teetor. Fun fact, the first car with cruise control was the 1958 Chrysler Imperial, and the automaker marketed the feature as “Autopilot.”
The basic cruise control automatically presses the accelerator pedal or holds it in a certain place, allowing the driver to take their foot off the pedal in certain situations. Over the years, automakers have improved the feature set by leaps and bounds.
For example, my old 2011 Toyota Tacoma has cruise control, but it’s nothing special. I can turn it on, set a speed, and then manually click the control shaft up/down to increase or decrease my speed as needed – but it barely works. As soon as I tap the brake it’s all over and everything goes out. However, there is a resume button that I can just tap to have the system instantly go back to my previously set speed. That’s about the extent of his control.
And while that’s moderately helpful, driving with ACC is a far better experience. Adaptive cruise control is also nothing new. Unfortunately, in 2011, the feature was reserved for more expensive luxury vehicles.
Is adaptive cruise control worth it?
Today, adaptive cruise control is readily available in cars of all price ranges. Whether it’s an expensive new BMW, a big RAM Rebel SUV, a family Honda CR-V, or even cheaper Hyundai and KIA cars.
Until a few years ago, ACC was usually reserved for higher trim levels that cost extra unless you were buying a luxury car. And to a certain extent it still is. Many vehicles come in a basic package that lacks a myriad of features, such as navigation, additional security controls, and ACC. However, these can easily be added with a premium package or higher equipment of the respective vehicle.
So is adaptive cruise control worth it? Absolutely. As we said before, it’s a game changer, especially on longer car journeys. The old-school cruise control was barely worth the hassle it took to turn it on, but modern ACC is 100 percent worth the increased price.
Luckily, as technology advances, almost every new car is essentially a giant computer, and most new cars come with advanced or adaptive cruise control. For example, Toyota now considers adaptive cruise control to be “standard equipment” on all vehicles.
If you’re planning on buying a new or little-used car in the near future, make sure your next drive has adaptive cruise control. you can thank me later
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