Cars With Autopilot And Other Leading Driver-Assistance Systems

Driver-assistance technologies have now become much more common, but the most advanced systems are still limited to certain brands and/or models. One of the pioneering systems is Tesla’s Autopilot, introduced on its cars in 2014. The driver-assistance suite has become so well-known that ‘Autopilot’ is often used as a general term to encompass all self-driving technologies. Depending on how advanced a particular driver-assistance system is, it uses a series of cameras and sensors to control the vehicle’s steering, throttle, or brakes.

While fully autonomous vehicles on public roads are limited to a handful of taxi cabs, you can now buy cars with increasingly advanced driver-assistance systems. Many of these offer hands-free driving, which means the driver can remove their hands from the steering wheel for specified periods of time while the car is in motion. This functionality is especially useful during long, monotonous highway drives, where drivers are more prone to fatigue. Below are ten examples of cars currently for sale that offer hands-free self-driving technology, along with what you can expect to pay for these systems.

1

Tesla Model S: Autopilot And “Full Self-Driving” Capability

Tesla’s midsize sedan, the Model S, comes equipped with Autopilot, but you need to spend another $8,000 to access the brand’s misleadingly named Full Self-Driving Capability suite. This is because no automaker sells a full self-driving car to the public, as all require a certain level of attentiveness from the driver.

Features included with Full-Self Driving Capability on the Model S include Auto Lane Change, Navigate on Autopilot (the car takes control when entering on ramps and exiting off ramps), self-parking, and Summon (the car can move itself into or out of a straight line parking space).

AutoPilot has also recently been updated by Tesla – transitioning from a radar-based system to a system reliant on camera detection. Tesla owners are advised that despite its name alluding to it as such, Autopilot and the Full Self-Driving suite “do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

2

Tesla Model X: Autopilot And Full Self-Driving Capability

Another Tesla model currently on sale and refreshed for the latest model year, the Model X continues to be a fast, luxurious, and technology-loaded SUV option for EV customers.

The Model X can also be optioned with full self-driving capability for an additional $8,000. As with the Model S, this package includes features like Navigate on Autopilot as well as Smart Summon and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control. The latter allows the Model X to recognize all categories of traffic lights (red, yellow, green) and stop signs – responding accordingly to stop or proceed via cameras and GPS data.

3

Ford Mustang Mach-E: BlueCruise

Ford’s crossover EV, the Mustang Mach-E, is one of the few Ford vehicles currently on sale that can be optioned with Ford’s hands-free, self-driving technology: BlueCruise. This feature can be added on trim levels starting from the base Select trim.

BlueCruise operates on designated roads and highways, known as ‘Blue Zones’. When the car enters these specific roads, identified via GPS data, BlueCruise is made available to the driver. By turning on this function, the car takes full control over the steering, keeps centered in the lane, and adjusts the current speed – without requiring the driver’s hands to touch the wheel. Drivers are expected to pay attention to the road ahead and take control at any moment, with driver-facing interior cameras monitoring whether the driver is watching the road.

For certain 2024 models, BlueCruise costs $2,100 for three years. Post-trial subscriptions for 2024 models after the complimentary trial go for $75 per month of $800 per year.

4

Lincoln Nautilus: BlueCruise

Ford’s luxury brand, Lincoln, has also introduced BlueCruise to select models within the current Lincoln lineup.

The Lincoln Nautilus SUV is one such example, which can come equipped with BlueCruise to enable hands-free driving. Similar to other Ford models that are BlueCruise-compatible, the Nautilus brings features such as automatic lane changing, continuous lane centering, and adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving technology.

To unlock access to Blue Cruise, Lincoln offers the technology via a 90-day free trial on the base Premiere I grade, or by upgrading to the Premiere II Package, access through a four-year subscription.

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5

Chevrolet Blazer EV: Super Cruise

Chevrolet’s revived Blazer SUV in fully electric form can be equipped with GM’s self-driving technology, Super Cruise. Super Cruise allows hands-free driving on designated road networks, identified via GM’s OnStar network.

Super Cruise uses a combination of cameras and sensors to keep the car centered in its lane, whilst relying on GPS data provided via OnStar to confirm the current road meets Super Cruise’s criteria to operate. Even on curvy, winding roads, Super Cruise can continue to take control. The system utilizes LiDAR map data that detects curves and navigates accordingly.

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Note that Super Cruise only allows the driver to drive hands-free when driving on compatible roads and when conditions are satisfied. The driver is still expected to pay close attention to the ongoing road conditions, ready to take control in emergencies.

6

Cadillac Escalade: Super Cruise

The luxurious flagship SUV of Cadillac’s lineup, the Escalade is also available with GM’s Super Cruise technology. It can be added on models as low as the Escalade Luxury RWD, equipped with the 6.2L petrol V8 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. The features made available by Super Cruise across other GM products remains the same – including Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Change on Demand, and lane centering via LiDAR map data.

All Super Cruise–equipped vehicles sold new come with 3 years of connectivity to support Super Cruise functionality. After 3 years, a Connected Services plan must be purchased to continue the functionality.

7

Lexus LS 500h: Lexus Teammate

Lexus’s flagship hybrid sedan is equipped with the brand’s Teammate, defined as an SAE Level 2 autonomous-driving system, utilizing a combination of exterior sensors, interior and exterior cameras, long- and short-range radars, and a front-facing telescope to monitor the car’s surroundings.

Teammate also employs four electronic control units onboard to adapt and plan for various driving scenarios. On top of these technologies, high-definition GPS map data (HD-map integration) is also used to pre-determine the car’s path approximately six miles ahead to reach a given destination.

8

BMW i7: Highway Assistant

BMW’s entry into hands-free driving technology takes the form of BMW Highway Assistant, available on the i7 luxury sedan.

BMW’s Highway Assistant operates by utilizing the car’s advanced camera radar and sensor systems onboard, along with map data provided by the iDrive’s GPS navigation system. Highway Assistant can facilitate hands-free driving up to 85 mph on controlled-access highways (with the driver ready to take over driving if needed). In addition, with an eye glance towards either external side door mirror, the car can perform suggested lane changes automatically.

Highway Assistant is available as part of the i7’s optional Driving Assistance Professional Package.

9

Subaru Solterra: Subaru EyeSight

With updates to its powertrain and technology for the 2024 model year, Subaru’s first all-electric car, the Solterra, is available with Eyesight Hands-Free Driving across all trim grades: from the base Premium to the top-line Touring.

Subaru’s Eyesight technology utilizes a pair of color cameras mounted on the top section of the windshield, acting as ‘eyes’ for the car which monitor the road environment in front. The system constantly surveys traffic movement, optimizes the current cruise control settings, and provides a warning if the car is about to stray out of lane markings.

Through Eyesight’s updated features, the Solterra permits hands-free driving at speeds up to 25 mph (including stop-and-go traffic), automatically changes lanes on command, and warns of potential cross-traffic collisions when entering intersections.

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10

Nissan Ariya: ProPilot Assist 2.0

Nissan’s ProPilot system, updated to ProPilot Assist 2.0, is available on its electric crossover, the Ariya.

ProPilot Assist 2.0 functions by using multiple cameras, radar, and sonar technologies to facilitate self-driving on compatible road networks, identified via GPS map data. The system begins operating when entering a highway entrance, allowing the driver to take their hands off the wheel once in a single lane and maintain a set distance and speed from a preceding vehicle. The driver resumes full control of the car once the exit off the highway on the predetermined route is reached.

ProPilot Assist 2.0 is only standard on the Empower+ trim. Ariya models below this grade only receive ProPilot Assist with Navi-link.