Anyone else feel like ACC is too aggressive?

[NeighborGeek]

This is my first vehicle with ACC, so maybe they are all this way, but I feel like it both accelerates and brakes harder than I'd like at times due to not looking far enough ahead. It often maintains speed until it gets fairly close to a slowed or stopped car, then hits the brakes hard enough to make passengers feel an uncomfortable jolt. I'd rather it start letting off the accelerator earlier and slow down gradually as it approaches the lead car.
Then there are the times that the car in front of me finally makes it's left turn, so the truck quickly tries to get back up to the speed limit. As a human driver looking ahead I can see that we've got less than a block before we have to stop behind another vehicle at the traffic light, so I wouldn't hit the pedal so hard trying to get up to speed. The ACC just sees that the road in front of the truck is clear though and accellerates quickly then hits the brakes hard as the truck approaches the next stopped car in front of it.

I know the ACC is strictly radar based, so it can't analyze the road ahead visually, but I wish it were paying attention to obstacles a little further out than it does. I've got the follow distance set to the max setting, but it still waits too long to react and then does so too quickly. It almost feels like I've got a teenager on a learner's permit driving...

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[K6CCC]

I completely agree that it does not look far enough ahead. For all practical purposes I never use Cruise Control (Adaptive or not) except on open road. Your eyes can see farther ahead and plan for changing road conditions far better. Keep your eyes on the road be ready take over at any time.

My other issue is that it's following distance is too close. There is a setting for how far to follow behind traffic. Even on the longest setting, it is just a hair over two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Most states require two seconds, and your driver safety instructor will teach you that the two seconds should be considered a minimum - three to four is far better.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

It’s not too bad. It’s certainly better than BMW’s implementation.

 

[Timeless Epoch]

Yes, it's a very rudimentary implementation that leaves a lot to be desired.

Its seems to process its surroundings with a serious lag. Car in front of you is slowing down? It doesn't seem to do anything until it decides to panic stop. Car in front of you speeds up (or takes off from a stop), the truck just sits there and then ever so slowly builds up speed.

No improvement whatsoever from my 2017 F150, except lane keeping, which has its own issues.

I'm still in my initial Blue Cruise period, so I use that on the highways and mostly assume full control otherwise. ACC seems to create as much work as it saves, in my opinion.

 

[Heliian]

Lol, i find it not aggressive enough at times. However, if you look in the owners manual you'll see this:

 

[I <3 My Lightning]

OP, Yes and No. Compared to my last ride, a Yukon Denali that had ACC, I first thought that was aggressive when at faster highway speeds, when slowing down and when trying to get back up to speed, greater than 70 mph. At 45 to 60mph I thought it did better but then when I got the Lightning I was like *$@#!... Then realizing an ice engine that also had to deal with a transmission is going to have a bit of lag and take more time than the lightning beast and instant torque.

I don't have bluecruise but do have copilot 2.0... I dont find it aggressively slowing down, but I also drive in sport mode at all times.... But now I don't find the lightning being so aggressive because I will proactively get out of the lane as I watch up a head where others are locked into a slower speed or if traffic is fast and heavy, I'm doing the driving and not using ACC.

 

[GoodSam]

ACC works pretty good for me at one or two bars, except for being occasionally being fooled by shadowed? areas on the road. Wish it could not lose track at some freeway exits or other discontinuities of road markings.

 

[Adventureboy]

After 4 years, I can say it has no "thinking" involved. If the lane clears ahead as far (or as little) as it can see, it will accelerate fairly aggressively to get to speed, even though we can see the stopped traffic in the lane beside us and in the lane ahead beyond the radar's vision, likewise on braking.

Hoping the next generation will be better. Combining radar accuracy with visual reference will improve ACC dramatically and actually let it "see" the traffic conditions.

 

[Calvin H-C]

I find that ACC works really well in heavy stop-and-go traffic, taking away some of the strain on the foot.

At regular driving speeds, I do find the lag in braking as you close in on traffic ahead followed by a fairly heavy brake application is concerning at best, a bit frightening at worst. Though, I suspect this may be to maximize regenerative braking. That may not be true, it's just a thought.

It's not like it waits to brake only when it "sees" the vehicle ahead, since the display shows a car ahead when it "sees" something but still waits for closer spacing before starting to brake.

 

[JMD359]

I agree it is too slow, especially when Elaine opens up in front of you or someone change his lanes. It responds too slowly to aggressively once it does.. it also accelerates way harder than necessary once it finally starts to move, which was usually three or four seconds too late. I am a mechanic and a CDL. A holder , I drive Town plow trucks and lots of heavy equipment.. when you’re driving a big rig you need to be looking way ahead. I am accustomed to this and I do it in everything I drive. For this reason along, I can’t even use Ford system. It is so reactive. Honestly, I feel this system promotes car crashes because they will be all kinds of people in front of you slowing down and you’ll see all the brake lights on and if you’re looking your head like you’re supposed to be that your clue to lift off the throttle and prepare to break, but the truck just keeps
Barreling forward , it doesn’t even apply the brakes until it’s too late. It’s already too close and while it’s not gonna hit the car in front of it, it’s gonna force it to do almost an emergency breaking situation and this happens every single time you get a bottle back in front of you. It’s no good for your vehicle. It’s no good for your mental being and if the roads are white, it’s scary.. I think they should get rid of the system until they can make it better. It’s just too slow to react and It cannot see far enough ahead.

 

[jpatt2020]

This is my first vehicle with ACC, so maybe they are all this way, but I feel like it both accelerates and brakes harder than I'd like at times due to not looking far enough ahead. It often maintains speed until it gets fairly close to a slowed or stopped car, then hits the brakes hard enough to make passengers feel an uncomfortable jolt. I'd rather it start letting off the accelerator earlier and slow down gradually as it approaches the lead car.
Then there are the times that the car in front of me finally makes it's left turn, so the truck quickly tries to get back up to the speed limit. As a human driver looking ahead I can see that we've got less than a block before we have to stop behind another vehicle at the traffic light, so I wouldn't hit the pedal so hard trying to get up to speed. The ACC just sees that the road in front of the truck is clear though and accellerates quickly then hits the brakes hard as the truck approaches the next stopped car in front of it.

I know the ACC is strictly radar based, so it can't analyze the road ahead visually, but I wish it were paying attention to obstacles a little further out than it does. I've got the follow distance set to the max setting, but it still waits too long to react and then does so too quickly. It almost feels like I've got a teenager on a learner's permit driving...

Have you driven other cars with ACC? Toyota about throws you through the windshield, and then redlines the engine to catchup. Ford has the best implementation of all self driving features in my option. I rent cars regularly for business travel, so I sample other manufucturers frequently. Hyundai and Kia are runners up, then Subaru, then GM. Honda, Toyota are the worst. I rarely get german cars since most rental companys don't carry them due to the low quality/high repair rate (I'm assuming).

 

[gheron75]

Unfortunately, I agree. I owned a Hyundai Ioniq 5 before my Lightning, and the Ioniq 5’s ACC was smooth as butter, both in stop and go as well as higher speeds. So the way the Lightning handles it was (and is) really disappointing.

That said, the Lightning does so much more in other ways, and I love it! If I could go back in time, I’d make the switch all over again!

 

[jefrank]

I completely agree that it does not look far enough ahead. For all practical purposes I never use Cruise Control (Adaptive or not) except on open road. Your eyes can see farther ahead and plan for changing road conditions far better. Keep your eyes on the road be ready take over at any time.

My other issue is that it's following distance is too close. There is a setting for how far to follow behind traffic. Even on the longest setting, it is just a hair over two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Most states require two seconds, and your driver safety instructor will teach you that the two seconds should be considered a minimum - three to four is far better.

In Michigan, cars will definitely slip in front of you if you're at max following distance, adding to the hard braking issue.

 

[Zprime29]

My Subaru's ACC was pretty good, I'd say the Lightning is very similar in feel. My wife's XC90 also does ok. I've learned to identify situations where I know the ACC will struggle and I cancel it before it has a chance to do something I don't like.

 

[frost22]

I found turning off One Pedal Driving is better for ACC on highways. Also if you turn it off, you'll just coast and not OPD brake. It will be less janky, but if a car merges into your lane, it will still do that harder than needed braking. I usually notice a car merging and put pressure on the accelerator slightly to negate the jerk

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