reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology

#Reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology drivers#
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#Reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology driver#
#Reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology plus#

We will fully test BlueCruise when the system becomes available through an over-the-air update on our 2021 Mustang Mach-E test car.īlueCruise hands-free driving is available only on “prequalified” (Ford’s term for GPS mapped or premapped) sections of divided highways called “Hands-Free Blue Zones.” Those zones cover about 130,000 miles of North American roads, according to the automaker.

#Reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology driver#

We’re happy with Ford’s decision to utilize a driver monitoring camera to ensure that the driver is paying attention to their surroundings any time the system is active, whether on highways or secondary roads. We found BlueCruise enjoyable to use because it provides steering assistance on straight, boring sections of highway, or when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, which can make driving less stressful and more relaxing. After that, all the driver has to do is stay attentive, ready to take over the steering on certain curvy sections of highways and manage the little stuff, such as steering to avoid potholes and manually adjusting the ACC’s speed, if they wish. The system is easy to activate because it takes only a single press of the cruise control button on the steering wheel to simultaneously engage the ACC and LCA. To further help their customers understand the nuances of BlueCruise, Ford says it is developing how-to videos on the system.īlueCruise worked well during our preliminary evaluations on a Mustang Mach-E rented from Ford.

But they also acknowledge that they’ve been listening to feedback from customers and “are looking at a future enhancement” to the system, although they wouldn’t elaborate on the details.

#Reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology drivers#

“The reality is this is a unique, collaborative approach that balances making driving easier while keeping drivers engaged during the boring parts of driving.”ĭuring an interview with representatives from Ford, we were told that they “choose very carefully what to show drivers” in terms of messaging on the instrument cluster. “If consumers expect that BlueCruise will do the driving for them, they are going to be disappointed,” says Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of auto testing. Plus, Ford’s marketing of the system as a “hands-off highway driving experience” is sure to leave some customers confused about the system’s capabilities when they get alerts to put their hands back on the wheel for reasons that aren’t always clear. We found that it doesn’t communicate enough information to the driver about when and why they are being told to suddenly put their hands back on the wheel when the system is in its “hands-free” mode. This allows the driver to work with the system, rather than seemingly passing the control back and forth between automation and the driver.Īlthough BlueCruise has taken notable steps in the right direction for active driver assistance systems, Ford has made some missteps, too. After the maneuver is completed, the system will recenter the car in the lane automatically. If the driver wants to steer around a pothole, pedestrian, or cyclist, for example, the system doesn’t immediately shut off or go into a standby mode, as with Autopilot and Super Cruise. Most current active driver assistance systems, including Tesla’s Autopilot, do not use effective direct driver monitoring, and instead require occasional hand pressure on the steering wheel as a means to make sure the driver is paying attention.īlueCruise has a big advantage over Super Cruise and Autopilot: It allows for driver collaboration.

#Reviews ford bluecruise handsfree technology plus#

It stands out for its driver monitoring and appropriate warnings when driver attention appears to have wandered, plus it effectively encourages collaborative driving.īlueCruise is similar to General Motors’ Super Cruise-currently the top-rated active driver assistance system in Consumer Reports’ tests-in that it uses a direct driver monitoring system, via an infrared camera mounted on top of the steering column, to make sure the driver is looking at the road.ĬR feels it is imperative that active driver assistance systems-which combine lane centering assist (LCA) and adaptive cruise control (ACC)-use direct driver monitoring to make sure the driver is looking at the road to help keep their car and other vehicles around it safe. The system can allow for hands-free driving on sections of premapped divided highways, automating the vehicle’s steering, acceleration, and braking for the driver. We just evaluated the new Ford BlueCruise active driver assistance system on a 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle and came away with mostly positive feelings.