Adaptive Cruise Control - 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Long-Term Road Test


The adaptive cruise control on our 2014 Toyota Highlander is conservative and, I think, an example of how to do it well.
Tagged:
0
The adaptive cruise control on our 2014 Toyota Highlander is conservative and, I think, an example of how to do it well.
Comments
Toyota has been using that cruise control stalk for ages; it's largely the same design as that found in my 2001 Camry! As an aside- why has the Highlander seen so few logbook entries? 100 miles in the 11 days since the "glamping" update is not much at all!
I guess I don't understand why the different settings. I understand setting the speed part, but beyond that there should be only one "proper" distance and that should be calculated based on speed and traffic density. You should not be able to set it on something where you are riding the car's behind, nor should you be able to set it to where people can easily cut in which would cause you to slow down more to make more distance which would cause cars to cut in, etc. It should be a "comfortable" distance where moderate braking can be done even if the person in front slams on his brakes, but close enough to where it's not reasonable for you to get cutoff.
That "comfortable" distance varies from person to person. I think it's good to have distance settings for ACC.
@ebeaudoin that's what I love about Toyota, if there's a certain design that works and works great, why change it? Obviously there has to be technology advances and styling changes, but something as simple as the cruise control stalk doesn't need to be changed. I had the same one in my 99 camry and I loved the way it worked and the position it was in.
My experience with ACC is a mixed bag. First of all I always turn it to the most aggressive setting and even then it leaves more distance than I would. My other problem with it is that people behind you probably think you're an idiot because your brake lights are constantly lit up. Really the best place to use it seems to be places where you can't pass (rural roads) or roads in town where the speed limit is 35-45mph.
Part of the reason ACC doesn't work well is because of idiot left lane cruisers. Unless you tailgate them, the majority of drivers in the left lane won't move over. With ACC it leaves enough distance that people think "Well I don't need to get over since they are 5 car lengths behind me. It's sad that a person has to drive dangerous to get people to use the passing lane to pass.
While I think the Toyota Highlander ACC is a good first effort, it's not as good as the Jeep Grand Cherokee(JGC)/Dodge Durango ACC, or the Acura MDX ACC, with the JGC the best of these in my opinion. I look forward to the Toyota Highlander's 2nd revised effort, hopefuly soon!