This is a first impression assessment of some of the gadgets. It is possible that my evaluation could change after additional usage, and I would be interested in feedback from others.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Low Speed Follow (LSF) overall rating of 6
This is a great feature for long highway driving with moderate traffic. There are four distance bars, one bar (minimum) to four bars (maximum). It keeps the speed relatively smooth in relation to the car ahead when set at four bars. At one bar it is somewhat jerky when the speed of car ahead is not steady.
Even at one bar the distance to the car ahead is reasonably big and open to another vehicle merging into your lane. The ACC does not like this and will brake to regain its safe distance. Not passenger friendly!
In regular city traffic it is more of a novelty and a one bar setting would be the normal. Other vehicles will be constantly cutting into the maintained gap causing the system to brake. It works reasonably well with light traffic using a one bar setting, and it will bring the car to a compete safe stop and resume when traffic resumes.
Warning #1: if car ahead moves out of the lane, ACC takes a while to acquire the next vehicle ahead and will accelerate even if there are stopped cars ahead. Presumable it will apply serious braking but I have not waited to find out.
Warning #2: if ACC is enabled, you are not following a car, and approach stopped traffic, it does not appear to react at a reasonable point, certainly not as soon as I would expect.
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) overall rating of 10
Seems to work well.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) overall rating of 9
Seems too work quite well. It would be nice if this worked at speeds lower than 45 mph.
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Have not tested it would be dangerous to do so.
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) overall rating of 9
Very effective in helping to keep the car centered in the lane, and keeping the driver alert. It requires steering input about every 30 seconds and if not received it will turn off the system, i.e., stop keeping you in the lane. It would be better to sound an alarm or start braking before some of the other safety feature have to be used.
Blind Spot Information (BSI) overall rating of 8
The User Manual suggests that the indicator will come on when a vehicle is between 10' to the rear of the car to beside the car. It seems like an approaching vehicle on the left is closer than the 10' distance, and maybe somewhat greater on the right. However, it works well in conjunction with properly adjusted door mirrors and some reasonable driving skills. No need to turn your head to check the blind spot.
Changing lanes when the light is not on but the vehicle in the associated lane is just inches away from triggering the indicator is not a safe lane change, even if that vehicle is traveling at the same speed that you are. The Mercedes Benz system works a little differently. Changing lanes when the indicator symbol is amber is not safe (assuming that the other vehicle is not accelerating), very dangerous when amber, and the other vehicle will be hit it is red. No experience with any other make of car.
Navigation (FCW) overall rating of 7
My biggest gripe is the inability to voice enter a street name and the need to spell it out letter by letter. Once a destination has been set it works well. There are some weaknesses or missing features found in my 6-year old $100 Garmin:
- only one voice selection, the same one as my '06 3G TL
- it does not report red light cameras or fixed location photo radar
- it does not have an option to report the speed limit being exceeded (or over a set margin)
Song tagging (requires iPhone) rating 0
This feature is not available in Canada. At least one other non-luxury North American car that I known of that is sold in Canada can do this.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Low Speed Follow (LSF) overall rating of 6
This is a great feature for long highway driving with moderate traffic. There are four distance bars, one bar (minimum) to four bars (maximum). It keeps the speed relatively smooth in relation to the car ahead when set at four bars. At one bar it is somewhat jerky when the speed of car ahead is not steady.
Even at one bar the distance to the car ahead is reasonably big and open to another vehicle merging into your lane. The ACC does not like this and will brake to regain its safe distance. Not passenger friendly!
In regular city traffic it is more of a novelty and a one bar setting would be the normal. Other vehicles will be constantly cutting into the maintained gap causing the system to brake. It works reasonably well with light traffic using a one bar setting, and it will bring the car to a compete safe stop and resume when traffic resumes.
Warning #1: if car ahead moves out of the lane, ACC takes a while to acquire the next vehicle ahead and will accelerate even if there are stopped cars ahead. Presumable it will apply serious braking but I have not waited to find out.
Warning #2: if ACC is enabled, you are not following a car, and approach stopped traffic, it does not appear to react at a reasonable point, certainly not as soon as I would expect.
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) overall rating of 10
Seems to work well.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) overall rating of 9
Seems too work quite well. It would be nice if this worked at speeds lower than 45 mph.
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Have not tested it would be dangerous to do so.
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) overall rating of 9
Very effective in helping to keep the car centered in the lane, and keeping the driver alert. It requires steering input about every 30 seconds and if not received it will turn off the system, i.e., stop keeping you in the lane. It would be better to sound an alarm or start braking before some of the other safety feature have to be used.
Blind Spot Information (BSI) overall rating of 8
The User Manual suggests that the indicator will come on when a vehicle is between 10' to the rear of the car to beside the car. It seems like an approaching vehicle on the left is closer than the 10' distance, and maybe somewhat greater on the right. However, it works well in conjunction with properly adjusted door mirrors and some reasonable driving skills. No need to turn your head to check the blind spot.
Changing lanes when the light is not on but the vehicle in the associated lane is just inches away from triggering the indicator is not a safe lane change, even if that vehicle is traveling at the same speed that you are. The Mercedes Benz system works a little differently. Changing lanes when the indicator symbol is amber is not safe (assuming that the other vehicle is not accelerating), very dangerous when amber, and the other vehicle will be hit it is red. No experience with any other make of car.
Navigation (FCW) overall rating of 7
My biggest gripe is the inability to voice enter a street name and the need to spell it out letter by letter. Once a destination has been set it works well. There are some weaknesses or missing features found in my 6-year old $100 Garmin:
- only one voice selection, the same one as my '06 3G TL
- it does not report red light cameras or fixed location photo radar
- it does not have an option to report the speed limit being exceeded (or over a set margin)
Song tagging (requires iPhone) rating 0
This feature is not available in Canada. At least one other non-luxury North American car that I known of that is sold in Canada can do this.