Adaptive Cruise

OK. I'll take a shot at your inquiry -- and not just because I posted the pic, but I don't know how many others have had a chance to play with the ACC feature. I had a 360 mile two-day round trip the past two days, so I've been able to try a couple of the ATP features.

The factory setting defaults to the "farthest away" distance setting, so when you press the ACC button (on the steering wheel) and then engage the cruise control, you are set to go with the longer following distance. You may change the distance among three pre-sets. Truly, the whole process is quite easy. I never really bothered with turning the ACC on or off or setting distances. It was set to go on, and when I turned on the cruise control (per "normal"), it came on and showed (on the MID) the "farthest away" setting had been activated.

If you wish to adjust your speed, you may push the stalk up or down, depending on whether you want to increase or decrease your set cruising speed. I don't recall the incriments, but I believe it is either one or two MPH per "push" of the stalk.

If you are asking about speed adjustment due to vehicles in front of you, it is all automatic. If you have set your preferred speed in the cruise control (and the ACC is activated), then the Prius will slow down so as not to get closer than the selected trailing distance (from among the three allowed). If the vehicle changes lanes, exits or speeds up, the Prius will increase speed to the point of attaining the following distance behind another vehicle or reaching your prior-selected cruising speed.

If works VERY well. It is very easy to use, and I found it very helpful. In fact, it responds very quickly but not in a "panicky" way. I was cruising at the farthest distance behind a truck when a car suddenly cut it between us. The ACC immediately backed off of the accelerator (without applying brakes) and reset the appropriate distance. When the jerk again quickly changed lanes, the ACC accelerator up to the appropriate speed, with distance separation.

I hope this helps!

 

Is there a "truck drafting" mode?

 

The funny thing is that I wondered just how close the "closest" mode would be. I didn't adjust it, because I was comfortable at the farther distance. I think I'll try later on, but I don't know how comfortable I'd be with the cruise control on at a close distance.

 

But will it apply brakes at all if necessary?

I mean, if releasing the accelerator is not enough to maintain distance, will the ACC apply brakes to the car?

TIA

 

And, if so, how low will it go? if the car in front is breaking to full stop, will the prius also stop? I guess the answer is no, but just asking...

 

Well it does have collision avoidance too, but I don't think I want to test it!

 

You can always choose the safest route which is read the user's manual and let us know what's written there...

 

Boy, this crowd really has high expectations! Here's all the basic info from the manual:

1. It is turned on, set, resumed, etc. just like every other Toyota cruise control, using the same basic cruise control stalk. It defaults to using the adaptive speed control, but you can force it to use constant speed control by pressing the stalk away from you for 1 second. Once you set in either mode, you have to turn cruise off and on to change back to either set speed or variable speed. The only other difference is that you have an extra button on the steering wheel that you can press to cycle through the following vehicle to vehicle distances: long=160ft(50m); medium=130ft(40m); short=100ft(30m). It defaults back to long every time the car is turned off. Looks like the display will show 1, 2 or 3 bars between vehicles to indicate what mode you are in.

2. As expected, it will decelerate if it detects a slower car. If a greater reduction is needed, it will apply the brakes. A warning tone sounds "when the system cannot decelerate sufficiently to keep your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle ahead". A later paragraph, describing "Approach Warning" says "the display will flash and a buzzer will sound". There are several possible display warnings and corrections: Clean Radar Sensor; Cruise Control Not Available (try turning your wipers off or to slow or intermittent); BRAKE! (indicates high risk of collision or that collision avoidance is working); a diamond with ! in the middle (high risk of collision); and a flashing Cruise symbol (2 cars with bars between them - indicates vehicles are approaching each other and you should slow down).

3. Adaptive cruise shuts down if (i) speed below 25 mph (40km/h), (ii) VSC comes on, (iii) wipers operating at high speed, or (iv) sensor not working. Constant speed cruise shuts down if speed drops below 25 mph (40km/h) or by more than 10 mph (1km/h) below preset speed, or if VSC comes on.

There are the usual warnings that it may or may not work, should not be used in heavy traffic or bad weather, and you better pay attention, etc., etc. :doh::doh::doh:

 

Feedback on this topic is great! Keep up the good work. I have not heard much about how gas mileage is affected when driving with adaptive cruise control on. I would guess you still put the car in ECO mode. Has any buddy been daring enough to put the adaptive cruise control in short mode and draft a truck. With distance being 100 ft, I would think that you would pick up MPG by doing so. Not that I would do this kind of thing….all the time.

 

yes and yes

 

>Clean Radar Sensor; Cruise Control Not Available (try turning on your wipers)

Does this mean that the radar sensor is somewhere behind the windshield, perhaps in the 'nacelle' with the cluster of controls at the front edge of the cabin roof?

 

My bad, not enough coffee this morning. The actual corrective action is to turn wipers off or down to the slow or intermittent speed. System won't operate with wipers on high speed. I've corrected the original post.

It's my understanding the radar is located directly behind the Toyota emblem, so that would be what you would clean. The LKA camera is behind the rear view mirror, looking out through the windshield, but I don't think that affects the cruise control.

 

Whoa! I'm pleased to say that you went way past my expectactions, THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH for such a premium detailed explanation! :first:

 

Tried again today on a heavy traffic freeway. Worked just fine. Sped up or slowed down, depending on what was in front of me. When you turn it on, the MID shows outline of the rear of a car, with 1, 2, or 3 bars on top, depending on what following distance you choose (the bars represent the road). If a car is within the 120 foot range of the radar, another car outline appears on top of the bars. If the car moves to another lane, the car on top disappears.