Pilot Assist; Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

Dyno · Dec 3, 2021

Just returned from a 2500-mile vacation trip in our V90 T6. It was a very nice driving experience. Who would have thought a little 4-banger could motivate a loaded-to-the-gills full-size wagon so smartly?

In my opinion, Adaptive Cruise Control is the greatest automotive innovation since power windows. It takes so much stress out of long drives. I'm not so sure about Pilot Assist, though. I went back and forth with it. Sometimes I thought it was great, other times I found it annoying. It was reassuring to have it on when I was feeling a bit fatigued, but I found that I could carve a much smoother line around a curve with it off. It sometimes felt a bit wiggly, as if it were searching left and right for the proper position between the lane stripes.

I curious what other users have found. Do you like it, or is it just an ineffective half-step toward autonomous driving?

kartboy1234 · Dec 3, 2021

It's a great driver's assistance aid, I keep my hands on the wheel and drive and it's just there giving me some nudging. For long drives I find it great. Is it as good as other cars, don't think so. Is it better than the driver's assistance aids in my 2002 V70XC, yea, because it actually has some.

I wouldn't bet my life on it though.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

Dave E · Dec 3, 2021

I've used it. I can see it may be useful at times. For the local driving I normally do, it doesn't offer me much value. Off topic but related, the lane keeping assist function I find I have to turn off in the winter or it follows the tracks, not necessarily the lane when there is snow on the road, or it tries to push you in directions you may not want to go in. If unaware, you can get caught out. They are all aids, and shouldn't be relied on completely.

AeroDan · Dec 3, 2021

Pilot assist is useful if I want to look around a bit at the scenery or need to clean my glasses or fiddle with the GPS. It has limitations and needs to be monitored obviously. On a long straight desert interstate it is extremely useful. It has a tendancy to want to exit the highway at offramps. The ACC is brilliant and used more often than in conjunction with Pilot Assist. I deducted that activating ACC in a foggy situation may detect a car ahead before I am able to see it while proceeding at a prudent speed.

AudiA4 · Dec 3, 2021

Dyno said:
Just returned from a 2500-mile vacation trip in our V90 T6. It was a very nice driving experience. Who would have thought a little 4-banger could motivate a loaded-to-the-gills full-size wagon so smartly?

In my opinion, Adaptive Cruise Control is the greatest automotive innovation since power windows. It takes so much stress out of long drives. I'm not so sure about Pilot Assist, though. I went back and forth with it. Sometimes I thought it was great, other times I found it annoying. It was reassuring to have it on when I was feeling a bit fatigued, but I found that I could carve a much smoother line around a curve with it off. It sometimes felt a bit wiggly, as if it were searching left and right for the proper position between the lane stripes.

I curious what other users have found. Do you like it, or is it just an ineffective half-step toward autonomous driving?

Pilot Assist is fantastic, if you like getting nauseated by a system that navigates even the slightest of curves with the driving prowess of a pubescent teen with a learner’s permit.

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2018V90CC · Dec 3, 2021

I like it for long drives when fatigued or when trying to eat while driving. That said, it isn't perfect and you still always need to aware and ready. I would never use in snow or slick roads as I want to be in control then.

The ACC is good and I like how when you are gaining on vehicle and put on signal to pass it anticipates that you will be moving left and doesn't slow down the way it otherwise might. My Palisade loves to still slow you down while actively moving into the left lane to pass which annoys me. That said, I do find that the Palisade Pilot Assist equivalent works better and doesn't bounce side to side as much.

SeabeckS · Dec 3, 2021

I was a bit skeptical, but have used it a few times on freeway travel. One thing I don’t care for is that in my opinion, it tends to position the car much to closely to the left side of a lane. As a motorcycle and truck driver, I strongly prefer picking orientation within the travel lane. Without a driver adjustment for lane position, I remain uncomfortable with the feature.

Then on a recent trip to Denver from Seattle, traveling through Wyoming on some long boring stretches of Interstate, I had an interesting experience. With ACC maintaining a good cruise speed, the Pilot Assist suddenly took an off ramp at 80 mph. On a straight piece of road, no vertical or horizontal curves. Just BOOM, traveling up the off ramp. F#(k that!

I’ll never trust it again. ACC, scores 10. PA, scores -2.

kartboy1234 · Dec 3, 2021

SeabeckS said:
I was a bit skeptical, but have used it a few times on freeway travel. One thing I don’t care for is that in my opinion, it tends to position the car much to closely to the left side of a lane. As a motorcycle and truck driver, I strongly prefer picking orientation within the travel lane. Without a driver adjustment for lane position, I remain uncomfortable with the feature.

Then on a recent trip to Denver from Seattle, traveling through Wyoming on some long boring stretches of Interstate, I had an interesting experience. With ACC maintaining a good cruise speed, the Pilot Assist suddenly took an off ramp at 80 mph. On a straight piece of road, no vertical or horizontal curves. Just BOOM, traveling up the off ramp. F#(k that!

I’ll never trust it again. ACC, scores 10. PA, scores -2.

I had mine recalibrated and now it aligns with the center of the lane.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

AudiA4 · Dec 3, 2021

kartboy1234 said:
I had mine recalibrated and now it aligns with the center of the lane.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

What do you mean by “recalibrated”? A software update?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CedarMtn · Dec 3, 2021

Thumbs up for me - along the highway routes I travel, it rarely loses track and I find that the ability to take what I call "micro-breaks" while driving (i.e. just slightly relaxing focus for moments at a time) makes a huge difference for long drives.

The only thing I don't like is when it is stop and go traffic. I find that it brakes late and hard, and then takes too long to get going again. So I feel too much like a backseat driver when I've tried it in heavy stop and go - so usually switch off. This is most pronounced when following another car. If it's a transport truck in front, it seems to work more smoothly (maybe the bigger target helps).

Note: I found that if Lane Keep assist was on, the Pilot Assist function tended to hunt more to stay centered in the lane - especially around curves. So I keep the Lane Keep Assist function disabled. The Pilot Assist and Lane Keep seem to fight each other when they're both on together.

pocholin · Dec 3, 2021

It is a good thing but it needs your supervision. As you mentioned, it is not the smoothest in curves...but it is of great help on long straight stretches of straight road with little curves. It isn't perfect either, it sometimes slows down at the wrong time if in the middle lane with cars around it. It is the BEST (along with adaptive cruise control) invention for heavy toe-to-toe traffic, I couldn't live with out it anymore, the stress level in heavy traffic is greatly reduced! So, it is still a thumbs up.

VLD1 · Dec 3, 2021

I rarely use ACC, usually switching to regular cruise control, because people in New England apparently have no concept of steady speeds. The few times I have used it on the interstate I noted that after several minutes behind traffic, I had slowed down to below speed limit speeds because the person in front had done that (and there were lanes available to pass). I do use it on 2-lane roads where there is limited availability to pass someone. Unfortunately opting for regular CC means you lose Pilot Assist, which I find works rather well.

Pioneer4x4 · Dec 3, 2021

I am a HUGE fan of the Pilot Assist. I find the Lane Keeping Aid annoying as hell, only turn it on when I feel I may actually need some assist...
I think a lot of people confuse/combine the 2, so play with both separately. I also have a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit (basically a 3-row new 2022 Grand Cherokee) with all the toys. It also has a similar system. The Volvo is noticeably better at keeping lanes in a stable way, about the same in force it will apply in a tight turn. The Jeep wins in what you need to do, you only need to "touch" the wheel, not apply force. It has capacitance sensor in the wheel. The Jeep gets more confused with Jersy Barrier on the left, and will try to hug too close, like it thinks the barrier is the line.
The Volvo is the easiest to turn on and off, on the fly without disabling cruise at all, very nice.
Also, I agree, adaptive cruise is like a mellow pill. I have much less stress with all of the chuckleheads that can't maintain a speed on the interstate. I use both Adaptive Cruise and Pilot Assist probably more than anyone, anywhere. I love it.

jstro · Dec 3, 2021

I turned off lane keeping assist as I found it to me more aggravating than useful, if I do a long road trip in the future I might try it again. ACC is great though & I used it even on short freeway trip

Dyno · Dec 3, 2021

Thanks for the replies, but I'm a little confused by some of them.

What is the difference between Pilot Assist with Lane Keeping on vs. off? I thought Pilot Assist was the feature that keeps you in your lane. No?

paradoxicallymodified · Dec 3, 2021

Dyno said:
Just returned from a 2500-mile vacation trip in our V90 T6. It was a very nice driving experience. Who would have thought a little 4-banger could motivate a loaded-to-the-gills full-size wagon so smartly?

In my opinion, Adaptive Cruise Control is the greatest automotive innovation since power windows. It takes so much stress out of long drives. I'm not so sure about Pilot Assist, though. I went back and forth with it. Sometimes I thought it was great, other times I found it annoying. It was reassuring to have it on when I was feeling a bit fatigued, but I found that I could carve a much smoother line around a curve with it off. It sometimes felt a bit wiggly, as if it were searching left and right for the proper position between the lane stripes.

I curious what other users have found. Do you like it, or is it just an ineffective half-step toward autonomous driving?

Total crap in France….as soon as you need to hit the grass it tries to steer you into oncoming traffic. Stateside, maybe…France, no go. Dangerous me thinks….

VolvoCPA · Dec 3, 2021

It is an interesting feature, but still a gimmick/toy, and not to be fully trusted. Adaptive Cruise Control is more mature: I use it and trust it. But I am not sold on Pilot Assist yet, but I will keep trying. it does lose its place at times, in the same way Lane Assist isn't perfect.
Make the driver better and more aware, and

Dyno said:
Thanks for the replies, but I'm a little confused by some of them.

What is the difference between Pilot Assist with Lane Keeping on vs. off? I thought Pilot Assist was the feature that keeps you in your lane. No?

Pilot Assist keeps you equally placed between two markers, whereas Lane Assist alerts you crossing over one marker.

Pioneer4x4 · Dec 3, 2021

VolvoCPA said:
It is an interesting feature, but still a gimmick/toy, and not to be fully trusted. Adaptive Cruise Control is more mature: I use it and trust it. But I am not sold on Pilot Assist yet, but I will keep trying. it does lose its place at times, in the same way Lane Assist isn't perfect.
Make the driver better and more aware, and

Pilot Assist keeps you equally placed between two markers, whereas Lane Assist alerts you crossing over one marker.

And nudges annoyingly when you are trying to "straighten the curves".
Pilot Assist is tied to Adaptive Cruise, only an option to be on when you are under cruise control. And it controls the car entirely within its limits, like you can let go of the wheel in a mild turn, to open a snack, and it will keep in control. Or when changing lanes it will actually complete the maneuver and pick up the new lane and center you. Lane Assist alert, if enabled, is ALWAYS on in the background, nudging away. It is good, but typically annoying on long 2 lane roads. Consider Lane Assist a drowsy driver safety alert more than a convenience feature like Pilot Assist.
EDIT: also, Lane Keeping Aid (actual term, just looked it up again!), can be set to Assist, Warn, or both, (or off)

bmacto · Dec 3, 2021

I use PA for all my highway driving - it offers a huge reduction in stress during long drives. I find it keeps the lane very well, but sometimes does stop a bit late as someone mentioned above - it isnt terrible, but sometimes could be smoother. It did take me a while to become comfortable with it and to understand what it is good at, and what it does and doesn't do. I read the manual several times after the first few drives with it enabled. Overall, a win - the only negative is I want it to do more but I realize that will be require a new car.

gak · Dec 3, 2021

I use ACC and PA only on long stretches of flat road, and then only occasionally. It's annoying to me that Volvo's CC uses the brakes rather than down shifting to control even minor variations. There are a couple of threads here that blame heavy use of ACC for the common problem of having to replace brakes at 20K miles or less. I'm not sure if that's true, but it makes sense.

Pilot Assist; Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

Dyno

kartboy1234

Dave E

AeroDan

AudiA4

2018V90CC

SeabeckS

kartboy1234

AudiA4

CedarMtn

pocholin

VLD1

Pioneer4x4

jstro

Dyno

paradoxicallymodified

VolvoCPA

Pioneer4x4

bmacto

gak

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