When you think of Jeep, the first things that come to mind are ruggedness, capability, and the great outdoors. And while those characteristics remain tried and true, the proverbial adventure brand has been making strides in the areas of safety, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and Level 2 autonomous driving technologies.
To that end, the latest innovations which arrive on the all-new 2021 Grand Cherokee L are Jeep Active Driving Assist and, for the 2022 model year, Hands-free Active Driving Assist.
Strengthening the symbiotic relationship between the driver, vehicle, and road, Active Driving Assist and Hands-free Active Driving Assist enhance confidence and comfort on the highway with automated steering, acceleration, and braking support.
Active Driving Assist arrives first, when the new Grand Cherokee L goes on sale as a 2021 model. This technology improves hands-on-wheel, eyes-on-road driving with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance to support the driver in guiding the vehicle on highways.
In 2022, Jeep plans to introduce Hands-free Active Driving Assist for all 2022 Grand Cherokee models. This system adds a hands-free driving function for certain limited-access highways. It works similar to Cadillac Super Cruise, allowing miles and miles of hands-free driving as long as the driver is paying attention and is ready to take control at any time.
Sensors, cameras, and radar help Active Driving Assist maintain a pre-set speed determined by the driver, remain a safe distance from any vehicle directly ahead, and keep in the center of the current lane by making subtle but constant steering adjustments that prevent drifting to the left or right.
Elevating this technology to the next level of convenience, Hands-free Active Driving Assist allows the driver to hand-off steering responsibilities to the Jeep. It works at all speeds but only on approved limited-access highways. It can slow down for highway transition ramps and resume operation when the driver confirms that they are paying attention to the road.
Although the driver may keep their hands off the wheel for miles at a time, the system is not a substitute for human interaction or awareness. Driver involvement can override the system at any time, and the system will cease operation if it determines that the driver is not paying attention.
In addition to Active Driving Assist, the 2021 Grand Cherokee L offers a suite of innovative ADAS systems to improve the driving experience, including:
Jeep’s Active Driving Assist and Hands-free Active Driving Assist are similar to Level 2 driving aids found on other vehicles.
Most automakers offer Level 2 functionality as standard or optional equipment. For example, the affordable Toyota Corolla has standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance.
Corporate cousins Hyundai and Kia offer a more sophisticated system called Highway Drive Assist on the Hyundai Palisade and Highway Driving Assist on the Kia Telluride. For the Palisade, it comes in a package of ADAS features called Hyundai SmartSense. For the Telluride, the ADAS collection is known as Kia Drive Wise.
Cadillac was the first to offer hands-free Level 2+ technology on U.S. roads, but more automakers are offering similar systems. Tesla is preparing to make its Full Self-Driving Capability widely available, and Ford is adding Active Drive Assist to vehicles such as the F-150 pickup and the Mustang Mach-E.
More automakers plan to deliver hands-free driver-assist technology as part of their ADAS offerings.
Active Driving Assist and Hands-free Active Driving Assist will make the new Jeep Grand Cherokee easier to drive. Underpinned by adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance systems, these Level 2 ADAS technologies are ideal for reducing driver fatigue during long commutes and road trips on a vast network of divided highways across North America.
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