In recent years, we’ve watched as various types of driver assistance systems have become more prevalent in new vehicles, ranging from more basic features like adaptive cruise control up to advanced tech like hands-free driving features such as Ford’s BlueCruise. Those systems have become quite popular as well, which is especially true of BlueCruise, a feature that has enjoyed a rapid expansion as of late. However, a new study recently found that overall, consumers aren’t finding much value in driver assistance systems, in general.
“Driver assistance has an identity crisis,” Kathleen Rizk, J.D. Power’s senior director of user experience benchmarking and technology, told Automotive News. “They’re not seeing value in the differences of these capabilities right now.” These conclusions stem from a recent piece of research conducted by J.D. Power that found owners of vehicles with Level 2 driver assistance systems don’t find them convenient, largely because they’re still required to keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take control at any moment in the event something goes wrong.
As such, only 24 percent of respondents of this particular study said that they feel like active driver assistance systems make them better drivers, and only 18 percent said the same of hands-free systems. However, it also seems like at least some of this sentiment stems from a lack of knowledge pertaining to these types of systems – 43 percent of respondents said that they learned how to operate those features on their own accord, versus 30 percent who had a dealer explain it to them.
Meanwhile, Ford’s BlueCruise feature continues to expand in terms of the number of models it’s available in, as well as the number of users racking up miles with that feature engaged. As Ford Authority recently reported, the Ford Bronco, Ford Ranger, and Ford Mustang are next in line to receive BlueCruise capability. As of this past March, there were over 757,000 vehicles equipped with BlueCruise across the globe – 446,000 of which were just added in the past year. Globally, Ford and Lincoln customers have spent more than five million hours with BlueCruise engaged as well, which is nearly a 100 percent increase compared to 2024.
Comments
It’s one option we have zero interest in.
I really like the lane keeping feature on my 2021 Ford Escape. Makes me feel more comfortable on long drives that I can grab a drink of water or a snack without having to do it by feel! I can also relax a bit and look around at the passing scenery a bit without drifting out of my lane
You can shive self driving car crap!!!!!! Don’t need or want any of it !!!! Same is true for lane centering crap !!!!!!
You can lower prices and save us LOTS of money by removing all that CRAP !!!!!!!!
Same is true for that F hole in the roof !!!!!!More un-need or wanted expensive CRAP !!!!
All the nanny mandated by law plus other, has not stemmed any accidents on our highways or secondary roads. We have countless accidents daily in PHX with no police action enforcing traffic or equipment violations. Now we have lifted trucks with 40 inch tires extending past the wheel wells 5 to 6 inches throwing stones, gravel, mud, sand into our windshields breaking them with no action from our useless DPS (highway patrol).
I bought a Bronco Sport loaded with lane keep and intelligent Cruise Control and a bunch of other tech. And I will admit I don’t need any of it. I do find it cool to play with. Cross traffic beeped at me one day while backing out of a blind parking spot at the mall. I was parked beside a big truck and couldn’t see if it was clear to backup. The intelligent cruise is really a cool feature as you don’t set the cruise control it looks at the speed signs and sets its self. And then you have the option to +or – from what the cars sees as the speed limit. I have mine set to add 5. So if the Bronco sees the speed sign as 50 it adds 5 and maintains 55. It also adjusts its speed to the car in front automatically and if the car in front stops so does the Bronco without me touching the brake. When traffic speeds back up so does the Bronco. Reading the speed signs and displaying a picture of the sign on the dash is very cool. I wasn’t fussy on addaptive Cruise but this intelligent cruise is very cool. Rain sensing wipers are nice to. Definitely saving on wear and tear of the wiper blades. As it shuts the wipers off until the windshield gets wet.
The keyless entry is also one of my favorite things, as I just touch the door handle and it unlocks or touch the top of the handle and it locks. (As long as I have the key fob on me) no buttons on the door handle to push. It senses your hand. Yes all the tech drove the price through the roof. And no I didn’t need any of it. But it works great and it is so cool. Makes life a bit more pleasing……..