If you are going to purchase a Tesla vehicle you must be familiar with Tesla Cruise Control as well as Tesla Autopilot. Cruise Control will provide you with many features. While the Autopilot feature set adds a new capability to your Tesla that makes driving safer and less stressful.
In this article, I will discuss the main features and comparison between Tesla Cruise Control and Tesla Autopilot.
Let’s Get Started…!!!
What is Tesla Cruise Control?
When you are enjoying the Tesla cruise control feature your vehicle may automatically change its speed to keep a safe following distance from the car in front of it. By using sensors, cameras, and radar it can detect the speed of the vehicle in front of you. In this way, it can modify the speed of your vehicle appropriately.
Cruise control helps you to keep a safe following distance, and allows your Tesla to automatically slow down or accelerate up. It will help you to detect a car which is in your same lane. It will allow your vehicle to keep moving at a predetermined speed.
While driving and enjoying the Tesla cruise control feature you have to keep an eye in front of you and manually apply the brakes when necessary.
What is Tesla Autopilot?
The complete semi-autonomous driving functions present in your Tesla vehicle are referred to as “Autopilot”. Tesla Autopilot is one of Tesla’s most ambiguous properties. There are four distinct hardware variants and four distinct software packages that have been introduced throughout the years.
Every component present in your Tesla autopilot will perform a particular function, for example maintaining speed, steering, or parking of your Tesla vehicle. There are a total of four distinct Autopilot software packages that combine these elements in various ways.
The main thing that you must keep in mind is that Tesla’s Autopilot is not autonomous, so you must maintain concentration, keep your hands on the wheel, and be prepared to take over at any moment.
To monitor your participation, Tesla has put in place several safety mechanisms for you. If Autopilot is used improperly, it may be warned about or its functionality may be restricted.
Following are some advanced features offered by Tesla Autopilot:
1) Tesla Autopilot includes the Traffic Aware Cruise Control to lock on to and match the speed of the car in front of it. It will completely stop and restart your Tesla vehicle without the need for your action as compared to Tesla cruise control.
2) The autopilot helps you to monitor lane markings. Your vehicle will make the appropriate steering adjustments. Tesla steers proactively to handle reasonably major curves in the road.
3) You can automatically change the lane by using Auto Lane Change. When you begin to change lanes, you must have to use the turn signal to signal the chosen lane. When Tesla autopilot is confirmed, your car will automatically move over.
4) The most advanced feature of your Tesla Autopilot is Stop Sign and Traffic Light Control (beta). With this function, your Tesla vehicles can view and react to stop signs and traffic signals.
Your automobile will slow down at stop signals even if it’s green. You have to give a confirmation tap on the accelerator pad to proceed with your vehicle again.
5) Tesla autopilot provides you with two different kinds of summons named Basic Summon and Smart Summon. This summons will allow you to move your vehicle without your presence.
When you are using the basic summon feature you can only move forward and backward. Smart Summon will help your Tesla to independently find its way to the driver in a parking lot.
6) On the highway by using navigate on autopilot (beta) semi-autonomous driving and navigation is possible. When you are travelling on a highway the option to navigate on Autopilot will be available.
This will help your Tesla vehicle to change lanes to pass other vehicles, move out of the passing lane, make exits, and navigate through highway interchanges.
Tesla Cruise Control vs. Autopilot
1) Cruise control in your Tesla vehicle is similar to the cruise control present in many other automobiles. When you activate the cruise control feature, it will enable your vehicle to keep the specified constant speed.
Advanced driving assistance systems like Tesla’s Autopilot provide cutting-edge features as compared to standard cruise control.
2) Your Tesla cruise control is not able to change the speed of your car in response to traffic ahead. In contrast, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which is one of the elements of Autopilot, can change your vehicle’s speed according to traffic conditions. By using this feature, you can completely halt your vehicle and then start moving again if the flow of traffic permits.
3) Tesla cruise control does not offer you any aid with steering or lane-keeping. But, your Tesla autopilot will offer you some self-steering capabilities along with auto steering. Your vehicle will be in its lane when your Tesla vehicles use the autopilot feature.
Which option should be considered in the future?
When you talk about Tesla cruise control you should keep in your mind that your Tesla cannot have cruise control without the driver-assist technology package Autopilot installed.
The Traffic-Aware Cruise Control feature of your Tesla Autopilot package allows your Tesla to keep its cruising speed while the road in front of you is clear. It will also slow your vehicle according to the behavior of the car that is in front of you.
While using cruise control, you must always maintain your hands on the wheel and be ready to brake or take control of the car at any time.
You can avail the autopilot package as a subscription for $99 per month or you may also enjoy the Enhanced Autopilot package for $199 per month. To subscribe to these packages, you can use your Tesla app or Tesla account.
The following points should be kept in mind:
1) The top cruising speed is 150 km/h or 90 mph. You must maintain a safe speed according to the posted speed limit.
2) Always keep an eye on the road in front of you. You should be ready to make adjustments whenever necessary.
3) When you are using Tesla cruise control you should be careful about your routes. Avoid using the feature during harsh weather conditions.
4) You should clean your Tesla cameras and sensors from any type of debris before activating the Autopilot features.
5) You must get familiar with Autopilot’s restrictions and the circumstances that can call for driver intervention.
Final Thoughts
So far, I have discussed all the features related to your Tesla cruise control and Tesla autopilot along with their comparison. The difference may include:
- Cruise control will provide you with a specified speed while Autopilot will give you more advanced features.
- As compared to Tesla Autopilot, cruise control will not be able to change the speed.
- Steering and Lane keeping features are not present in cruise control.
We went over in detail each of these and answered some quires that you might have in your mind.
If you have some information to share with us about this topic, feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you.
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Howdy, I’m Nabeel, and for the past 10 years, my automotive passion has been charged up with a focus on cars and Jeeps, with a special love for Teslas. From the hum of the electric motor to the thrill of off-road adventures, I’ve clocked countless miles and experiences. Join me as I delve into the electrifying world of Tesla and share a decade’s worth of automotive adventures, one ride at a time. Let’s hit the road!
