[Bluesfox]

We had about 4h highway driving yesterday. It was out first opportunity to give the adaptive cruise control (ACC) a go in the touring l plus.

Very impressed with the implementation. I'll have to admit that it was some neverousness initially wondering how the feature would work. But super happy to report that it worked well under various conditions.

The basic premise is that you set the maximum speed with the +/- buttons. From there, you can set the distance between your vehicle and the car in front. The system represents this with some bars/dashes on the display. The cool part is that it indicates when the system is tracking with a car in front icon. So it is pretty easy to know when the system is actually working.

Some scenarios where the system worked great:
- general tracking- distance was maintained very consistently. No issues.
- when the car ahead departed the lane, the vehicle sped up to the target speed smoothly. In most instances it was a boost of about 10 mph. Did not have any super slow drivers ahead, so not sure if it would burst ahead or not if >10 mph difference.
- when young kids in a hurry ripped in front during congestion, the vehicle was gradual to slow down to readjust distance. This happened many times and thankfully there were no abrupt rip on the breaks type of actions. I'd read a prior thread mentioning about abrupt braking, so maybe they've enhanced the behavior since, or maybe we didn't get a true test of all conditions. Needless to say, was comfortable with the behavior when a car cuts in between.
- when passing vehicle in front, it had a tendency to auto accelerate. Not sure if it did this due to blinker or due to sensor, but either way it was cool and worked well with the acceleration burst.
- turned off the feature in bumper to bumper so don't know how well that works yet. Needed to get more experience before venturing to close quarter testing.
- worked well at night time. Didn't know if the sensors work, but no issues at night during this trip.

So for 2h straight, we were able to keep the acc engaged while getting good distance maintained and it simply worked as desired.

Only one caution, when lowering the target speed, it reduces significantly if the button is held down. So you can go from 70 to 40 mph abruptly if not careful to watch the digital target speed. Now we know just to tap the speed instead of holding the button.

The safety package will pay for itself with this convenience. Sure makes a longer trip more enjoyable and relaxing. The auto park assistance is a gimmick (our opinion) but this acc is the real deal and certainly worth considering or test driving if considering a new Pacifica. The blind spot warning with audible tone is cool as well. Thankfully not many beeps yet from the blind spot sensor, but one day it could prevent a tight situation from becoming a hazard.

 

[mick0212]

Thanks for the detailed report!

ACC is one feature I'd definitely love to see as an available option on the lower trims. (That and the better consoles!) I have only been able to actually use ACC once, on a test drive of the 2017 Honda CR-V, but it immediately shot to the top of the list of features I most want in my next vehicle. I drove across the state and back yesterday and was very much wishing I had it in my current vehicle, especially after spending thirty miles going back and forth with a guy in an Accord who couldn't decide if he wanted to go 70 or 75 or 70 or 80 or 68 or 72 or whatever.

 

[manoli]

Thank you very much for your detailed accounting of the feature. These types of posts are very useful for people like myself who are not owners yet.

 

[generaltso]

After having ACC in a vehicle for the first time in 2012, I knew that all of my future cars would have it. No ACC would be a deal breaker for me. It works well in stop and go traffic as well.

 

[PacificaJohn]

Only one caution, when lowering the target speed, it reduces significantly if the button is held down. So you can go from 70 to 40 mph abruptly if not careful to watch the digital target speed. Now we know just to tap the speed instead of holding the button.

The safety package will pay for itself with this convenience. Sure makes a longer trip more enjoyable and relaxing. The auto park assistance is a gimmick (our opinion) but this acc is the real deal and certainly worth considering or test driving if considering a new Pacifica. The blind spot warning with audible tone is cool as well. Thankfully not many beeps yet from the blind spot sensor, but one day it could prevent a tight situation from becoming a hazard.

I love it too. One of the features I wanted to most in the Pacifica. One additional to your caution: If the speed does slow from 70 to 60 or 50, when the lane clears the ACC then punches the accelerator full throttle to get back up to 70. It can be alarming since the van lurches forward under full throttle - scared me the first few times it happened.
The other KEY feature is the Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Already saved me a few times backing out in a parking lot next to huge SUVs.
John

 

[migs]

After having ACC in a vehicle for the first time in 2012, I knew that all of my future cars would have it. No ACC would be a deal breaker for me. It works well in stop and go traffic as well.

Most people don't believe me but I've had this feature on my Toyota Sienna Limited since 2004 but instead of radar it uses a laser on the bottom bumper and just like you I love this feature so much that I made sure I got it on my 2013 Toyota Prius with the advanced technology package definitely worth the extra cost I use it every day during commutes

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[Norbert]

Just did our first road trip and agree. Its awesome. Love the way it accelerates when you change lanes. Like the auto stop feature, but mine seemed to make a strange brake noise so I disabled it for now. Don't like that it guns the engine to accelerate to get back up to speed. Hate it when someone cuts you off and forces the ACC to brake. I try to keep a safe distance from the car in front, especially when we're going 80mph, but some people are just, ahem, impatient.

What really works great on the interstates is the LKA! That saved me a few times. I didn't hit the rumble strip once!

 

[Inga]

We did our first LONG road trip this weekend (NJ to Richmond, VA and back) and the ACC was awesome -- set it and (almost) forget it. I will report that the FCW worked overtime in the DC-metro area. Despite having it set to the farthest distance, FCW kicked in repeatedly. I was always alert to traffic slowing ahead and often hovered above the brake pedal, but the car did its job perfectly. I love my Pacifica!

 

[Casper]

Great feature. I have yet to get to test it on the open road but in the constant congestion of So Cal freeways it works great. Maintaining a good gap between cars invites people to move between you and the car in front but the Pacifica system does not over react to affect occupant comfort as it continually adjusts to traffic. I did have it fully stop from 70 when we encountered a traffic jam. Was not so sure about coming to a complete stop so had foot over the brake the full time. Between 40-30 the car applied brakes a little harder than would be typical for a human however the car came to a complete stop and started right back up when traffic moved again. Very cool system. I can't wait for my first out of town trip with the system.

 

[FiatVan]

Finally had an opportunity to test out the ACC the past couple of days with a 600+ mile road trip.

As others have reported, this feature is a must have! Took an hour or so for me to "trust" the system..... it performed very well, both on open roads and in traffic. Had once instance where a car in front of us moved over a lane and revealed a VERY slow moving car in front of us. The system applied the brakes pretty hard, probably more than I would have done myself. However, it did what is was supposed to, and made the drive much more pleasurable. I've easily driven 1,000,000 miles plus, and rarely use the "traditional" cruise control. ACC is a game changer IMO.... a worthwhile investment for sure!

-FV

 

[marjamr]

I had ACC on two of my Subaru’s with Eyesight. Love it and it was a must have when I bought our new Pacifica. My observation:
Pacifica ACC works well but not as smooth as Subaru’s Eyesight. I notice a slight jerkiness with the Pacifica. On further consideration, this might be due to the Subaru's CVT transmission as opposed to Chrysler's 9 gear auto.

 

[yoogene]

The ACC is a system that I was looking forward to utilizing upon receipt of our Pacifica back in January, and it does it's job well. There are a few hiccups here and there, but for the most part, works soundly. I've used it on several 600+ mile trips and it's made the trip much more bearable and easier for my bad knees.

I've tried using it in stop and go traffic on the highway and i was not that impressed. It did it's job, but i would hear a mechanical grinding noise whenever it would brake under stop and go transitions. It felt like a mechanical system working overtime for stop and go, so i only use it now when we are moving at 30+ mph.

The FCW has saved me a couple times; once when i noticed traffic was stopped abruptly in front of us and i didn't put enough pressure on the brake. The system saved me on that one. I've had 2 other instances where it went off, but that was due to a person cutting me off and I already had my foot on the brake expecting the maneuver.

All in all, the package has paid for itself and I'm a believer. I'm now upset that my Volvo doesn't have it as well (I didn't option for it since i thought i wouldn't use it) but will make sure every future vehicle does!

 

[wisejd]

We really enjoy the Adaptive Cruise Control, particularly in heavy traffic. At first I was very reluctant to trust the breaking, but it does a fantastic job in stop and go highway traffic. When slow traffic starts moving more rapidly again but then gets backed up, it is harder to think the breaking is going to happen fast enough. The issue we see is if you don't trust the breaking, you will inadvertently turn off the ACC. This can be a little concerning because if you forget that it turned off and then expect it to stop you, you will be in for a surprise. The ability to decide how many car lengths you want the ACC to use is also something you may change in highway stop and go traffic in that the acceleration is slow enough that those in the other lane may tend to see the larger gap and slip right in front of you.

 

[Rctini]

For now on ACC is a must have

After having ACC in a vehicle for the first time in 2012, I knew that all of my future cars would have it. No ACC would be a deal breaker for me. It works well in stop and go traffic as well.

I too, after having ACC on my 2015 Toyota Highlander and 2017 Chrysler Pacifica require on all future cars to have ACC. I have also found that after having a HUD on my 2013 Buick LaCrosse I require a HUD on future cars. All Wheel drive is another of the features that I consider a requirement for my vehicle, not just for snow or wet roads but I have found that when you push the pedal to the floor, especially in the Buick, there is no two wheel drive spin or front end fish tailing. Had All Wheel drive in my Toyota Highlander.

I hope someday Chrysler builds a Pacifica with 4 wheel drive and a HUD. Those two items almost kept me from buying the Chrysler Van but I new the Pacifica was the best Van out there and I was going to give it to my granddaughter. I had the Pacifica transported to Virgina on 9/18/2017 and it arrived there on 9/20/2017. Great transport truck driver no damage to the Pacifica. Granddaughter loves the new vehicle.

I will continue to follow this forum so I can keep track of the latest Pacifica doings.

Found a 2018 BMW 330I XDrive Sports Wagon with a HUD, ACC, 4 wheel drive and all the other advanced packages came off a ship in Oxnard, California and I will finally take delivery (hopefully) tomorrow (9/26/2017).

 

[Limited GT]

I drive 237/880 in the Bay Area and I always have the ACC on. It gives me a much more relaxed ride not worring about hitting someone. The off ramps and on ramps are completly different now that I have ACC. Before I had issues with looking back to merge and worrying about hitting the car infront of me because they stopped (usually because they are looking for all three lanes to be clear so they can go sideways accross the road to the turn lane instead of going to the next light). Now as i look back for oncoming traffic I know its clear ahead because I dont feel the ACC slowing me down due to the car infront of me. As the ACC is stopping and going in traffic I relax and just hit resume once and awhile when it stops too long. With the emergency braking and ACC my life has changed. I used to feel adrenalyne run through my body twice a day from people abruptly braking infront of me. I was looking at cars to buy with this feature until I saw how the seats in this van all stow in the floor so I could load 4x8 paneling, bead board etc.