Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

Im in love with the ACC

9K views 74 replies 31 participants last post by  g0rey1 
#1 ·
I purchased a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland about a month ago. Yesterday I returned from an overnight trip from Dallas to Houston (about 3 1/2 hours).

Both going to and from dallas, I didnt need to put my foot on the brake or gas once. I set the ACC and let it cruise. Not a single mishap or failure from the system. It was truly incredible.

Now im spoiled because all of my future cars are going to need to have this or a better system installed (until automated Jeep Grand Cherokees exist).
 
#2 ·
I have ACC on the Charger, and I have to agree. Its one of the most amazing new gadgets to come on a vehicle in many years. Its like a 1000 times better than regular cruise control especially now that highways are rarely empty and you have to deal with other vehicles constantly. At least around here, its impossibly to maintain a single specific speed for more than 5 minutes.
 
#3 ·
I also really like the ACC system on these Jeeps. I've only had it flake out one time during extremely heavy rain. And to be honest, I expected it to do something stupid because of how hard it was raining.

The only modification I'd want on my current vehicle is a Brake Hold feature. So that the vehicle would keep the brake fully engaged for as long as needed in stop-n-go traffic, instead of the current 2 second limit.

And I believe the 2016 Grand Cherokees will actually have this modification to the ACC.
 
#4 ·
And no reason to wait for only highway trips. I use ACC almost daily on all my commutes to and from work. I live in the far suburbs so some roads are open enough that I just use cruise often.
 
#5 ·
I got a 2015 Summit a few months ago, traded my 2014 limited for it. one reason was driving my mothers Chrysler 200 with ACC (and hers has lane holding, the damn thing steers for you on the highway). I LOVE the piss out of ACC. I use it every day, on side streets, highway, don't care. Couldn't agree more, what a cool feature.
 
#6 ·
I too like it but for one minor gripe. I don't like its extra quick acceleration when the vehicle aahead either turns off or increases its speed. I wish the acceieration was more smooth/linear because when I'm using it, I'm trying for the best MPG. if it was more slower in acceleration, I could always use my foot if I needed more acceleration.

Dan
 
#8 ·
I could appreciate this. Definitely a little bit harsh on the acceleration but other than that, its top notch.

DCLeopard91 youre going to love it. It makes road trips a breeze. Just sit back, provide minimal steering input, and enjoy the ride. Its well worth the cost on any vehicle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kashef
#9 ·
I also truly enjoy the ACC feature and will also want it on all future vehicles, both for me and for other family members.
 
#12 ·
Agree big time, I drive a lot of highway trips and ACC is blessing....would not buy car without it in future.
 
#15 ·
No, you cannot add it from any practical standpoint

Maybe its a silly question...but what is AAC ?..is it the cruise control ?..or something else ?, i read all the posts and I am not 100% sure if there is something else than the usual cruise control ?..
ACC = Adaptive Cruise Control

It's a radar-based system that controls your speed more intelligently than "regular" cruise control through it's awareness of what's in front of you. It has a selection of three following distances and if you approach slower traffic from behind and cannot move over, the vehicle automatically slows to maintain the distance you selected. Etc.
 
#18 ·
3 following distances. There are three buttons that control the ACC on the right side of the steering wheel. The far left button turns on/sets the ACC, the other two buttons control the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle infront of you.

I keep mine on the lowest possible distance (one bar) and find it to be plenty responsive. It keeps about a car distance or so inbetween vehicles. Anything more and you have people constantly jumping into that empty space thus causing your ACC to brake. You just keep going slower and slower as more cars fill the void.
 
#21 ·
Lol. That one was pretty good.

Maybe there are 4 settings. I keep it on the lowest one so ive never explored it. Wouldnt be the first time I was wrong :(
 
#23 ·
Perhaps it's been updated to four intervals in more current model years. I find that three is sufficient, especially since mine is always at "1". LOL
 
#27 ·
I agree- I set mine at the 3rd or 4th bar. I don't mind some cars cutting in since the system reacts pretty good and brakes in time. I find the closest setting pushes me at the edge of the seat because it feels rather unnerving watching my car coast straight behind another car and braking much closer than what I would do. It's the same almost helpless feeling I get when someone else is driving- I would normally brake a little early rather than the last minute. In rainy, slippery or less than ideal driving conditions, having that extra distance gives me an extra degree of reassurance in the event the car needs to stop.
 
#28 ·
I keep mine at the shortest and never really had that unnerving feeling. Then again I did grow up in south florida so maybe that plays a part.

I do like that on the instrument cluster, you can see if the radar picks up the car in front of you. Its reassuring when a car merges infront of me that I can see that the radar has picked it up.

As for rain or wet conditions, I NEVER use cruise control during those. Its incredibly dangerous to do so. Check out the link below but the TL;DR is that CC keeps your tires spinning at a constant speed. If you hit an oil slick or overly wet pavement, your car is going to keep trying to maintain the CC speed which can cause you to hydroplane. Basically less control of the vehicle.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Cruise Control in the Rain
 
#33 ·
I keep mine at the shortest and never really had that unnerving feeling. Then again I did grow up in south florida so maybe that plays a part.

I do like that on the instrument cluster, you can see if the radar picks up the car in front of you. Its reassuring when a car merges infront of me that I can see that the radar has picked it up.

As for rain or wet conditions, I NEVER use cruise control during those. Its incredibly dangerous to do so. Check out the link below but the TL;DR is that CC keeps your tires spinning at a constant speed. If you hit an oil slick or overly wet pavement, your car is going to keep trying to maintain the CC speed which can cause you to hydroplane. Basically less control of the vehicle.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Cruise Control in the Rain
I've found that the newer vehicles disable cruise control immediately when any wheel spin is detected. My 2014 Jeep and 2012 Equinox have done this. I think this has to do with traction control.
 
#30 ·
Just drove our first Jeep about 1500 miles after picking it up in Rochester, NY (will update my thread with pics). ACC was fantastic. As others have said, 4 following distances. I usually kept it at the closest or 2nd closest distance.

I played with it a lot, TBH, just trying to trick it and see how it handles different scenarios at different speeds. I would do things like - while it was accelerating in a free lane immediately switch lanes very close behind a slower car to see how it reacts (with my foot just above the brakes ready to hit it if need be), along with a bunch of other different scenarios. All situations were handled perfectly. Absolutely LOVE this feature, and got better gas mileage with ACC on as well.
 
#34 ·
First road trip on my 2015 Cherokee today. Did a little over 100 miles round trip thru Black Hills of South Dakota and used ACC all the way. Never hiccupped once and I checked milage when I got back. Granted I doubt my average speed was much over 60 mph, but I got 31.3 mpg !!!
 
#39 ·
One potentially dangerous situation I've noticed with ACC on:

Approaching a red light (or other situation with stopped traffic ahead),

While behind a vehicle that is slowing down,

If I change lanes from behind the decelerating vehicle into the lane where there is stopped traffic further ahead, the ACC will rev up toward the max speed setting because it does not register stationary objects.

Of course, applying the brakes will cancel the ACC, but there is quite a surge if you're not ready for it.
 
#40 ·
I just used my ACC on a trip from Dallas to Austin, roughly 300 miles one way. My average MPG was 27.2. I was extremely impressed with that number. On the way back the average went down to 26.4mpg.

One thing I did notice is that when I was cruising along and the ACC registered the vehicle in front of me, as it went to slow down if I put on my indicator to switch lanes my RPM's would start to rev before I even left the lane. It seems as if the ACC is anticipating being able to accelerate with use of the indicators. Anyone else notice this?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 62884
#42 ·
I opted to not get the ACC on my '14 GC. I don't really use CC and didn't think it was worth the added expense (even with the accident avoidance).

One thing I've noticed when travelling on the highway in heavy (but moving) traffic is cars with ACC tend to tailgate. If the traffic ahead slows down (even slightly), an aware driver not using cruise control (like myself) will ease off on the accelerator in anticipation of the need to slow down. The driver using ACC in this same situation will wait for the ACC to kick in, and since the car is already tailgating, will need to apply the brakes. As soon as the brake lights go on, all cars behind will also react and hit the brakes in a reactionary measure. This actually causes unneeded/exaggerated slowdowns to the flow of traffic.

Drivers should not have to use the brakes to maintain distance when travelling on the highway at highway speeds.
 
#50 · (Edited)
I opted to not get the ACC on my '14 GC. I don't really use CC and didn't think it was worth the added expense (even with the accident avoidance).

One thing I've noticed when travelling on the highway in heavy (but moving) traffic is cars with ACC tend to tailgate. If the traffic ahead slows down (even slightly), an aware driver not using cruise control (like myself) will ease off on the accelerator in anticipation of the need to slow down. The driver using ACC in this same situation will wait for the ACC to kick in, and since the car is already tailgating, will need to apply the brakes. As soon as the brake lights go on, all cars behind will also react and hit the brakes in a reactionary measure. This actually causes unneeded/exaggerated slowdowns to the flow of traffic.

Drivers should not have to use the brakes to maintain distance when travelling on the highway at highway speeds.

Sorry but You are Wrong.

Since you don't have ACC, I can understand you not fully understanding how it works.

1. Vehicles with ACC do not tailgate. They maintain the distance set by the driver. That distance usually isn't shorter then what drivers without ACC maintain. In fact, it is often wider to account for possible electronic mishaps.

2. Drivers using ACC do not have to hit their brakes when traffic slows. Nor does the ACC system always apply the brakes to slow down. It also reduces engine power to slow (just like a human driver does). And while it might not be able to anticipate driving patterns as well as a human being, it does pretty good.

3. Any drivers that react by braking just because they see a vehicle ahead hit their brakes is NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION to the road & the conditions around them. Seeing a vehicle ahead hit its brakes should be noticed, but you should also notice if it is slowing suddenly (hard braking) or just using their brakes to maintain distance.


Oh... and exactly HOW would you know whether a vehicle has a system similar to ACC, or if the driver is actually using it?!?


:cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Heep
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top