Dive into the evolution of autopilot, a term first whispered by Tesla to grace the semi-autonomous realm of the Model Y and Model X. While the autopilot search often unveils Tesla’s prowess with branded features, the electric car landscape holds more than meets the eye.
Buckle up as we venture beyond Tesla’s Autopilot to unveil a world where driver-assist technology thrives in various electric cars. We’re not talking sci-fi autonomy levels; we’re cruising at level 3, where a touch of automation meets real-world scenarios. Picture your car effortlessly hugging lanes, maintaining a safe distance, and even throwing in automatic emergency braking for good measure.
In this 2021 guide, we unravel the mystery – who’s steering the wheel in the world of electric cars, and what self-driving gems do they bring to the road? Get ready to discover the future of driving, one electric car at a time.
Electric Cars That Have Autopilot
1. Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X & Model Y
The Model S 60 is the cheapest option currently in Tesla’s lineup of self-driving EVs with a 218-mile range. The 60D model brings enhanced Autopilot thanks to the addition of three cameras and a dozen ultrasonic super sensors. Tesla’s Autopilot’s capabilities include adaptive cruise with lane-centering steering. You also get automatic lane changes and self-parking.
Tesla has given the full indication that it will offer fully self-driving capability once regulatory bodies clear the technology. But remember, different states have different legislation policies related to autonomy.
2. Audi E-Tron & E-Tron Sportback
Audi’s self-driving features a wide array of sensors that help with adaptive cruise control and self-parking. Known as Highway Pilot, this feature can take over driving and lane changing at highway speeds. The feature also consists of city assist, round-about assist, and corner-assist.
3. 2021 Hyundai Ioniq
Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is 2021 Hyundai Ioniq’s version of Autopilot. The car can maintain following distance with the vehicle ahead and lane-centering steering. The Highway Driving Assist can intuit the speed limit of certain highways and adjust the speed accordingly.
4. Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace captures the imagination of the future with a 360-degree camera system. The adaptive cruise and lane-centering is down to a stop in slow-moving traffic. The Stop & Go element automatically starts the car once traffic starts moving while the steering assist works from a stop up to highway speeds.
5. 2021 Kia Nero EV
This Kia model comes with standard driver assistance features, including lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning, standard adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking.
6. 2021 Nissan Leaf & 2021 Fully-Electric Ariya
Apart from adaptive cruise control, the 2021 Nissan Leaf & Ariya EVs now have automatic lane centering and automatic speeding and braking in relation to the vehicle ahead. They also feature standard driver assistance such as automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring.
7. Porsche Taycan
Porsche Taycan has Autopilot features, namely Active Lane Keeping, Lane Change Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Accelerating and Active Braking. The Taycan’s Innodrive System has unique attributes like “Looks Ahead,” which uses map and camera data to intuit speed limits and recognize curves, exits, and crossings.
Final Thoughts
The above cars all have Adaptive Cruise Control with lane-centering steering. However, the right kind of conditions is required for them to work correctly. Most need a divided highway with limited entry, sometimes intuited via GPS.
Some of these vehicles also offer hands-free steering. The 2021 Nissan Ariya EV has hands-free driving on single-lane highway traffic, lane switching, passing, and highway exiting.
So, do you know which electric cars have Autopilot?
Sam is Automole’s editor-in-chief and classic car enthusiast. Sam is studying mechanical engineering at Cockrell School of Engineering, Austin. He also writes for many top automotive publications and appears on the Collecting Cars Podcast.