Featured Fall of Tesla

Not at all:

It is my sense of irony and humor that Consumer Reports thinks manual corrective steering of an "Automated Driving Assist" system is better. As a driving policy, any such ADS system will always remain Level 2. "Collaborative steering" is a technological dead end.

When Autopilot and/or Full Self Driving 'kicks you out' (i.e., a strike,) it is subsequently uploaded to Tesla who has another edge case to correct. This leads to product improvement. For example, passing a large vehicle in the next lane.

Originally Autopilot and Full Self Driving would keep my Tesla centered in the lane even though a bus or large box truck overlapped or ran along the lane line. A subsequent update, my Tesla shifts away from the crowded lane line and back to center after passing. This improvement happened because Tesla gets automatic feedback from drivers overriding and taking corrective action.

Bob Wilson

 

Sometimes I talk and regret it later. What a nice long edit window. Have fun folks.

 

i was referring to our new 2024 hycam. tss 2.5

 

So let me get this straight. Tesla scored 7th in this test of 'autopilot'. Toyota scored 5th.
Seems neither one did stellar by this measure.
This also didn't test FSD(beta) from what I read.

Toyota and Tesla both scored 9 out of 10 on performance and capabilities.
Toyota eeked out Tesla in 'keeping driver engaged' and 'unresponsive driver'.
Tesla eeked out Toyota in 'clear when safe to use'.

I don't see a big difference between those two. And when you consider FSD I think Tesla would score much higher.

 

I can't keep up with your fleet of EV, PHEV & HEV!

 

I really didn't want to do this but Consumer Reports has been resistant to criticism for years. Regardless, might as well dig in:

How We Rated the Systems
The 12 active driving assistance systems we tested were put through their paces around the track at our 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut and on a 50-mile loop on public roads between September and December 2022. Each system was rated for its performance in 40 separate tests, such as steering the car, controlling the speed, and keeping the driver safe and engaged with the act of driving. Additional features such as automatic lane changes or reacting for traffic lights were not evaluated in this test.

The specific vehicles we tested generally reflect the performance of other models within each automaker’s lineup equipped with the same systems, but there can be differences among models, model years, and packages that could affect some parameters of how the system operates.

CR testers evaluated the way each of the 12 systems performed within five specific categories: capability and performance,keeping the driver engaged, ease of use, clear when safe to use, and unresponsive driver.​

So let us begin with this:

How We Rated the Systems (this section should have enough detail that any skeptic or advocate should be able to replicate their study. But sadly, this was not done.)

The 12 active driving assistance systems (which versions and specific vehicle models and trims remain unknown) we tested were put through their paces around the track at our 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut and on a 50-mile loop on public roads between September and December 2022 (this was at least four Autopilot and FSD versions ago!). Each system was rated for its performance in 40 separate tests,(which are conveniently undefined, might as well guess the cards pulled 40 times from a shuffled deck) such as steering the car, controlling the speed, and keeping the driver safe and engaged with the act of driving (4 of 40, thin soup but we still don't know the test protocol and criteria of each. Deliberate ignorance is the tool of the weak and charlatan). Additional features such as automatic lane changes or reacting for traffic lights were not evaluated in this test (since running red lights and forcing other cars off the road are unimportant to Consumer Reports, let's believe the rest of their "report").

The specific vehicles we tested (but are telling you model, trim, and year) generally reflect the performance of other models within each automaker’s lineup equipped with the same systems (trust us, you don't need to know), but there can be differences among models, model years, and packages that could affect some parameters of how the system operates (No SH*T! Just publish the details and my concerns are relieved. Give specific model, trim, and version of software tested!).

CR testers evaluated the way each of the 12 systems performed within five specific categories (So we took '40 separate test' and reduced them by some unexplained magic into five summaries. Meanwhile running red lights and lane changes that force other cars off the road don't matter!) : capability and performance, keeping the driver engaged, ease of use, clear when safe to use, and unresponsive driver.​

But it gets better when we look at their five categories versus their test scoring. Of all the bad practices Consumer Reports does, this is the one that most abuses their credibility. Such as decades of reporting impossibly bad Prius MPG numbers, not the highway numbers that are accurate, but their default MPG. Prius MPG numbers I was only able to replicate by cold soaking and then immediately after starting, doing five cycles of maximum acceleration to 40 mph and emergency braking to a stop. But let's go back to their article:

Capability and Performance

the (undefined) systems from Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla ...
(undefined) Hyundai/Kia/Genesis models
(undefined) Volvo/Polestar
(undefined) Mercedes and Lexus/Toyota
(undefined) BMW

Their table of scores lists Ford, Lincoln, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen, Audi, Tesla, Rivian, Nissan, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Volvo, Polestar, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis. Apparently the cars list in red were not worth mentioning or reporting their specific scores! Lying by omission is so wrong.​

The remaining four categories have similar failures to report the unknown models and versions with only selected makes getting any review text at all. Even the most lazy Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) reviewer would have returned it with 'fix these problems before resubmitting.'

It is a fair cop to say 'But Bob, this is a paper for less technically skilled readers.' In effect, the Reader's Digest or a supermarket tabloid of journalism. Ok, fine by me as their jounalism standard matches their business model. But their screw-ups can not turn off my basic engineering interest in fair and just reviews. Especially when I have 'hands on' Tesla experience that they were so quick to criticize like they used to do with the Prius.

Bob Wilson

​

 

<MEGA SIGH>

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

Did Consumer Reports review a LIDAR equipped vehicle?

Bob Wilson

 

I hope so. I was surprised at the TSS 2.5 when I saw the window sticker as well

 

In general made sure that it is on. With the Acura and Subaru, it is turn it on after turning on cruise control, then wait for it to get sight of the lines before letting it do its thing.

The times I had ping-ponging, I think it was because of cross winds, or I interfered too much.

Your 2024's generation came out in 2018. The next gen is expected to be released next year sometime as a 2025MY.

 

i just figured they might upgrade the software within the generation to whatever was latest.

i don't really care, and i realize toyota is not tesla.

when i turned on cruise, it was already set for drcc and lka. there was no wind, i'll try mixing up the on/off proceedure with the different systems, and check the manual again.

 

And check the tire pressure. You wouldn't be first to find that the dealer left it at 52psi from the train trip, and that can make any car skittery.

 

amazingly, the new hycam does have four corner pressure display. there was no drifting with hands off manual steering, but i'll corroborate with actual readings, thanks!

 

i did shut it off. i'll keep trying, but if it keeps swerving back and forth, i'll have to leave it off. the drcc worked very well though, with it on or off.

we don't do a lot of highway driving, so it won't get a good test until we leave for florida in january