The Best Driver Assistance Systems You Can Buy That Aren't Tesla Autopilot

Since the introduction of the Ford Model T in 1908 (via Ford), automobiles have enjoyed a steady evolution in all parts of their technology. We've seen developments in vehicle design and aerodynamics, transmission and differential systems, and even the energy sources used to power our cars. Now, it's clear that the driving experience is the next frontier of innovation, hence the goal of self-driving automobiles — cars that can perform one or more driving functions without the direct control of the driver.

It's also clear, though, that there's a stiff race among the companies invested in this driver-assistance tech. While Tesla dominates the automotive industry by both market share and valuation, it is neck deep in competition with other brands like Mercedes-Benz and General Motors to offer the most cutting-edge driver assistance. These and many other manufacturers work with the levels of autonomous driving outlined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE International: Level 0 – No Driving Automation, Level 1 – Driver Assistance, Level 2 – Partial Driving Automation, Level 3 – Conditional Driving Automation, Level 4 – High Driving Automation, and Level 5 – Full Driving Automation.

Admittedly, we still have a long way to go before Level 5 self-driving becomes a reality. So automobile companies have chosen to move through each level while ensuring a smooth driving experience and guaranteed safety. Combining these factors with other upsides of a vehicle such as design, cost, and range, it's easy to see how you might prefer a driver-assistance system that isn't Tesla Autopilot. Let's check them out.

Of course, Mercedes-Benz is another household name with a reputation for automotive quality, especially in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The luxury sedan already bears what the automaker calls the "Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX)" (via Heycar). Soon, it will add the first SAE Level 3 self-driving technology to be approved globally.

DRIVE PILOT, Mercedes' self-driving suite works with several sensors inside and outside of the automobile including lidar sensors, cameras, and even microphones. These sensors help to enable a number of driverless features. There's Lane Change Assist, which actively changes lanes on the highway while monitoring the speed of vehicles behind and before the car. The S-Class also has the Distronic, or Active Distance Assist, to change the car's velocity and maintain a safe distance from other cars. 

You can get Remote Parking Assist and Active Parking Assist, both of which allow for vehicle self-parking. Other features include Active Brake Assist and Active Emergency Stop Assist, focused on decelerating or stopping the vehicle if a collision is detected, Active Traffic Sign Assist and Active Speed Limit Assist, to detect traffic information and keep the driver within regulated speed limits, and many more. These features are further bolstered by the company's trademark Car-to-X Communication technology, which enables the S-Class to network with other similar vehicles and creates even safer driving conditions.

GM is not the only American car company that's trying to cruise its way onto the top of the driver-assistance hierarchy. With the Blue Cruise on the Ford F-150, this automaker is proving that it can beat the best in the world.

Previously known as Active Drive Assist, Ford's Blue Cruise also deploys its high-level self-driving features only on pre-mapped roadways in North America, which currently exceed 130,000 miles according to the company. When on these roads, you get automatic steering, braking, and acceleration during the ride. At its core, Blue Cruise also features adaptive cruise control, speed limit recognition, and accurate self-parking capabilities made possible with Active Park Assist 2.0.

The driver assistance technology monitors whoever is in the driver's seat to ensure that they remain alert even when the vehicle is being driven hands-free. The company believes that until we attain a certain level of technological competence, such a feature remains necessary to guarantee the safety of drivers, passengers, property, and even the F-150 itself.

The Infiniti QX50 is also making a strong statement on the driver-assisted car leaderboard through the ProPILOT Assist. Developed by Infiniti's parent company Nissan, ProPILOT Assist works mainly with 360-degree cameras and radar sensors that provide a complete assessment of the vehicle's driving conditions relative to other vehicles and objects on the motorway. ProPILOT is capable of predicting how the QX50 should react to road conditions such as bumps and potholes, adjusting the vehicle's handling to minimize the effects of such conditions. Other smart features include automatic braking in emergency situations, intelligent detection of pedestrians and moving objects, automatic speed control and adjustment, notification of lane changes, recognition of traffic and road signs, collision alerts both in front of and behind the QX50, and adaptive cruise control.

In terms of driver and passenger safety, the ProPILOT Assist takes things a notch higher than both Toyota's Lexus Teammate and Ford's Blue Cruise. In this case, the driver has to keep their hands on the steering wheel even while ProPILOT utilizes automatic steering, acceleration, and braking controls. As Nissan and Infiniti collaborate to strengthen the algorithms for obstacle detection and collision avoidance on the QX50, there remains the goal of increasing the confidence level of the driver while self-driving features are in use and going completely hands-free. For now, though, this is still a major work in progress.

For an automobile company that places such a high value on driving safety, it's a bit surprising that Swedish automaker Volvo would decide to tread the self-driving vehicle path. But what makes this development great is simple: with Volvo, car owners can be assured that the company has maintained this focus on safety while building its self-driving tech. The Volvo XC60, a midsize SUV has been a great vehicle for Volvo to demonstrate the potency of its Pilot Assist advanced driver assistance system.

Pilot Assist employs a range of radar sensors and cameras to develop real-time models of driving conditions and then automate certain features based on these models. Capable of operating at speeds up to 80 miles per hour, the core of the Pilot Assist system is its adaptive cruise control, by which it carefully manipulates the vehicle's speed to remain at a safe distance from other vehicles on all sides while driving. Pilot Assist is also capable of recognizing lane markings on a highway and then utilizing lane-centering algorithms to keep the XC60 within its lane. Other driver-assist tech features include driver monitoring to keep the driver alert, speed limit control, collision warnings, and automatic braking.

BMW's largest SUV by size, the BMW X7 also gets boosted with driver-assistance features. For this vehicle, BMW has deployed the Driving Assistance Professional Package and enabled its functions using cameras and sensors. Rated at the SAE Level 2 of autonomous driving, this package consists of such features as Extended Traffic Jam Assist for navigating the vehicle during stop-and-go traffic jams, Frontal Collision Warning, which alerts the driver of any obstacles in front of the vehicle, and City Collision Mitigation which helps drivers avoid other situations that could cause a collision.

Interestingly, BMW recently introduced Highway Assistant — which is normally found on BMW's 7 series — to the X7. At speeds up to 40 miles per hour, the vehicle can be driven hands-free. The Highway Assistant also keeps the driver-focused, using an in-vehicle camera that monitors the driver's head movement. Any distractions would cause the system to send a notification to the driver, and if they do not regain focus on the ride within a few seconds, the Highway Assistant is automatically disabled.