IIn a previous dashboard column, I have explained what an Advanced Driver Assistance System or ADAS is and also explained some of its features like Collision Avoidance System, which is for all intents and purposes, automatic braking. But over the past few weeks, I’ve driven cars with ADAS on highways like the New Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and now, I’m making peace with the technology. Because, as the mid-life facelift of the fifth-generation Honda City proves, ADAS is going to be everywhere in the years to come.
There are no dramatic changes to the Honda City, though – some minor cosmetic design changes have been made to the interiors and exteriors. The big change is that Honda now offers Honda Sensing, which they call their ADAS, on all variants of the car. In fact, from now on, every Honda City will come with the system, except for the entry-level manual variant. Hence, Honda is the first carmaker in India to offer ADAS on a manual car. While buyers in major metropolitan areas can opt for automatic variants, manuals are popular in smaller towns, though this too is changing. Honda has challenged other car makers by installing ADAS in the City.
Just as there has been a rapid proliferation of touchscreen infotainment systems in all cars – even the Maruti-Suzuki Alto has a feature today – ADAS is likely to be the next feature to become standard. While talking to Honda executives during the launch of the new car, I learned that the upcoming Honda sports utility vehicle (SUV), which is expected to take on the Hyundai Creta and the Maruti-Suzuki Grand Vitara (which will be based on the City platform), will be launched in India. has been designed for. There is also Honda Sensing. And so will the next generation of the Honda Amaze compact sedan. Takuya Tsumura, CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said that the establishment of Honda Sensing is a global mandate from the headquarters.
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Focus on better security
There is something more to it. In some markets such as Western Europe and the United States, a ‘five-star’ safety rating or a secure body shell that protects the occupants is not sufficient – vehicles require driver assistance. This has been quite controversial as some cars, although they are structurally safe, have lost points due to the lack of advanced safety assistance features.
While some car manufacturers have in the past stripped off safety features from cars manufactured in India, customer concerns about safety have forced them to raise safety standards. Indian manufacturers Mahindra and Tata Motors have taken a clear lead here. But ADAS has always been available only on the top-end and most expensive models. The fact that the Honda Sensing will be available in the mid-level V specification of the City, which starts at Rs 12.37 lakh ex-showroom, makes it almost certain that other carmakers will follow suit.
The new Kia Seltos is expected to get a mid-life refresh later this year and the Hyundai Creta in 2024 will get ADAS.
Problems with ADAS
However there are some problems. The first is that ADAS requires a lot of processing power. After all, features like Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning and Mitigation Process Radar Information – ADAS come with technology used in aviation. The system also uses cameras in, say, streetlights where it processes images within milliseconds. All of this requires extremely advanced processing power, and currently, there seems to be a shortage of ADAS parts due to the semiconductor shortage that has particularly affected the automotive industry. Tsumura assured Honda buyers of semiconductor supply for ADAS till the second half of 2023, after which he expects the shortage to ease.
There is another problem with ADAS. It can interfere with the driving process a bit too much. For example, when the collision mitigation system kicks in, the car may brake extremely hard—harder than a human. Lane assist can be annoying, especially in city traffic as cars try to keep you within your lane when you’re trying to overtake, although it stops if you use your indicators. She goes.
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Never forget that it’s just a system
Despite such problems, I got used to ADAS. I drove the Honda City down the Yamuna Expressway using adaptive cruise control (which adjusts speed according to the vehicle in front), lane-keeping assist, and, of course, collision mitigation. Honda warns you of a possible collision with a big orange alert on the instrument cluster and via an alarm. The ADAS on the Hyundai Tucson and the MG Hector also have a similar alarm system. As I wrote earlier about my experience of the New Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, our driving habits in India still don’t match the roads we’re building. To put it bluntly, I got a reply on social media: “First world roads and third world drivers.” ADAS can help.
Also, we are very distracted drivers nowadays. Most of us would be lying if we said that we have never looked at our mobile phones while driving. I’d be lying if I said I’ve never done this, although I try not to. I use Apple CarPlay and voice recognition to ‘type’ my messages and have even tried to stop the car and have largely been successful. But far too many drivers are distracted by their smartphones, and this is where I think ADAS will really help prevent accidents.
However, it must be remembered that ADAS is only an assistance system – it is not autonomous driving. Sure, the car can do most of the work with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, especially on expressways, but your hands should be on the steering wheel at all times and your right foot ready to apply the brake. While there is no doubt that ADAS will be the next ‘big’ feature we see in cars in India, the fact that it is just an assistance system should never be forgotten.
@kushanmitra is an automotive journalist based in New Delhi. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Hamra Like)