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Pretty sure most newer cars, maybe outside the cheap/base models, are going to do similar, adaptive cruise or not. Our 18 Expedition does, my 17 Fiesta ST does not. The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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Member |
Probably so. My sister's Subaru needed brake pads replaced at only around 22,000 miles. When she questioned the mechanic saying she's never had to replace pads less than 50,000 miles before, he showed them to her and said this is becoming typical now with adaptive cruise and traction control, especially in hilly and snow areas. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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| Savor the limelight |
I was not so lucky. I had just picked him up from school and had the top down. I suppose I could claim my race was bright red from sunburn. | |||
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| Member |
 No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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| Member |
My 2018 Grand Cherokee Diesel does it… engine brakes and downshifts, sometimes two or three gears (8 speed auto) as necessary to hold speed. I hate it and it waste fuel. You lose the benefit of the free speed gained by gravity. Some people spread happiness wherever they go… some whenever they go. | |||
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Member |
Wife's Pathfinder does this. I would probably find it mildly annoying, but like all the other technology on the car the implementation is questionable. If the cruise is set to 55, it will actually brake down to 54 or 53 on downhill sections. That's pretty irritating on it's own, but apparently it also makes it go through rear brake pads at an absurd rate. "The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people." "Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy." "I did," said Ford, "it is." "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?" "It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want." "You mean they actually vote for the lizards." "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course." "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?" "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in." | |||
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| Member |
One thing that I've noticed on both my last car (2019 Corolla) and this one is there doesn't seem to be much engine braking. Going down a slight grade say in 5th gear at 50 mph foot off the accelerator the car gaining speed, downshifting to 4th doesn't hold it back much at all and it still gains speed just not quite as fast. Some motorcycles are doing this now as well but most let you select how much engine braking to be reduced. Personally I want it all but I think they offer reduced engine braking for smoother on/off throttling. It is not selectable on the car unfortunately. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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| No More Mr. Nice Guy |
Our 2020 Audi without adaptive cruise control does it. Whoever thought of this function never lived in a mountainous area! | |||
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| Get my pies outta the oven!  |
I guess you guys would think I'm weird by saying that I never ever use cruise control. Tried it ONE TIME on a trip from PA to MS with long stretches of driving but I still just feel more comfortable driving my car normally. Anyone else? | |||
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| Member |
My FiST is the same. Even in a fairly low gear on flat ground it doesn't engine brake very well. Gas pedal is a bit too low to heel/toe it [and I suck at it too  ]The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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| Member |
I have one friend that never used cruise control, something about feeling "less in control" when he tried it. Interestingly on the BMW R1250GS he just bought he's been experimenting and finds he actually likes it once he got used to it. Now he's using cruise in his car as well.
One nice feature on both my previous Corolla and this Civic is "Rev Match". When selected, the car automatically blips rpm up to just where it needs to be as the lower gear is engaged. I think this feature is pretty slick. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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| His diet consists of black coffee, and sarcasm.  |
I'm not sure how you expect the cruise control to maintain speed down hills unless it also brakes, most likely on just the rear wheels so as to give less sensation of braking. I'm curious about what, if anything, your owner's manual says about using cruise control in hilly terrain. To me, it is not suitable for that, nor in traffic with speed differentials between the slower and faster cars. It shines in long, flat and straight highways with relatively little traffic. If you are going to use it, better stock up on rear brake pads and rotors. "The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke | |||
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| Savor the limelight |
Has cruise control always used vehicle’s brakes to slow the car down? Our 1973 Vista Cruiser had cruise control and I’m fairly sure most of our vehicles after that had it as well. I just assumed the cruise control let off the gas and let engine braking slow the vehicle. | |||
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| Member |
I've never expected it to. As trapper mentioned cruise never used to brake the vehicle it only controlled the accelerator. So down steep enough hills the speed would pick up but typically not too much because engine braking prevented free wheeling especially with manual transmissions but even automatics. Other than down the steepest grades, 5-6 mph gain was typical and no big deal plus you have a bit of extra momentum starting up the hill saving both gasoline and brakes. The more recent adaptive cruise control which is meant to maintain a set distance from the car you're following naturally incorporates braking which was simple enough since the vehicles computer was already doing so with ABS and traction control. They also made it so even if there was no slower vehicle ahead it would brake the car down hills. Many people, me included, never cared for cruise slowing the car down from the set speed to pace the slower car being approached or riding the brakes down grades. I made sure before purchase that the 2 prior vehicles I had which incorporated adaptive cruise also allowed you to choose traditional cruise so no big deal. This Civic does as well only what they are calling "conventional cruise" still brakes down hills. I know it's a 1st world problem. I can manage to cancel cruise going down grades then resuming it again at the bottom, and I can adapt to the car not slowing down much when down shifting. But it pisses me off that I have to. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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thin skin can't win |
On a positive note, no speeding tickets just due to incline?  Also, are you driving on your own personal highway, or coasting on past others on a four lane, then back over for them to pass you on flats or next hill? I've been in that chain, and chose getting out of range of the random speed generator person instead of rocket launchers, but it was close.... You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02 | |||
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| Member |
No it's *very* seldom that someone catches back up after being passed down hill. Most cars and trucks run a little faster down hill, only the ones with braking cruise set at my exact speed or less (which you can tell because their brake lights are on and off all the time) get passed. The local road I most often use cruise is I-68 in WV and western MD. Once east of Morgantown there's not very much traffic. Cruise is typically set at 77 or 78. Speed w/o braking might up to 80-82 depending on hill, on gradual hills the wind resistance and engine are enough to hold it to set speed. I'm only varying a few mph and more often than not the same cars not using cruise that fly past me going down hill are the ones I pass up the next hill as they vary 10 mph or more. Trucks might vary 30+ mph chugging along at 40mph up the hills in the middle lane then 70-75+ down hill. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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| Edge seeking Sharp blade! |
My 2006 BMW downshifts to maintain speed on downhills and I've never been in a car that brakes to maintain speed. I foil the cruise control by putting it in top gear in the manual setting on hilly roads. Seems to work without any apparent downside. | |||
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| Savor the limelight |
I love that move. Pass me, get in front of me, then slow down.  Towing the 5th wheel on I-75 and some guy did this to me 5 times. The only time my speed varied was when he got in front of me and slowed down 10mph. If you’re going to pass someone, make it stick. | |||
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Don't Panic |
Is it a hybrid, by any chance? My 2024 hybrid (Toyota RAV4) does this downhill to charge up instead of speed up, while my 2017 hybrid didn't. One of the myriad of things done to boost fuel economy. It was noticeable at first, but after a short while I just came to expect it and now it's unremarkable. | |||
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| Member |
Civic Si. Definitely not a Hybrid 1.5l turbo I4 & a 6 speed manual The Enemy's gate is down. | |||
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