This SUV wants to drive itself, but needs your help

As much as we’d like for every car that we review to be as exciting as the Jaguar F-Type that recently graced the Car Tech garage, the reality is that most of the time I’m driving regular sedans and dull SUVs. So, while there was a lot to look forward to with the 2014 Acura MDX’s arrival — it’s handsome new design, jewel-like full LED headlamps, and the promise of updated tech, for example — the reality was that I was fully prepared to be just a bit bored this week.

And then I hit the road, curiously tapped the button for the Lane Keeping Assist system, and was met with one of the weirdest drives of my life.

Advanced, awkward, awesomeThe MDX’s midtier Technology package adds a number of passive driver aid technologies, such as a blind-spot-monitoring system, a forward collision warning system, and a lane departure warning system. Each of these systems will chide you with visual and audible alerts, letting you know that there’s potential danger — such as merging into a lane that’s currently occupied or drifting out of your current lane because of inattentiveness — but they don’t actively intervene in any way.

However, the MDX’s top-tier option package and trim level, the MDX Advance, adds active intervention abilities to the passive driver aid features of the Technology package. Forward collision alert becomes a Collision Mitigation Braking System tha… [Read more]

Car Tech: An automotive blog from CNET