Without fanfare, Stellantis entered Level 2 hands-free driver assistance system Game at the end of 2023.
Stellantis’ system is called Hands-Free Active Driving Assist and was introduced with the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Motor Authority has gained some insight into how the system and its hardware works, but we are left with some questions that currently have no answers.
Below we explain what we know so far about Hands-Free Active Driving Assist, what has yet to be revealed, and some key similarities and differences between it and Ford’s BlueCruise And GM’s super cruise systems.
Stellantis Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
What is a hands-free active driving assistant?
Confusingly, Stellantis offers an active driving assistance system and a hands-free active driving assistance system. The former is a fancy term for Stellantis’ active lane control, also known as lane keeping assistant, which requires your hands to be on the steering wheel at all times. This system can be used on any road with visible lane markings.
The Hands-Free Active Driving Assist is the new system from Stellantis and enables hands-free driving, but only on mapped roads.
To make things even more confusing, Jeep’s website swaps the two terms in certain places, but Hands-Free Active Driving Assist is more complicated and has greater functionality.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Which vehicles offer hands-free active driving assistant?
Currently, the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist system is an option on the two-row 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and three-row Grand Cherokee L in Overland, Summit and Summit Reserve trim levels. Buyers will have to opt for the 3.6-liter V6 as the system cannot be equipped with the 4xe plug-in hybrid or the V8.
The 2025 Ram 1500 pickup will be the next model to offer the hands-free active driving assistance system.
How much does the hands-free active driving assistant cost?
For Grand Cherokees, the package costs $2,995, including a three-year trial. Pricing for the package for the 2025 Ram 1500 has not yet been determined, but it will also include a three-year trial.
A Stellantis spokesperson told Motor Authority that owners will be able to purchase it on a subscription basis after the three-year trial period ends, but the price is not yet available.
BlueCruise-equipped vehicles come with a 90-day trial. Buyers then have the choice of paying $75 per month or $800 per year to continue using the speakerphone. GM’s Super Cruise system costs $2,200 to $2,500 depending on the vehicle and includes a three-year trial period. In order for the system to continue working after the trial period, a Super Cruise OnStar subscription is required for $25 per month.
Stellantis Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
Where does the hands-free active driving assistant work?
The system works on certain divided highways with limited access (no open cross streets) using map data from TomTom. GM and Ford have not publicly disclosed who provides the mapping data for their systems.
Stellantis did not specify whether the map data is radar-based, like Ford, or lidar-based, like GM. The former is less detailed while the latter is more detailed. It is also currently unclear how the map data will be fed into the vehicle. Ford’s BlueCruise keeps all map data local at all times, and over-the-air updates provide the system with new information from time to time. GM’s Super Cruise system stores minimal map data locally and feeds the map data in real time as the vehicle travels down the road.
A Stellantis spokesperson wouldn’t reveal how many miles of map data it currently has, but Jeep’s website touts “over 125,000 miles of compatible roads.” GM’s system works roughly 750,000 miles of roads Today. Ford’s system has more than 130,000 miles of mapped roads.
Stellantis also did not report which streets are mapped.
Stellantis Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
How do I turn on the hands-free active driving assistant?
When you are on a road with map data, a cellular connection, and road markings that can be seen by the vehicle’s cameras, the system can be activated by tapping the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist button on the right spoke of the steering wheel.
When activated, the icons in the digital instrument cluster turn green, the ambient lighting on the sides of the digital instrument cluster turns green, and green graphics appear on the available head-up display.
Stellantis Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
What hardware does the hands-free active driving assistant use?
Stellantis hasn’t detailed what hardware the system uses, but it’s clear that it makes use of the vehicle’s radar system (unknown whether it’s short-range or long-range), forward-facing camera, and blind spot monitoring.
The Stellantis spokesman said the system had “redundancies in capture and calculation,” but declined to elaborate. The GM system has several redundancies, including a supercapacitor in case a problem occurs in the 12-volt system. Ford doesn’t have many of these redundancies and views the driver as a backup system.
The Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the system does not include lidar hardware (neither GM’s Super Cruise system nor Ford’s BlueCruise system have lidar). However, the spokesperson confirmed that, like the GM system, the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist has an HD GPS receiver. This is a key component that Ford’s system is missing.
A traditional GPS receiver locates a vehicle on a road rather than a specific lane and has an accuracy of 49.21 feet. According to General Motors, an HD GPS receiver locates a car within 6.56 feet. This means that the system knows which lane the car is in. Ford is trying to get around this by putting together a real-time view of the vehicle using the built-in sensors and cameras.
Stellantis equips vehicles with a hands-free active driving assistant, where an infrared camera is mounted on the top of the steering column to monitor the driver’s eyes.
Stellantis Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
What does the hands-free Active Driving Assistant do if the driver isn’t paying attention?
If the system detects that the driver is not watching the road, a series of warnings will appear on the digital instrument cluster, starting with green, then increasing yellow and finally red. If the driver does not react, the system slows the vehicle and ultimately carries out a controlled stop in its lane. The vehicle then triggers an SOS call for help via the vehicle’s cellular connection. Stellantis did not say how long the driver can remain inattentive. Ford’s system provides a very short leash of just four seconds. GM’s system used to be about the same, but it appears the automaker has extended the leash to about 10 seconds based on our experience with recent updates.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Can you drive faster with the hands-free active driving assistant?
Absolutely. The system works up to speeds of 90 miles per hour. GM’s system works at speeds up to 85 mph, while Ford’s system kicks in at 80 mph.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve 4×4
Can you tow with hands-free active driving assist?
No.
While GM’s system did Trailer skillsFord BlueCruise cannot be towed.
Stellantis Hands-Free Active Driving Assist System
Can the hands-free Active Driving Assistant change lanes?
Yes. As with the Ford system, the driver must initiate the lane change by tapping the turn signal lever. The system detects whether it is safe to change lanes and then executes it. The GM system automatically performs a lane change to pass slower traffic and then moves right again to adhere to lane etiquette.
Will the Hands-Free Active Driving Assist tip over in the lane?
Yes. Like Ford and GM’s system, Stellantis has programmed Hands-Free Active Driving Assist to move the vehicle from its center position in the lane when overtaking slower traffic. This creates air between the two vehicles.
This is what we know so far, more information may follow soon. We look forward to testing it.
