Lease Hackable EV SUVs with good Active Driving Assistance System

Ask the Hackrs
1

Hello everyone,

I am seeking your recommendations for an EV SUV with a good Active Driving Assistance System, similar to Tesla’s AutoPilot, as I do a lot of freeway driving. Must be reliable with a) full-speed adaptive cruise control and b) lane centering, not just lane keep assist like Ping-Pong within the lane. I don’t need FSD, automatic lane changing, traffic sign assist or anything fancy.

My target is an effective monthly payment of under $600, with an annual mileage of 10,000 to 12,000 miles.

How about the Mercedes EQ models with the driver assist package? Owners of Mercedes EQ models, could you share your real-world experiences with this driver assist system? My test drives experience at the dealership is very limited.

Also, I notice that the 2024 Mercedes EQ models with the driver assist package tend to be high MSRP or near fully loaded, whereas the 2025 models seem to offer this package with lower MSRPs or even as the only added option. Given that we have two existing cars and are not in a rush, should I wait until the 2025 EQ models offering high incentives?

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Zdx type s

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Thanks. But based on my search about the type-S, the effective monthly payment is above $600.

4

Which state are you registering in?

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Socal. Thanks!

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ZDX Type S is great, and I believe it uses GM’s Super Cruise. So, any Chevy/GMC/Cadillac EV with the Super Cruise would do the job.

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Tesla autopilot was great, like 4 years ago. Almost every other system on the market is superior at this point. The real question is if you want a full hands-free experience, or if you are OK with maintaining wheel contact, like Tesla requires. MB system is not full hands free. BMW DAPP, Ford Bluecruise and GM Supercruise are hands free (ranked in my order of preference). MB is a distant fourth to these other systems, closer to Kia/Hyundai HDA then the others, but still better then Autopilot.

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8

Buy anything except EQ. I drove two EQE SUVs that gives random turn signal by itself and the car starts changing the lane. Not worth the money, unless you absolutely need that MB logo.

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Depends on if you qualify for conquest/loyalty.

I’m paying just under your budget on mine and the incentives have got better since I got it.

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The price of the type-S seems to be twice as much as the A-Spec. 24m/10k AWD.

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Post your calculator for the type S.

And it’s completely irrelevant what the A-spec is going for if you have no intention of getting one.

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Thanks for giving the details. The Consumer Reports did give high rating to the MB Driver Assist.

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If you don’t care about hands-free then the MB system is fine. I’ve got an EQS580 and I’ve driven many thousands of miles using MB DA. The system performs well other than this one fatal flaw. OTOH, when I drive my BMW IX with DAPP, with highway hands-free and look to change lines, it’s a far superior experience.

The only upside to the MB system is you can keep one hand on the wheel and use your phone, since it does not implement eyeball monitoring. That’s not possible with any of three big hands-free systems, they are constantly monitoring your line of site.

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14

Yah, it is a good bit more expensive than the a spec. Drives way better, much better ride, better tech, etc. A spec doesn’t meet your requirements so it’s a moot point.

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15

Good feedback. I will have to try these. My experience so far is just with Tesla FSD, Nissan ProPilot, Kia, Ford, Toyota.

I like Tesla FSD best followed by Kia. Nissan Leaf is suprisingly great on freeways, but not hands off. Tesla with attention monitoring can be hands off for part of my commute.

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Until MY25, GM supercruise has no lane centering on unmapped roads. It’s just ACC. This could be a dealbreaker depending on your routes.

I personally like BMW and Hyundai/Kia/Genesis implementations.

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I have not looked into Lucid, but I’m curious how they stack against Tesla and BMW in ADAS.

I will have to take a test drive.

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Sorry for sounding amateur here, but you leased a ZDX for under $600/ month? I’m looking at Mazda PHEV CX90s for high 6’s. I’m clearly doing something wrong. Located in NorCal, not sure if that makes a difference.

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Theyre way cheaper if you do an a spec too

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I had an EQE with the package and used it a lot. It’s not the best. The system has limited steering control authority so at higher speeds or sharper corners it will drift out of lane. Also it is sensitive to lane markings and (especially on cement freeways) it couldn’t always read the lines.
But besides these to complaints the system does well most of the time and is smooth

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