Volkswagen Golf 8 Travel Assist: real-life test in a city (Traffic Jam Assist) highway :: [1001cars]

Volkswagen Golf 8 can be equipped with Travel Assist. This function enables assisted driving up to 210 km/h. In this process, the system relies on systems including ACC Adaptive Cruise Control (longitudinal guidance) and Lane Assist lane keeping system (latitudinal guidance). Travel Assist is activated using the multifunction steering wheel. For legal and safety-relevant reasons drivers must permanently monitor the system - for this purpose, they must have at least one hand on the steering wheel. Thanks to new capacitive sensor technology in the steering wheel, it is sufficient if drivers merely touch it. However, if they let go of the steering wheel for more than 15 seconds, visual and audible warning signals and a braking jolt are issued and implemented. The driver must react by this point at the latest and touch the steering wheel, otherwise Emergency Assist is activated and the Golf is brought to a stop. I checked how Travel Assist works in a traffic jam and on a highway. Enjoy the review! :)

[@Kolcobrzuch]

This type of test should be a part of every YT car review. Instead of checking how soft are materials of a dashboard where I will never even think about touching it or if the glove compartment is lined with plush material. Most of the car reviewers don't talk about audio or infotainment systems. Maybe only Straight Pipes crew do a little bit about how user-friendly those systems are but I'm not familiar with any other channel where car assist systems are reviewed as it is done here. Good job!

[@FastRedPonyCar]

@@Brian-jv8iy Yeah I had a MK7 Golf R and it had headlights that turned with the steering wheel and would pivot up and down when going up and over hills and dipping down so that the lights were always pointing straight ahead instead of up at the sky or down at the ground. One of the things I miss most honestly. I got into a multi-car pile up on the interstate and had to have both headlamps replaced. They were $3000 each :O

[@ImraanIs]

@@FastRedPonyCar Wow! That sounds amazing! Is this comparable to what is now available with the Golf 8 - IQ Light with Dynamic Light Assist ? This is an option I was considering.

[@FastRedPonyCar]

@@ImraanIs I'm not sure. If it was on the MK7, I would assume they have it on the 8.

[@atikanatasoy]

You are mostly right, but soft materials tend to make a lot less noise on uneven roads, so I find this information useful.

[@rafaelbetancourt3551]

Awesome video, thank you for taking the time to produce this 👍

[@Federick732000]

Could you show the Park Assist of the Golf 8? There aren't any video about this car that shows it in detail

[@biokemp]

Was it Travel assist Medium or High or the only difference between those is that High has Park Assist so both Medium and High should work the same in terms of active lane keeping?

[@thomasmeier8764]

Great video, enjoyed watching it! Does the display animation of the cars around one come only with the Side Assist or is it also available for cars that do not have the Blind Spot Information System?

[@BuRNingFLaN]

Thank you for the excellent demos of Travel Assist! How reliable is Travel Assist on keeping you in the center of the lane on motor/freeways?

[@1001cars]

As you can see on the video it works really good :)

[@antonthompson7838]

Great video buddy my new Golf 8 Style 1.5eTSI will be here early February so I like to watch these types of videos seeing how it works, it’s my first VW that has Travel Assist so I’m looking forward to using it on long journeys to Northumberland to see my parents which is a 6 hour drive.

[@liberfarb]

They said it will arrive on Feb? You are a lucky guy .

[@victorgc8]

I have golf 8 life tsi

[@liberfarb]

@@victorgc8 Hi Victor , how are you ? How is the golf ? How is the quietness in the salon ? How it feels in driving ? Are you happy ? Thank you :)

[@antonthompson7838]

@@liberfarb Yes it’s now at my local dealership waiting for me, I’m going to get it on Monday and I can’t wait!

[@antonthompson7838]

@@victorgc8 Congrats! So how long have you had your Golf?

[@yassu-4722]

You do really good videos, waiting for Seat Leon Phev review soon.. Electric motor range and consumpution L/100km

[@1001cars]

Watch Octavia RS iV review, it is similar drivetrain so the consumption will be similar (or... a little bit less in Leon, smaller car): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIK8XpeFpsyIhqs

[@dogukanyldz6779]

İs it availabe on just dsg or manuel to?

[@victorgc8]

I have golf 8 life Travel assist is perfect

[@bluplr]

What's the backing track? Sounds aphex twin

[@alexmilic596]

Thank you for this great video. Could you please explain what is Travel Assist benefit in terms of upgrading ACC and Lane Assist? In other words, what is the driving disadvantage of Golf 8 which has ACC and Line Assist but not have Travel Assist? Is it possible to add Travel Assist after purchasing the vehicle (via announced post-purchase option)?

[@1001cars]

Lane assist is a safety feature, it is sth. else comparing to lane keeping assist (part of travel assist). Without travel assist you will not be able to left the steering wheel similar to I did on the movie.

[@alexmilic596]

@@1001cars Ok, thanks. Very useful information. To left SW is not so important for me like the fact that without TA driver can not count on keeping assist also.

[@dreede1]

Hello, thank you for test. Is it possible just one finger touch of wheel and make little resistance at wheel to storno "take over steering" message? Or you need to touch wheel on both sides of wheel as you did all test. I have Corolla TS and there you can easily avoid this with just hanging hand on bottom of wheel and making permanent resistance. Also 0,5 bottle of water mounted in wheel is enough to drive with assistant.

[@1001cars]

It is difficult to answer. As far as I checked you have to keep at least two fingers on the steering wheel.

[@arnoebbe]

@@1001cars Hi, so are you saying, that every time you get warning you need to touch with at least a finger from each hand, together, at the same time the left and right side of the steering wheel? Have you tried to see if the sensors will detect your hand if you keep just one hand on top of the wheel or hold it on the bottom as most of the people drive normally ( when no heavy traffic on motorway I mean)?

[@-EvoII-]

Its also ok if you wobbling the Steering wheel. Also with your legs.

[@saintmay1952]

I thought that the traffic jam assist was not available on Golf 8 models.

[@garteaga482]

Will this system hold the car at a stop (IE: ACC on slowing and stopping at red light) forever or does it time out after a period of time?

[@1001cars]

Yes, it holds the car at a stop forever. After few seconds (~10 s) the system calls to make an action to drive.

[@lol4everty]

When in a traffic jam fo you need to keep pressing the buttong on the steering wheel the whole time? It says ACC ready to start, does it turn off every time you are standing still?

[@1001cars]

If you watched the movie carefully you could see that not every time I had to push "resume" button to restart the driving assist :)

[@bck365]

What was the consumption? And can you’d a range test with this car? Or just another consumption video in comfort mode or sport.

[@1001cars]

Fuel consumption with 1.5 eTSI: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHSze4iYZ9SVd80

[@mateoyanez2955]

Hello one question , if you activate the turn signal , can travel assit do the automated lane changing , while travel assit is on?

[@1001cars]

No, it will not change the lane automatically.

[@MrZhilvinas]

Not entirely true, its a bit halfway. If you signal a lanechange and then nudge the steering wheel, it will do the rest. I.e. go to a gentle steering angle and then auto straighten out once at the center of the new lane. You can feel the steering wheel 'snap' into a gentle turn once you nudge it to begin the maneuver. That is also the moment when blind spot assist intervenes if nescessary - the steering wheel keeps resisting you instead of snapping towards the new lane.

[@alexalucard1611]

Did you engage the break at 4:04, or it breaks by itself ? It looks a bit brutal and the car behind you have to be aware to avoid an accident

[@1001cars]

At 4:04 the situation was really unusual and difficult for the assistant systems. The ACC radar did not recognize the car (the angle was too wide), the front assist system took control and used the brakes. Almost every car will fail such test.

[@DAZZER435]

@@1001cars The front assist on my Golf 7.5 sometimes intervenes when it is necessary, however sometimes it doesn't and I have to slam on the brakes. Other times it brakes when it doesn't need to. These systems cannot be completely relied upon. I have also had situations where the ACC does not detect a car directly in front of me, and I have had to manually intervene.

[@Freakymonify]

@@1001cars I can confirm this is the case as well, my Mazda 3 would've struggled to detect the van in front and has done on multiple similar occasions. The radar can only have a certain width at which it'll detect things otherwise it'd be slowing down for cars in other lanes. Unfortunately this means it won't detect things on a sharp enough bend.

[@Ar5had07]

During traffic, when ACC has brought the car to a stop, does it resume automatically or you have to press the pedal or resume to carry on?

[@1001cars]

Look at 02:40, you will find the answer :)

[@Ar5had07]

@@1001cars ah okay, my BMW will just go by itself. No limit, but as long as your eyes are looking at the road, if not, then you have to press gas or resume.

[@1001cars]

@@Ar5had07That is right, this is what I showed few years ago :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5SoZ5J3bNp9kNE

[@muhammadfaridsuryautama319]

That ''Take over steering!'' warning chime is similiar to Airbus planes.

[@maxou5757]

Sounds like the ECAM Caution chime ! Pretty cool

[@kead6636]

At the traffic lights, do you need to accelerate and set travel assist again?

[@1001cars]

If I used brakes, I have to turn the travel assist again as you may expect :)

[@danielrecker1305]

in german forums and yt videos alot of people complain about error warnings regarding the travel assist. Sometimes it just stops working and gives a warning. But even false emergency brakings occured, some could be saved by the driver, others dont. did you experience anything like that?

[@1001cars]

There is now easy answer. The problem is: in what kind situation it did not work properly. Many times people expect sth. which is not doable by computer, for example cross roads without lines. This is not full autonomous system, so you have to keep eyes on it, like with all others systems like that. Without a movie with such "mistake" I cannot take a position on it. Also: it is possible that sb. had warnings or the system stopped its work, sometimes it is a reason of sth. is broken (for example radar was hit).

[@danielrecker1305]

@@1001cars I agree, you should always be aware that the system is not working autonomously. If a wrong sign is recognized and the car starts accelerating, you should stop the system and take over. But it shouldn't be possible, to automatically adopt signs under the current value, drivers should always have to confirm this, to avoid dangerous braking. Imagine the camera catchs a wrong 30km/h sign on the autobahn, left there accidentally (maybe even on the reversed lane, I read from a guy). Cars behind you dont keep proper distance and crash into your back. Also emergency brakings must be immediately overridden, to avoid massive braking. I think thats the most dangerous point, because algorithms never can be perfect for 100% of situations.

[@1001cars]

​@@danielrecker1305 You are right! Two things: braking because of the lower speed limit is not hard, it is like using maybe 20% of the full braking power, definitely nothing dangerous on the road, not comfortable yes, but not dangerous. At the same time: you as a driver immediately feel that the system started braking in wrong moment, so it is really easy to overwrite the system. Even if your foot is not over the gas pedal you will need not more than 1-2 seconds to overwrite the system and at that time the system reduced the speed from (for example) 100 to maximum 80 (counting these 2 seconds). About emergency braking (I understand that you are talking about "emergency braking", not "emergency stop") does not work incorrectly in my opinion. the only situation when it CAN work incorrectly is when the driver drive incorrectly :) For example change 2 lanes on one move and on the middle one was slower car very close in front of us.

[@danielrecker1305]

@@1001cars Yeah, I guess youre right. Im just too worried about it. You know, Ive never driven a car with those assistance systems. (only one time on a rent-car from the workshop) Im going on a 2010 Hyundai i30 which is the "newest" car Ive driven so far. But Im thinking about getting a new one for the safety of my family and also for comfort of course 😉 In sum, its probably safer WITH those things, as deaths in traffic go down year for year...

[@1001cars]

@@danielrecker1305 If you use it like it should be you should not be unsatisfied :) Definitely Golf has better systems than i30, but still i30's systems are also good.

[@danielbuzu1763]

The configurazione of this car si life or style? And This feauture is present olso of life model or only style?

[@soulbeatzful]

google traslate diocane

[@deniznarli2535]

Hey do you know how to do the automatic lange change? Is it in the video? I could not find it

[@1001cars]

No, this car does not have automatic lane change.

[@deniznarli2535]

@@1001cars weird i have a Golf R with travel assist. Sometimes when i change lanes the car does it automatically and sometimes not at all. I can’t figure out what triggers it exactly.

[@nikolasangelides1481]

I hope you see this comment! I recently got my Golf 8 1.5 eTSI DSG with travel assist! Great feature overall but whenever i passed an exit on the highway it picked up the road signs of the exits reading 50 or 30 kph speed limit WHILE i was in the highway going 100-120 with ACC active and it braked hard to go to the new “speed limit” of 30/50… that happened almost everytime i passed an exit, super dangerous with cars behind me… did that happen to you? Can i disable the road sign feautre?

[@1001cars]

It is really strange, but... unfortunately possible with many assistance systems like Travel Assist in few countries. In the settings you can turn it off, your car will drive at speed which you set then no matter the speed limits are.

[@nikolasangelides1481]

@@1001cars thanks for replying! Are you sure that the Golf 8 has that setting? I couldn’t find it… maybe i should contact the dealership?

[@1001cars]

Yes, it has. It is in the ACC settings.

[@nikolasangelides1481]

@@1001cars okay thanks i will look for it!

[@nikolasangelides1481]

@mankvl yeah the settings were called “road sign preview” and something else and when i saw “preview” i thought it was the popup on the digital cockpit… now my ACC rides smoothly LOVE IT!

[@ivann_11]

little display animation looks like early video games

[@skytechm07]

Do you need to set specific route map In Order to use it ? Thank you

[@1001cars]

No, you do not have to, but it works better if you do that especially on crossroads etc.

[@skytechm07]

@@1001cars so without setting the map route , the brake is also slowing down during traffic jam and of course lane keeping Assist will keep you at center ?

[@1001cars]

@@skytechm07 yes

[@skytechm07]

@@1001cars Thank you

[@MrPinkyRingy]

Is it possible to disable the hands on ever 12 secs?

[@1001cars]

No, it is for safety reasons. This is no the self-driving car.

[@danielerussoexternal-accenture]

at 5:47 it was stopping automatically when bike came up?

[@1001cars]

As you could see, I used the brake. But it does not mean Golf will not stop automatically in such situation. I did not want to check it.

[@saityavuz76]

The simulacrum is scary

[@YouTubeUserLol]

You have made a video of VW Golf 7.5 Parking Assistant. Can you make a VW Golf 8 Park Assistant video?

[@1001cars]

I will try next time :)

[@mateoyanez2955]

Does predictive acc turn on automatically by turning travel assit? Or in order to work does a navigation address have to be set on in order for that system to work ?

[@1001cars]

You asked me about the same thing under the Travel Assist from passat. It is the same system.

[@1001cars]

Predictive ACC is another option, you can set in ON or OFF, as you wish. If it is ON, the Travel Assist will use predictive ACC. As I said previously: there is only one difference, if you have set the target in the navigation system, travel assist will slow down on crossroads where you have to turn, otherwise it will "think" that you want to drive on main road.

[@mateoyanez2955]

@@1001cars ok thanks, how and where do you turn predictive acc on and off?

[@user-sm7jh6zv5t]

トラベルアシスト、初めて動画で拝見しました。 設定後は、ハンドルに触れていれば、ほぼ自動運転してくれますね。 停止後も、ハンドルのSW操作でアクセルペダル等の操作も無く追従発進してくれます。 また、ある程度のコーナーリング等は自動で、ハンドルを回してくれます。 ただ停止後は、必ずハンドルの左側のSWを押さないと発進しませんが、これは安全確認等 に於いて必要な操作になる様ですね、いずれにしても、長距離運転時のアシストとしては、 十分だと思いますが日本仕様と同じか？、日本国内においての使用許可をどうするかが解り ませんが、参考になりました。

[@dibi1000]

How do you display 3 lanes on the screen, instead of 1?

[@1001cars]

Three lanes? I do not know witch three lane are you asking about :(

[@dibi1000]

@@1001cars I commented on a similar video by Motoreport. Unfortunately, it was in German which I don’t understand. It shows 3 lanes on the Golf’s Digital Cockpit; this video shows the 1 lane (which I can see in my Golf as well).

[@dibi1000]

@@Brian-jv8iy I saw this feature in a similar video by Motoreport. He’s driving a Mk8 Golf, and it shows 3 lanes on the Digital Cockpit

[@1001cars]

@@dibi1000 I watched Motoreport review of Golf 8 and I saw the same icons on digital cocpit comparing with my video.

[@realklek]

Im my 2021 GTI travel assist displays three or four lanes combined with traffic on them only on polish autobahns. On other types of roads it only displays two lanes with the car I’m following, even if driving on multi lane road.

[@alexalucard1611]

I can't decide between a Golf 8 / Seat Leon 4 (2020) It's the same platform, same engine, same interior, and has the same Traffic Jam Assist The Leon is cheaper, I like the new exterior design, but I prefer Golf 8 design and interior quality hard choice

[@victorgc8]

Golf

[@pawelc86]

jeden z lepszych na rynku jeśli chodzi o płynność, jednak z filmiku wynika że łatwo się gubi przy rozjazdach

[@1001cars]

Które rozjazdy masz na myśli dokładnie?

[@Fightmechanic]

I wonder how this works with manual transmission.

[@1001cars]

It will not stop automatically, so basically it is more like highway assist than traffic jam assist.

[@Fightmechanic]

@@1001cars I'll have to see how it goes. Picked up the car about a week ago. Thanks for the reply.

[@hawawman4522]

look at that beautiful audi a7 very beautiful 1:55 and that beautiful mercedes gt 4 door 4:34 but the best it still the golf 8

[@mgarar]

jeez it seems so annoying to have to hold the steering wheel ever so often, can't you rest your hands or fingers or knee on the steering wheel to avoid those warnings ?

[@1001cars]

Yes, thanks to capacitive steering wheel.

[@briancunningham9037]

Why would anyone want to use this? I used it today and it was absolutely nerve wrecking! :D I'm used to the ACC from my Mk7 golf, but travel assist is new to me. it's class though. Maybe in time I'll get used to it

[@ulyks]

Yeah he pushed it to the extreme. This is supposed to be used only on highways or very long and boring expressways. He even used it on a construction site detour which no car currently can navigate. Not even teslas or goolge cars...

[@JUSSTTIINFU3K]

12:50 I thought you were going to crash

[@vwgolf8storungenmalfunctio297]

Even this test car gives an error message travel assist not available is a big problem with many VAG cars check 4.25 minutes!!!!!

[@komoornik]

There's a TPI for this, right? Issues with capacitive steering wheel.

[@vwgolf8storungenmalfunctio297]

@@komoornik Yes The have change my steering wheel, but the problem comes back, I need to wait for the BIG BIG Software update, so till then i need to wait!

[@Andrei608]

How many seconds can you go without having your hands on the steeringwheel ? 5 ?! At that point you might just keep your hands on the wheel cause it would be just annoying

[@1001cars]

Even at the beginning I left the steering wheel for ~16 seconds, a little bit later on it was 20 seconds. In a traffic jam it is much longer. So what is the point of writing such comment?

[@stefanie_m466]

After 4 minutes it shows the real deal, the long hours of real trafficjams. You can watch netflix here in belgium while your car is going slower than walk speed .

[@ulyks]

Using your phone is illegal when standing in a traffic jam or waiting for a red light. The only situation where you can use the phone is if there is a serious road block and total standstill of traffic

[@stefanie_m466]

@@ulyks a,yee i totally forgotten that 😀

[@Richie-vu4we]

VW Assist Braking and more....But so hate the way that VW and others are going with Assisted Braking and Assist this as Assist that but does not Assist our pocket with apox £5K going on top of the prices with Online Connected Vehicles. Until you can opt out of these features when ordering new they have lost me as a 20 year VW customer to buy New again! keep with my older vehicle with out the junk. I want to drive not the VW Computer as VW have a law suite in the US against them on Assisted Braking. Which i have had problem that slams on the Brakes! with along with Stop/Start that won't re-start the vehicle and leaves you Dead in the Road!

[@P_R_379]

Difficult situation with the bus in 12:45 and almost crashed 4 seconds later!

[@ulyks]

Yeah navigating a car through a construction site is very difficult to do automatically. This is one of the scenario's preventing us from having fully autonomous cars at the moment.