Toyota’s Dynamic Radar Cruise Control Explained

[@SusiSparksJoy]

Thanks for the info!! I just found you (different video) and am sharing all your videos with my husband. We have a 2021 RAV4 PRIME (took delivery Jan 2022) and love 99.8% of everything about it! Just recently discovered I could set the cruise control at whatever speed (say 25MPH -I’m in the US) while following another driver in town then just use the + button to adjust it up to whatever my desired actual speed is (say 65 -70 MPH since I’m heading toward the freeway and will need to accelerate and merge with traffic in a few miles but it will stay at the lower “in town” speed while I’m following other vehicles. Then I don’t have to worry about being distracted fiddling with all that while also navigating through other drivers entering and exiting the highway. As you point out, even though it’s set at 65-70 mph I’m only going as fast as the vehicle in front of me (also based on follow distances set and unless they turn or change lanes!) This has been *mostly* great with a few *glitches* However, I have a couple questions and wondered if you might be able to tell me if it’s supposed to be like this or if maybe we have a sensor issue we should have Toyota look at? Because I have to say I’m still a bit terrified using this feature at times as it seems like even when set with “3 bars” my vehicle takes it’s sweet time to start applying the breaks when approaching a vehicle that has or is stopping (say at a red light or a stop sign)! So, I feel like I have to drive with my foot constantly hovered over the break ready to slam it down (which can be exhausting.) Then if I do apply the break it disengages the cruise control and I have to press the gas pedal and start over. Also, if there is no other vehicle in front of me and I approach a red light… or if stopped at a light for a lengthy period, it seems the car doesn’t want to “resume” (or even when it does it is somewhat of a slow process for my car to get going again and the drivers behind me tend to become a bit annoyed😢). So I then have to engage the gas peddle and that seems to disengage the cruise control so I have to reset it. So, when it works it’s awesome (also, I was unaware there is a “regular” non-dynamic mode! Thanks. But also, why would you want to use that and not just the dynamic mode?). Am I doing something wrong that’s causing it to feel so jerky when following behind other drivers? Where when they’re stopped at a light and I’m approaching, my car seems to just continue at full speed until it suddenly almost “slams on the brakes” rather than a slightly more gradual speed decline. Is this normal? I feel like even with the “3 bars” distance it should slow down a bit more gradual and not feel as if we’re going to slam into them! And then when we resume it takes a bit (I am assuming because of the follow distance needing to be met). So it feels very “jerky.” What’s your take? Normal or a possible sensor issue?

[@NowYouKnow007]

I would suggest getting it checked out by the dealer. Either the radar or front camera isn't registering the distance accuratley. Either way, always err on the side of caution. And if you're in a scenario where you're actually stopping at lights, I'd just hit cancel rather than rely on the cruise control to bring me up to speed. It's always best to do it that way because there may be time when you could need to accelerate rather quickly for safety reasons.

[@garygarski]

I have a Subaru, but it would appear that Toyota safety sense 3 works pretty much the same. I never trust the cruise control to stop the car IF the car in front of you has not been acquired by the radar system. when driving and the car in front of you is moving and has been acquired by the radar system, the car you are driving will track the one in front. I think it takes a bit of time for the car in front of you to be seen by the system. It's difficult to explain. I hope this helps

[@Meandthegrandkids]

Your videos are very helpful and well explained I just got a Rav 4 and absolutely love the new style of cruise control. I didn’t understand the bars and following distance but you explain it well, thanks! It’s a little hard to understand you when you are outside, maybe you can get closer to the camera?

[@NowYouKnow007]

Thanks for the feedback. I was using a lapel mic with noise cancelling technology but sometimes it does such a great job cancelling noise, it thinks my voice is noise. 😕

[@SPDeclan]

would applying the brake also cancel the cruise control? :)