Car-makers, ANCAP clue-in to annoying ADAS
BY MATT CAMPBELL | 5th Aug 2024
KIA has joined a number of car-makers operating in Australia to address customer and critical feedback regarding the implementation of safety technologies that detract from the driving experience.
The South Korean brand is rolling out over-the-air (OTA) software updates for batches of Sorento large SUVs, which will now have a ‘shortcut’ to disable the commonly criticised Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) system, which defaults ‘on’ every time the car is restarted.
If left operational, the ISLA would emit a warning sound through the speakers when it registers that a speed limit has changed.
Likewise, Hyundai is expected to roll out updates for affected Hyundai models such as the Palisade, which was the first model in Australia to be sold with the ISLA system. The facelifted i30 small sedan and Sonata medium sedan both have it, along with the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 electric cars the new-generation Santa Fe large SUV, and the crucial Kona small SUV.
Furthermore, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is moving to reduce the interruptive nature of its highly criticised driver monitoring camera system in its latest Triton ute, with the Japanese brand’s local arm saying it has been “actively seeking feedback” since the launch of the Triton early in 2024.
Chinese brand Chery has also taken customer feedback and automotive reviewer commentary on board for its safety technology systems, implemented a series of adjustments to its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) following a less-than-exemplary launch of its first model, the Omoda 5.
A lot of the ADAS technology that has been instituted into modern cars is down to brands attempting to meet the ever-tougher requirements set out by safety watchdog ANCAP, which will only award a car the maximum rating if it meets strict technology requirements, including lane-keeping assistance technology, driver fatigue monitoring, and speed sign recognition tech.
But even ANCAP admits the usability of these systems could be better, having recently announced research into Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) technology, and how assertive and well timed the corrective action is (or otherwise) in situations outside of the official testing policy.
The ISLA system fitted to late-model Hyundai, Genesis and Kia models – which uses a combination of forward-facing cameras and sat-nav guidance data – will get it wrong, or simply prove too frustrating for drivers who know the speed limits of their surrounds and do not want to disable the system each time they get back into their car.
In some instances, that could require drivers going through multiple submenus of the infotainment touchscreen.
However, the new ‘fix’ – which has also been rolled out as standard in the facelifted Hyundai Tucson – allows drivers to simply hold down the mute button on the car’s steering wheel to turn off the audible alert.
Kia Australia general manager of product and training Roland Rivero said that owners have been crying out for a fix – and in some cases where a remedy was not available, a number of owners had asked for a refund, claiming their vehicle was ‘unliveable’ due to the integration of the technology.
“For us it was really just a case of customer complaints and feedback from the media, which was recognised by Kia Australia,” Mr Rivero said. “We continuously communicated with headquarters and the factory, and we managed to come up with a solution.”
Mr Rivero said that being able to have the technology available, but ensuring it was not upsetting for customers who did not want to have it active, was vital to ensure that customers were satisfied with their vehicle.
“Kia Motor Corporation recognised that if you have customers that pretty much want to hand back keys to cars after buying them, there needed to be a workaround,” Mr Rivero said, while confirming that a number of owners had approached the brand about refunds for their cars.
The Sorento is the first Kia to be offered a shortcut fix for the ISLA, with owners notified via the Kia Connect online services system. There is a detailed breakdown of the updates available to owners.
Mr Rivero said that any Kia with the Kia Connect service system will see the shortcut fix added as part of a progressive roll-out, with the EV9 electric SUV to be next in line, while the facelifted Carnival people-mover will also score the tech improvement soon.
Further, new Kia models – such as the updated Kia EV6 and new EV5 – will also have the mute button ISLA shortcut offered from launch.
One of the biggest-selling Kia models with the tech – the post-facelift Seltos small SUV – is also offered with a change in combination with a map software update. That is currently available to download online, but an OTA update will see it roll out soon, too.
At the launch of the Tucson facelift, which is the first model with the ‘fix’, Hyundai Australia product planning manager Sam Dabestani said the brand will move to progressively offer the shortcut button fix to other models, and thanked journalists and customers for helping the brand plead its case to headquarters.
“This is a result of not just Australian feedback, but European feedback as well. A lot of global markets have fed this back to headquarters and this is the outcome of that,” Mr Dabestani said.
“It just takes it from the audible setting to the quiet setting,” he said. “So, you still will get speed limit information come up on the cluster and it will still read the signs … then change your cruise control and all that sort of stuff – it just won't make that noise.”
MMAL also quickly responded to feedback from numerous sources regarding the driver monitoring system of its Triton.
“This includes dealers and media, but also – crucially – all-new Triton customers In collating that feedback, we have leveraged our core market relationship with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to identify areas of potential future improvement that we believe can maximise our customers’ ownership experience,” said MMAL CEO Shaun Westcott.
“The updated driver monitoring system software is evidence of our agility to respond quickly to stakeholder feedback,” he said.
Chery Australia managing director Lucas Harris also responded to criticism about annoying safety technology, saying the brand had “two engineers here from head office to retune the ADAS for local suitability”. On the Omoda 5 and subsequent models.
"The first models to arrive here were set up for Chinese roads and drivers,” he said following the Omoda 5 launch.
“We got plenty of feedback from buyers, the media and dealers about the Omoda 5’s ADAS and decided to implement a local validation program that would improve driving dynamics.”
ANCAP has also looked into the real-world effectiveness of systems that could be accused of running calibrations designed to suit its lab-based test criteria rather than human drivers on actual roads.
“Behind the curtain of ANCAP Safety’s official collision avoidance testing, an important program of research tests is being undertaken to shine a light on the real-world driver experience and usability of lane support systems,” a statement issued by ANCAP in July read.
“This additional layer of examination looks beyond a vehicle’s ability to intervene and prevent unintentional sideswipe, head-on, or run-off-road crash as determined through ANCAP’s official star rating assessments,” the statement said.
“Instead, it focuses on the sophistication and integration quality of lane support systems (LSS) from a range of vehicle brands and models.”
