chrisexv6

Looking for 'just the right" ES350 Ultra Lux. One of the options we're interested in is the lane departure.

Found a couple cars on our local dealer websites, and they all list Lane Departure as this:

"Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning"

Does the car actually keep you in the lane (i.e. turn the steering wheel back into the lane) or is it JUST the warning that you are drifting?

Thanks in advance.

-Chris

bc6152

Check out this video.
The "lane keep assist" actually corrects the steering of the vehicle to "keep" it within the lane. In addition an alarm sounds to alert the driver that the car is drifting.

chrisexv6

Seen the video....and the car in it was a GS, not an ES.

The car buying sites to not mention lane keep assist, just the warning part of it. And I thought I read the actual lane keep portion was reserved for GS and higher, so Im asking if the ES really does come with it or not.

lesz

I don't have the option on my ES, but, according to the ES manual, it only warns the driver that he/she is moving out of the driving lane, and it does nothing to correct the vehicle's path and force it to stay in the lane, which is why, I would guess, it is called a lane departure alert. Also, the manual has 4 or 5 pages of disclaimers related to a long list of situations in which even the warning might not function.

PirelliRC

never understood why anyone would need this option, if you are paying attention to the road and not updating your instagram, then whats the purpose of a "lane departure warning" ?

chrisexv6

Thanks for the info.

As far as the "need" for it, I like it as a feature but dont feel its as necessary as other stuff (blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic monitor)

But we're in the market for a new car and the two that we're deciding between are the ES350 Ultra Lux and the Acura TLX Advance. Trying to get an apples to apples comparison of the differences (ES is much bigger inside, TLX can get AWD, etc)

Acuras system does actually keep you in the lane, the same as the GS setup from Lexus. The Acura does have its disadvantages as well, so its going to be an interesting decision.

mspearl95

I use mine whenever a situation comes up that may distract me from the road. It works well in conjunction with the adaptive cruise. I do wish it was actually lane KEEP assist like on the GS tho.

jollick

I had the Lane Keep Assist feature on my HS205h. If just gives a very light nudge to the wheel that you can feel but will not force you back into your lane.

Kijug

I have a fully loaded 2014 ES UL. I turn on the LDA on road trips. I'm fifty and pay attention to the road, but you never know if you might stare or drift off, or what. When the car veers off a well marked lane, an alarm will go off. it may not be worth it or not, depends on your needs or desires. I look at it as a safety feature I use on occasion as I travel around the country...which is why I got the ES to do so in style and luxury.

PirelliRC

thats very dangerous i personally would never want that option, what if there is a hazard ahead ? Trusting your security to a computer is just asking for trouble.

chrisexv6

Funny, our sales guy said he had never tested the pre-collision system before. When I asked for a car that had it he tried it out.

He said he was pretty scared about it, but it did what it was supposed to. Seat belts tightened up and the car stopped when it needed to. It was not without fanfare (lights and alarms blaring) but it did its job.