How does cruise control actually work?
A cruise control system can make long car journeys more pleasant. And even more environmentally friendly. In this article, we explain what you need to know about cruise control.
Actually, cruise control has been around for over 50 years. But it is only recently that this driver assistance system has begun to be installed as standard in many new cars. This is great for car owners: Especially on long car journeys, speed control makes life easier. For example, if you're driving at 120 km/h on the highway, you can activate cruise control with a simple push of a button. The car will then automatically maintain its current speed and you can take your foot off the accelerator. This way you can concentrate better on the traffic and no longer have to look at the speedometer all the time. In addition, your ride will be smoother and your car will consume less fuel. However, as soon as you touch the brake or clutch, the cruise control is deactivated again.
Risk of confusion: cruise control, speed limiter and distance control
The cruise control function is made possible by a sensor that measures the current engine speed. The on-board computer then keeps them constant. But be careful: Don't confuse cruise control with the so-called speed limiter. This is a different driver assistance system. This prevents a set maximum speed from being exceeded. Sometimes even traffic signs are automatically recognized. The cruise control does not do this, but only maintains the current speed.
There is also often confusion between the cruise control and the distance controller. The latter measures the distance to the car in front and then automatically adjusts the speed. If your car only has cruise control, it cannot change the current speed itself.
Is it possible to retrofit cruise control?
In the meantime, cruise control is standard on many cars. And if not, manufacturers often offer an extra package with this function for an extra charge. In some brands, cruise control is also called "cruise control". Don't let these terms confuse you – they all stand for the same assistance system.
If you have a car without cruise control, you may even be able to retrofit it. How complicated and how expensive this is depends on the vehicle model. If you drive a car with an electronic accelerator pedal, retrofitting is usually not a big deal and costs a few hundred francs. Otherwise, rewiring is often necessary. This makes retrofitting more complex and also more expensive – sometimes you pay more than 1,000 francs.
It is cheaper to retrofit the cruise control yourself. If you research on the Internet, you will find detailed instructions there.
But be careful: If you are not very familiar with cars, you should keep your hands off such procedures. Especially when something needs to be rewired or a steering wheel has to be replaced, going to the garage is indispensable. Poorly functioning cruise control can quickly become a safety risk.
This gives you a good overview of what cruise control is all about.
Finally, a tip: If you are looking for a new car with built-in cruise control, then it is best to do so on AutoScout24. In the advanced search, you can filter for models that have this function by default.
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