Is Highway Driving Assist 2.0 Worth It?

I’m thinking about getting a used Ioniq 5 (choosing between that, the ID.4, and Model Y). A good assistance system is important for making long drives on the Autobahn safer and more comfortable. Even here in Germany, where the Autobahn is famous, we can’t go full speed all the time.

Can anyone share their experiences with Highway Driving Assist 2.0, especially compared to Tesla Enhanced Autopilot, VW Travel Assist, or BMW/Mercedes systems?

Here are my main questions:

  1. Does the system maintain lanes well and adjust for curves?
  2. Does it give too many warnings to keep your hands on the wheel? Is the wheel capacitive, or does it require nudging?
  3. Can it do automatic lane changes?
  4. Is HDA 2.0 helpful enough to justify having it, or is Adaptive Cruise Control sufficient?

I’ve done about 15,000 miles using HDA2 on my Ioniq 5, and here’s what I’ve found:

  • It keeps lanes well and adjusts to curves smoothly.
  • You need to keep your hands on the wheel lightly. It’s not capacitive, but the system detects small resistance as you hold it. Initially, I got frequent warnings, but now it’s rare.
  • It can change lanes automatically, but it’s quite slow and not great in heavy traffic.
  • Compared to basic adaptive cruise control in other vehicles, HDA2 is fantastic. Driving my Honda or Subaru feels much less enjoyable after using it.

I’d never go back to a car without HDA2.

@Landry
Same here. It’s been a game changer for long drives.

@Landry
Thanks for this. I didn’t realize some Ioniq 5 models don’t have HDA2.0. I’ll make sure to check before buying.

Ziv said:
@Landry
Thanks for this. I didn’t realize some Ioniq 5 models don’t have HDA2.0. I’ll make sure to check before buying.

The main difference is the auto lane change feature, which is only on the higher trims. Even then, it’s not the fastest.

Ziv said:
@Landry
Thanks for this. I didn’t realize some Ioniq 5 models don’t have HDA2.0. I’ll make sure to check before buying.

Yeah, auto lane change is the big difference. Otherwise, the systems are quite similar.

@Landry
My biggest issue with HDA2 is that it sometimes disengages steering without warning but keeps the cruise control active. It can be unnerving.

I’ve tried both Tesla Autopilot and HDA2. Tesla is better overall, but I still love HDA2 for long trips.

Recently, I did a 14-hour road trip. HDA2 was a lifesaver, though it struggles with tight curves and sometimes ping-pongs in the lane. Tesla stays centered better but can phantom brake, which is frustrating.

@Arlo
Interesting. I’ve seen some German reviews where people say BMW and VW systems are better than Tesla’s Autopilot. One reviewer even regretted switching from a VW to Tesla because of it.

@Arlo
Same experience here. I recently did a 6-hour drive, and while HDA2 worked, it struggled on sharper turns and sudden stops. There is a setting to make it more cautious, though.

I’ve been using HDA2 daily for two months on my 2024 Ioniq 5 Limited. Here’s my take:

  1. Lane keeping is good on highways but less reliable on suburban roads. It doesn’t slow down for curves.
  2. It rarely nags if you lightly hold the wheel, though I often need to adjust because it tends to favor one side of the lane.
  3. Lane changes aren’t automatic, and at forks, it might fight you for control.
  4. Despite its quirks, I use it every day. It’s especially helpful for small distractions like changing navigation or music.

I love HDA2. It’s very reliable here in Southern Ontario. I can go up to a minute without hands on the wheel before it reminds me. It stays centered and doesn’t weave.

Koa said:
I love HDA2. It’s very reliable here in Southern Ontario. I can go up to a minute without hands on the wheel before it reminds me. It stays centered and doesn’t weave.

I’m in the US with a 2024 Limited. It usually gives a warning after 45 seconds, but in some cases, it can be as short as 15 seconds. I think it’s related to turns or lane changes.

Here’s my experience:

  1. Lane keeping works well on highways but can lose track briefly in tunnels or unusual curves. It doesn’t slow down for curves.
  2. It requires light nudging. A warning shows after 20 seconds if it doesn’t detect input, then it beeps.
  3. Some trims can auto-change lanes when you signal.
  4. It makes highway driving much more relaxed for me. I came from a car with no cruise control, so the difference is huge, but it’s not full self-driving.

I have both an Ioniq 5 and a Tesla. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

  • Tesla Autopilot is more reliable but nags more.
  • HDA2 feels more like an assist—it lets you maintain some control. However, it sometimes disengages without warning, while Tesla gives loud alarms to take over.

Both are useful, but I trust Tesla more for consistency.

@Teo
This comparison is really helpful. Thanks!

I use HDA2 with Comma 3x, and it’s amazing for Autobahn driving. No nagging about hands on the wheel. I hope future updates make hands-free standard, so Comma isn’t necessary.

Aeron said:
I use HDA2 with Comma 3x, and it’s amazing for Autobahn driving. No nagging about hands on the wheel. I hope future updates make hands-free standard, so Comma isn’t necessary.

Comma 3 is incredible. I think some open-source forks are even better than Tesla’s Full Self-Driving on highways. Experimental modes look amazing in the videos I’ve seen.

@Arlen
What’s Comma 3x, and how does it work?

Ziv said:
@Arlen
What’s Comma 3x, and how does it work?

It’s an aftermarket driver-assist system. Here are some links: