Several 2018 model-year vehicles offered semi-autonomous driving features, though none could truly drive themselves. The systems available ranged from basic highway steering assistance to more advanced setups that could change lanes or navigate interchanges. Tesla, Cadillac, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan all had competitive offerings, each with different strengths and limitations.
Tesla: Model S, Model 3, and Model X
Tesla’s Autopilot was the most recognized name in the space for 2018, and for good reason. All three Tesla models (Model S, Model 3, and Model X) came with the hardware needed for semi-autonomous driving. The standard Autopilot package handled adaptive cruise control and automatic steering on highways. For buyers who paid for the “Enhanced Autopilot” upgrade, the system added automatic lane changes, highway on-ramp to off-ramp navigation, and self-parking.
In October 2018, Tesla introduced Navigate on Autopilot, which could guide the car through highway interchanges and exits, including suggesting and executing lane changes on certain roads. This was the closest thing to a full highway driving assistant available at the time. Tesla’s system relied on cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and radar rather than pre-mapped roads, which meant it worked on virtually any highway but could sometimes misjudge situations that a map-based system would handle more predictably.
Driver monitoring was minimal compared to some competitors. Tesla used steering wheel torque sensors to check that the driver’s hands stayed on the wheel, rather than a camera watching the driver’s face. This became a point of criticism as some drivers treated Autopilot as fully autonomous when it wasn’t.
Cadillac CT6: Super Cruise
The 2018 Cadillac CT6 offered Super Cruise as a $5,000 option, and in some ways it was more sophisticated than Tesla’s system. Super Cruise used high-definition LiDAR-derived maps covering over 130,000 miles of highways in the U.S. and Canada. On those pre-mapped roads, the system handled steering, braking, and acceleration without requiring the driver to touch the steering wheel at all.
The key distinction was Cadillac’s driver monitoring. A small infrared camera on the steering column tracked the driver’s eye movements and head position. If you looked away from the road for too long, the system would flash warnings and eventually slow the car to a stop. This made Super Cruise arguably safer in practice than systems that only checked for hand pressure on the wheel.
The tradeoff was flexibility. Super Cruise only worked on its mapped highway segments. Take an exit or drive on an unmapped road and the system would hand control back to you. It also couldn’t change lanes automatically, so you had to take over for passing maneuvers. For long, straight highway drives on supported routes, though, it was the most hands-free experience available in 2018.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class received a significant upgrade to its Intelligent Drive suite. The system combined enhanced camera and radar hardware with several semi-autonomous features. Active Speed Limit Assist could read speed limit signs and automatically adjust the car’s speed. Active Lane Change Assist would change lanes for you in 10 seconds or less after you activated your turn signal, checking for surrounding traffic before executing the move.
The S-Class also added Active Emergency Stop Assist, which could bring the car to a controlled stop if it detected the driver was unresponsive. Standard Lane Tracking kept the car centered in its lane on the highway. These features were largely limited to the S-Class and weren’t widely available across Mercedes’ full lineup for 2018, making it a premium-tier option.
BMW 5 Series and 7 Series
BMW’s Driving Assistant Plus package was available on the 2018 5 Series and 7 Series. The system bundled adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane keeping, and a steering assistant that worked together to keep the car at a set speed, in its lane, and at a safe distance from traffic ahead.
The stop-and-go function was particularly useful in heavy traffic. It could bring the car to a complete standstill behind stopped traffic and resume automatically. The Steering Assistant actively kept the car centered using both lane markings and the position of the vehicle ahead, which helped in situations where lane lines were faded or missing. If you drifted without signaling, the Lane Keep Assistant vibrated the steering wheel and could apply a corrective steering nudge. Like most 2018 systems, BMW required hands on the wheel and would disengage if you let go for too long.
Volvo XC40, XC60, XC90, and S90
Volvo’s Pilot Assist system was available across several 2018 models, including the new XC40, the XC60, XC90, and S90. The system combined adaptive cruise control with steering assistance, keeping the car centered between lane markings while maintaining a preset following distance from the car ahead.
Pilot Assist worked at speeds from 0 up to 125 mph, though the lowest speed you could program in was about 20 mph. Below that threshold, the system would still follow a car ahead down to a complete stop, but it needed a lead vehicle to track. This made it functional in both highway cruising and stop-and-go traffic. Volvo’s approach was conservative by design. The system required clear lane markings and kept driver responsibility front and center, consistent with the brand’s safety-first reputation.
Nissan Leaf and Rogue
Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist debuted on the 2018 Leaf and was also available on the Rogue. It was a simpler system than what Tesla or Cadillac offered, combining single-lane highway steering with adaptive cruise control. The system could keep the car centered in its lane and maintain a set distance from traffic, including coming to a full stop and resuming in heavy traffic.
ProPILOT Assist was notable for being available on relatively affordable vehicles. While the Cadillac CT6 started above $50,000 and the Mercedes S-Class well above $90,000, the Nissan Leaf and Rogue brought semi-autonomous highway driving into the $30,000 range. The system didn’t offer lane changes or highway navigation, but for single-lane commuting it was a solid, accessible entry point.
Audi A8: The Feature That Wasn’t
The 2018-2019 Audi A8 deserves mention for what it promised but couldn’t deliver. Audi developed Traffic Jam Pilot, which was designed as the world’s first Level 3 autonomous system. At speeds below 37 mph in heavy traffic, the car would take full control, and the driver wouldn’t need to watch the road at all. You could look at your phone, read, or just sit back.
Germany passed legislation making this type of system legal, but the U.S. never did. The patchwork of federal and state laws, varying insurance requirements, and inconsistent road markings across states made Audi unwilling to activate the feature in American vehicles. So while the A8 had the hardware, U.S. buyers never got access to Traffic Jam Pilot. The car still offered conventional adaptive cruise and lane keeping, but the headline feature stayed locked.
How These Systems Compared
All of these systems fell into what the industry calls Level 2 autonomy (with the exception of Audi’s unavailable Level 3). That means the car could steer, brake, and accelerate simultaneously, but the driver was always responsible for paying attention and taking over when needed.
- Most capable on highways: Tesla Autopilot with Navigate on Autopilot, which could handle lane changes and interchange navigation.
- Most hands-free: Cadillac Super Cruise, the only system that let you fully take your hands off the wheel on supported roads.
- Best driver monitoring: Cadillac Super Cruise, with its infrared eye-tracking camera.
- Most affordable: Nissan ProPILOT Assist, available on vehicles starting around $30,000.
- Widest model availability: Volvo Pilot Assist, offered across four different models spanning SUVs and sedans.
For 2018 buyers, the right system depended heavily on driving habits. Long-distance highway commuters got the most value from Tesla or Cadillac. City and suburban drivers benefited from BMW’s or Volvo’s stop-and-go capability. And budget-conscious buyers who simply wanted lane-centering assistance on their daily commute found that Nissan made the technology accessible without a luxury price tag.