As a newbie Skoda owner having just bought a second hand Octavia Elegance 2.0 TDI first reg Dec 2013, I am struggling to understand what functionality this should provide. I have radar in the front grille and a square bit behind the rear view mirror. As far as I know this is a standard spec model. Can you some help please. I have read the manual but this is covers everything that I might have not what I've actually got.

Thanks in anticipation.

Yes the front assist can be switched on or off, it may be off in your case.

It basically monitors the road ahead and will perform emergency braking should it detect risk of impact with something (for instance if you approach a queue of traffic unexpectedly, someone cuts you up, animal/pedestrian runs out in front of you etc etc).

I think it also warns you if you're too close to the traffic ahead.

Due to a parts shortage this got axed from Elegance spec for 2014 Model Year in the UK, so quite fortunate to have it really. Is a bit of marmite feature though, shame the cat doesn't have adaptive cruise as well as that is v good.

Edited 12 September, 201411 yr by pipsyp

It also controls the Active Cruise Control. If you have ACC it is a separate cruise lever below the indicator stalk.

Thanks for both updates. Front Assist,as described, is active in my Amundsen MFD but does not appear to be active on the road or else I'm to chicken to get close enough to traffic in front to test it. Is there a method by which one can vary the distance at which it operates?

You need a crisp packet to test it.

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The first warning shows 2 cars with an exclamation mark between them on the maxidot screen when you get close to the vehicle in front. Just narrow the gap between you & vehicle in front & it should show up. To be on the safe side try it with a friend driving in front who knows what you are doing. This will tell you if the system is active & working.

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It basically monitors the road ahead and will perform emergency braking should it detect risk of impact with something (for instance if you approach a queue of traffic unexpectedly, .......

 

it wont brake if the traffic is stationary, only if the traffic is moving when the radar first detects it otherwise it will think the queue is a parked car in the road.

it wont brake if the traffic is stationary, only if the traffic is moving when the radar first detects it otherwise it will think the queue is a parked car in the road.

Whats the difference? Its ok to crash in those circumstances?

Whats the difference? Its ok to crash in those circumstances?

Nope it just a limitation of the system. Its not clever enough yet to determine whether the stopped car in front is parked or is part of a queue on a motorway.  If youre behind the queue as its slows down then it will track it and stop.

 

I think it works differently in the city emergency braking below 19mph though as that may stop the car for stationary vehicles (or shiny crisp packets)

I dont think mercedes cars radar control has these problems :p

I've tried contacting Walkers to see if they are agreeable to the idea of coating their crisp packets like stealth planes. Apparently it'd cost too much.

Seabrooks don't suffer from the same problem, and taste nicer.