Hi all,

 

I eventually decided to order my new Octavia with the lane assist system. I can't find much information about how this works in practice. Can anybody here comment on this?

Camera in windscreen, up by the rear view mirror, sees lane markings (so long as they are clear) and makes steering adjustments if you wonder close to the marking.  It only turns on above a certain speed... About 40 mph. Some people dislike the feeling of the adjustments, I got used to it quickly.

Thanks neiln, I was especially interested in how people feel about it in the long run. I read in some review, that the journalist found it annoying on smaller roads, and that it was quite difficult to turn it on and off.

I've found it to be quite nice in the milder setting. It feels like the lane markings are on "higher ground" through the steering wheel. Not jerky at all IMO. And because it only turns on at about 60 km/h I don't find it bothersome on smaller roads.

 

And as to the difficulty of turning it on and off. It takes a whole two button presses to turn it on or off.

Its especially good on those long boring motorways

I use the Lane Assist on the motorways. I also think the octavia MKIII Vrs is a bit twitchy when it's windy and using the Lane Assist tightens up the steering,, it makes the steering a bit heavier 

Lane Assist tightens up the steering,, it makes the steering a bit heavier 

 

It doesn't

.... using the Lane Assist tightens up the steering,, it makes the steering a bit heavier

You are thinking of sports mode. I don't think lane assist has any effect on steering weight (unless you are trying to fight against it!)

Snet with speeling mistkaes from my phoen

Lane Assist tightens up the steering,, it makes the steering a bit heavier 

 

 

It doesn't

 

I know it doesn't actually make it heavier it just feels like it, I used the incorrect terminology,  It seems to make the car more stable

Thanks for all the good answers. It seems the lane assist system is as good as I hoped for.

 

I think the criticism I read about it, was its function on country roads, where you would drive around 80 km/h (in Denmark anyway :-) ), and where the lane markings were less than good. But it seems none of you have experienced this as much of a problem.

 

@kallekilponen: So I guess you can easily turn it off while driving?

Have a look on the Skoda YouTube channel as they have some basic videos of how many features in the new Octavia work.

I'm sure there was one for Lane Assist.

I can't access the site from work but I remember watching lots of them while waiting for my Octavia to arrive.

 

 

I would assume its very easy to turn it off easily while driving.

You click the button on the end of the indicator stalk to access the "Driver Assist" menu & then uncheck the "Lane Assist" option.

Same to turn it back on again.

Edited 30 March, 201511 yr by Gabbo

Have a look on the Skoda YouTube channel as they have some basic videos of how many features in the new Octavia work.

I'm sure there was one for Lane Assist.

 

There is indeed a YouTube video:  

 

Edited 30 March, 201511 yr by iriches

Yes, I saw those videos, and also read a lot of other stuff about the system. But one thing is how it is supposed to work, another thing is how it really works for the user. That was my main interest i this matter. Sorry I didn't clarify that better in my original post.

I use it on long runs. One thing to watch for is that in heavy rain it can stop working.  It can actually see markings that the human eye struggles to detect but when it can't see them it switches off and the only notification is the green symbol turns orange.

Yes, and it's already very difficult visually to drive in heavy rain. I think I would also prefer some kind of (subtle) audible warning, when it gave up under such circumstances.

A couple of other minor comments - the level of 'assistance' is variable in the setup menu, also the 'maxidot' display between the dials can be set to show the status of the system - if you are concerned about marginal conditions then that is useful. Note on single carriageway roads it can simply stop you straying over the centreline if it can't detect the edge of the road.

 

I'm generally fairly keen on technology and like this a lot for long journeys knowing it will counteract drifting out of lane on most occasions. My wife is anti fiddly stuff like cruise control etc. but adopted this without much resistance...

I have it on my vrs and at first I had a lot of reservations as I could feel it all the time, gently tugging and nudging at the steering (but only over 40mph as others have pointed out).  On motorways it felt like a useful safety net in case I lost concentration and started drifting out of my lane but on other roads it seemed unnecessary and detracted from the purity of the steering feel.  

 

Then someone on these forums pointed out that it has two modes: you have the option of what they call "Adaptive Lane Assist" or just plain "Lane Assist".  The first time you turn LA on (and it seems to come switched off by default when you take delivery) you get both but if you then go to the settings in the Infotainment screens, you can turn off Adaptive Lane Assist.  It is then much less intrusive as it no longer tried all the time to keep you in the optimal position in your lane, but only intervenes if you start drifting too close to the edge of it.  So, in normal driving, when you're maintaining a good road position, it doesn't do anything at all.  Mostly since then, this is how I've used it.

 

I do think turning it on and off could be easier - it's a few clicks with the steering wheel controls to turn LA on or off, which I have got quite used to doing, but I'd still rather there was a direct button that would turn it on or off with once press.

Thanks again, great info for those of us trying to decide, whether this system is worth the extra money. 

 

@alancha: Yes, it would probably be better, if there was a way to switch it on and off (or switch between modes), while still having full attention on the road. I will probably follow your advice regarding the "Adaptive Lane Assist".

@kallekilponen: So I guess you can easily turn it off while driving?

It takes less than a second. Just press the button at the end of the indicator stalk and then press down the thumb wheel on the right side of the steering wheel.

I enabled this before my trip away, I thought the camera was just to move the car back within the White lines, but this option is actually more intrusive and I find starts steering the car a little earlier sometimes than I would.

I think it's a nice to have option and it stayed on my 300 mile round trip which consisted of half motorway.

@aldouk: Maybe you can make it less intrusive, the way alancha describes above (#17)

It takes less than a second. Just press the button at the end of the indicator stalk and then press down the thumb wheel on the right side of the steering wheel.

I think this must depend on the exact model or model-year - or something.  On mine, the buttons on the end of the indicator stalk operate the cruise control.  The only way to switch LA on or off without using the Infotainment screen (which is not really safe to attempt when driving) is using the button and wheel on the right side of the steering wheel.  Assuming you have the maxidot showing driving data, as I usually do, I have to do the following:

 

 

1. Click the back button
2. Down on the wheel one click to Assist
3. Press wheel to select (or wait a few moments for it to select itself):  LA display shows 
4. Up or down on wheel to show LA on/off checkbox
5. Press wheel to check/uncheck the checkbox
6. Press back button twice
7. Up one click on wheel to return to Driving Data
8. Press wheel to show driving data (or leave it and it selects itself after a second or so).

So, even if I don't bother to return it to Driving Data and also rely on the automatic selections (rather than pressing the wheel to select), that's still at the absolute minimum four actions.  Having said that, although I don't often do it these days as I leave LA on almost all the time, I can do it pretty quickly and reliably without taking my eyes off the road.

With that procedure, I think I would also just leave it on, even if it was a little annoying. Even if you can learn to do it without looking, I guess in the long run, you wouldn't bother. They could solve such user preferences by having a panel with maybe 5 buttons, which you could assign custom functions/macros. Wouldn't that be fun?  :clap:

I find it good on motorways, but annoying on twisty roads.

I think this must depend on the exact model or model-year - or something.

That "something" would be ACC, it gives you a separate stalk for the cruise control so the indicator stalk only has one button. (It also makes changing cruise control speed a lot simpler.)