What is ACC on a Honda Ridgeline?
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on a Honda Ridgeline is a driver-assistance feature that automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed to keep a safe distance from the car ahead.
What ACC is and how it fits with Honda Sensing
ACC is a component of Honda Sensing, the brand’s suite of driver-assist technologies. It uses radar and a forward-facing camera to monitor traffic and modulate throttle and braking to maintain a set following distance without constant pedal input.
Definition
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is designed to maintain a driver-set speed while automatically adjusting to the speed of traffic in front to keep a safe gap.
Honda Sensing integration
In the Ridgeline, ACC is typically paired with other Honda Sensing features such as Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. The exact availability depends on trim level and model year, but ACC is a core part of the system in modern Ridgelines.
How ACC works in the Ridgeline
On Ridgeline models equipped with ACC, the system uses front radar and a forward camera to monitor the vehicle ahead and automatically adjust speed. You can set your preferred speed and following distance, and the system will throttle back or apply the brakes as needed to hold that distance within its design limits.
Key capabilities
Here are the core capabilities you can expect from ACC on a Ridgeline:
- Maintains a pre-set speed unless traffic ahead requires a slower pace.
- Automatically slows or re-accelerates to maintain a chosen following distance from the vehicle ahead.
- Includes Low-Speed Follow, which can bring the Ridgeline to a complete stop and resume when traffic moves (subject to system limits).
- Allows selection of multiple following-distance settings, typically represented as a range (e.g., 1 through 7).
- Works in conjunction with Cruise Control; the driver must keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, and be prepared to take over at any time.
In practice, ACC assists with highway and stop-and-go driving, reducing the need for constant speed adjustments, but it does not replace attentive driving or reaction to road conditions.
Using ACC safely and effectively
To use ACC on a Ridgeline, ensure Honda Sensing is enabled, set your desired speed, and choose a following-distance setting that matches road conditions and your driving style. Weather, road surface, rain, or snow can affect sensor performance, and the system will disengage if unsafe conditions are detected or if you override it.
Limitations include reliance on sensor data, which can be impaired by dirt, glare, or poor weather, and the fact that ACC will not detect every obstacle or pedestrian. Always stay alert and be prepared to take over manual control.
Summary
ACC on a Honda Ridgeline is an Adaptive Cruise Control system tied to Honda Sensing that automatically manages speed and following distance to help reduce driver workload on highways and in traffic, while requiring the driver to stay attentive and ready to intervene when necessary.
