[raz-0]

So, a question. How useful is cross path detection? The mirrors on the renegade are nice, and in two test drives, I haven't felt the need for blind spot monitoring when lane changing. Does cross path catch anything you can't see with the back up display?

 

[fmunk]

No experience with it on the Renegade. But, I've never had it in any car that I've owned and never thought it'd be of any use until I used a Mazda CX-9 years ago for a photoshoot for Mazda. Not having to turn your head to look saves precious seconds that can mean a world of life and death difference, especially in high speed and high traffic situations; plenty of that here in southern CA.

 

[rsanges]

My TH has the cross path detection. It works to help you back out of blind parking spaces. Say there's a van or other obstruction blocking your view of the oncoming traffic, this will give you a warning. It's as if you had someone looking out for you; checking for traffic from the rear hatch. It looks out to the sides, not to the rear. The camera does not give a wide enough field of view to see the oncoming traffic.


It's only been activated a couple of times so far for the few weeks I've had my TH, but it does seem like a useful feature. BTW, it was not an option I sought out. It came on the only TH the dealer had that met my other "wants".

 

[Soxgirl]

I like it. the beeping can be a bit annoying but you can shut that off if you want.

 

[bwbike]

Well, my car has the blind spot monitoring. And I think that it is not all that it is cracked up to be as it could potentially lull someone into a false sense of security. BSM should never be used instead of turning your head and looking at your mirrors.

With that said, the system does work well. However, I angle my mirrors out farther than many people do. This gives me a really good view of traffic around me with the generous Renegade mirrors. I can see a car or motorcycle before the BSM detector "sees" it. Too many adjust their mirrors so they get a good view of the side of the car they are driving.

One annoying aspect is if you put on your turn signal a little early to change lanes while you're passing a vehicle (normal traffic merge), the BSM will beep. I often put my turn signal on ~5 seconds before I need to if traffic is heavy to let others know my intentions. Occasionally it will beep in error while making a turn if the conditions are just right.

It's not really necessary in my opinion. Is the $600 price tag worth it? Well, you do get security bundled with it so it may be. And if it is too annoying, you can turn off the beep sound (I have left mine on so far). The amber light will still light in the corner of the mirror where one should be looking anyway.

 

[rsanges]

You can turn off the beep for the blind spot monitoring and it will still chime for cross path detection warnings. Think of the blind spot monitoring and cross path detection as two different systems. They do use the same hardware, but their objectives are different.

 

[jazzlvr613]

Have this feature in my Mazda 6 and it is very uselfull. Not everyone is agile enough to turn their head to get a full view of potential oncoming traffic in the rear. This is to say nothing of the myriad of suv-vans parked along side of you which make it almost impossible to see what's coming. The Mazda system beeps when a vehicle is still a distance from you perhaps 5-6 car lengths so you are not forced to make a last second slam on the brakes move but actually have some time before the vehicle is on top of you.

Highly recommend this feature. Pisses me off that you have to spend at least an additional $800 on other mandatory options to get this safety feature. I guess the days of ala carte options are over.

 

[raz-0]

I know what it is, what I'm looking for is qualitative responses. Does it work well? HAs it said there was something there often when there isn't, has it caught things you couldn't see otherwise? Does it do it's job before you actually back out enough for someone to clip you ands take your bumper off, that kind of thing.

 

[fmunk]

Also, with current passenger car safety regulations, the pillars are much larger than older cars. Those of us old enough to have been taught to turn and look, I'm afraid that is quickly becoming an ineffective and outdated practice. With thick pillars and larger blind spots, it is very easy to not see something at a glance.