Tesla Autopilot v BMW Driving Assistant Professional. Which wins?

Real world footage while driving on different road types of the two systems head to head. We also talk you through the differences and the issues of each. The two cars were driven in near identical conditions, on the same roads and the videos were only edited to cut out uneventful stretches and to get the two cars in sync on the same road at the same time at notable locations, such as speed limit changes, traffic lights and changes to road type.

[markstewart]

I’ve just moved from a 2020 X3 (with Driving Assistant Professional) to a Tesla and was very surprised to find the BMW active cruise / steering assistant to be superior to the Tesla.

[kemalguchankar]

Great video. Have used both, 8-9 months each. In my opinion both are great systems. I think Tesla is a bit better in terms of reading the lanes and the road, while BMW is better in terms of easiness of use, for instance; just a light touch to steering wheel is enough for BMW to not disengage while Tesla requires a slight force. Especially it is hard to adapt to Tesla's way after using BMW, because while little force does not prevent the system from disengaging, a little too much force causes the car to disable the system and start drifting that direction. Once you get used to it, it's ok though. I'd be happy with both systems. 

Awesome that we have these features, it's the first thing I look for in a car!

[lesjean]

Agreed the BMW system is superior, I own and love both cars. Here in the states, I don’t use the speed limit option in the BMW. We have minimum speed limit posted on the highways. Sometimes BMW reads the minimum limit as the actual speed limit. You may find yourself doing 40 on a 70mph highway.

[JohanJohansson]

And keep in mind that this is an assistant package on the BMW when Tesla boasts about automatically driven cars. (I know this Tesla does not have that function but it uses the Technology for it). Self driven cars are still far away.

[sojourner]

Driving in a straight lane to test drive assist is not very helpful. You need to include driving through typical highways that have curves to really test it out

[Beorn.]

Brilliant video giving a side by side honest comparison on a topic a lot of car reviewers avoid. Thanks, it has been a big help to me.

[Snaproll]

I just took delivery of a 2023 X3 with driver assistance professional. I had it on the highway for the first time this morning and found it worked as advertised. However, I was stressed out in potentially hazardous conditions around heavy truck traffic and road construction sites. I think the system will be beneficial on long distance drives when there is light traffic. In congested areas I’ll leave it off.

[v.corleone]

Impressive how the BMW system is way more advanced than Tesla's. Tesla really fall off behind more than I expected.

[DMINIK]

Drove an new i5 with the most expensive Driver Assistant Professional two days ago. Drove the same route with my Tesla Model Y with Basic Stock Autopilot. Bmw can do Lane Changes which mine don't. But otherwise the Tesla is Miles Superior, i can't think why anynone could think Bmw Systems comes even close. Even the Speedlimit Readings where more accurate on my Tesla but that could be specific to the choosen Route in the City, because i think Bmw does that on the Highway much better at least here in Austria.

I try to get a Video done next time, doing the same Route again in the i5. But the i5 try'd to take an Highway Exit with Highway speed, tried to engage 3 times, even in the corner it tried to accelerate quickly to 130kmh (85mph), my Tesla dropped the Speed continuesly himself and drove the corner easy with 40mph. On another sharp S- like City Curve, the i5 took that good and than couldn't manage on the end to get the affordable Steering Angle and just disabled withe a very silent tone and run in the Opposite Lane (luckily there was no one). My Model Y just did this and on the end braked slightly and kept driving in his lane, no problem at all. There where other things too. Bmw System is a great help, but i hope if i ever fell uncounscious or something like that it is in my Tesla and not in any Bmw, because at this moment the i5 should be the latest and greatest thing Bmw has, even better than i7.

[FizzleFX]

Very good factual and neutral video.
Ps. BMW is said to be lvl 3
Tesla 2 and just learned signs...

[Mark-hlyr]

BMW can recognize road signs by camera if have some roadworks or other changes on road, Tesla get information only from google map and not ever actual situation.

[srenfriisalexandersen]

Great video - thank you very much for this. We're currently diving the Tesla Model 3 and this capability to be kept in the middle of the lane is a must-have feature for a new car. We're looking at switching to the BMW iX1 or iX3 crossovers/SUV. I don't dislike the Tesa in any way. We've been incredibly fond of it and the driving experience beats anything I've previously tried in Audis and Mercedes. Not least the awesome seats.

I am in Denmark, Europe, and just love the EAP/FSD and use Autopilot and auto-lane change a lot every day. It's simply a must for a new car.

This Driving Assistant Professional seems very promising. It's hard to understand from BMWs website what's needed to get this auto lane-assist/ + lane-switch. Is that when it's called "Professional"? From my understanding there's another flavor of Driving Assistant where the car will just sort of "bounce" off the lanes and be pulled toward the middle of the lane, only to go towards the other lane, bounce off that, and so on. We experienced the same in a Volvo XC40 Recharge we just tried and that really sucked. It needs to do a better job keeping you in the middle of the lane.

Any insight from BMW drivers would be great :) Especially if you're driving an iX3 or iX1 :-)

[waltermitty]

totally not bias from teslas main channel

[VicRider]

Tesla enhanced auto pilot is superior. It’s strange that Tesla has not released that base features of the auto pilot in UK. Like auto lane change, stopping at traffic lights slowing down at yellow lights.

[sfiron]

Had the model Y for 3 weeks now. Previously I had the Volvo S90. I can say I’m quit disappointed with the Tesla enhanced auto steering. There are many programmable issues like unrecognized road speed signs, aggressive steering wheel behavior, only center lane driving(many places in which you want to be on the left or right there is no way), no way to change lanes without assistance( very slow), no way to disengage just the auto steering only by jiggling the wheel(forcefully), the Tesla restricts you to speed limit in some cases where the road is great thinking the road is bas(3 years ago), beeps loudly very annoying, engaging from the side column isn’t easy, phantom breaks a lot for no reason, strong breaking when car in front stops(and late), strong start at time after a stop(in auto steering dynamic speed control), speed limit is wrong many times, no sensors in the steering wheel making holding the steering wheel and twisting a must, very forceful. There is an overall sense that the system-car knows best…absolutely not a good idea. I live in Israel by the way. We do have congested roads but road signs is good European style. Having said that BMW order delay is about 18 months here 😢🎉. What surprises me most is how many of the problems could have been fixed. From better sounds, allowing lane changes and auto steering reengaging by itself, no penalty by the car - I forgot to mention that. If the car is mad at you NO AUTO STEERING UNTIL END OF TRIP! Very disappointed. This car cost about 115K over here mind you 😢

[kidden]

I own both a BMW iX50 and a Tesla Model 3. I must say Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) is a bit better than BMW's Driver Assistance Package (DAP). Additionally, Tesla can perform emergency avoidance in almost any sudden accident, something that BMW cannot do.

[plexiform]

I'm thinking of getting the i7. That think is nicer than a Rolls Royce.

[idm]

BMW's DA is based on Mobileye's tech as far as I know

[balokurd]

Bmw new ix pro assistant is even better

[dipb]

This Tesla does not have FSD (Full self drive) so not a fair comparison at all. Plus driving in a straight road is no test. Drive the BMW in a bendy country road and then compare it with the FSD. Then and then only you can compare the best vs best. You could let Tesla almost drive on its own, vary speed, stop at red lights and then start driving plus bend corners even when there is rain or fog.

So not a fair video or fair comparison.