Yeah, you learn that proper. I drove over 100 miles on my journey to San Francisco, however I did not do any of the driving.
In reality, I am undecided I ever touched the steering wheel. You see, the latest version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system dealt with all the things for me. It is outstanding, and I am totally satisfied that is the way forward for driving.
Let’s again up a beat. Tesla’s FSD is the electric car firm’s vision-based driver help system that is designed to take you from level A to level B with as little human involvement as attainable. Not cruise management, not lane-keep — we’re speaking site visitors lights, junctions, freeways and downtown chaos — all dealt with by the automotive.
I have been behind the wheel of the 2026 Model Y (the non-Efficiency model of my very own automotive at dwelling), poking across the Bay Space. Assume Cupertino, Palo Alto, the Golden Gate Bridge, and inner-city San Francisco.
It is pushed me by means of all of it. Tight curbside streets, janky parking garages, rain-slicked freeways, and even the crooked mess of Lombard Avenue — each in dry and moist climate — all with out a hiccup. It dealt with it higher than some individuals I noticed reversing down driveways.
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Fingers off, toes up… virtually
This is not like Autopilot, the semi-autonomous system we now have obtainable within the UK. FSD v14 does not ask for steering nudges or wheel jostles to show you are awake. Though human oversight continues to be wanted. The in-car digital camera displays you to make sure you’re listening to the highway.
My fingers have been often on my lap. A few occasions it instructed me off for trying round at my environment, however principally I used to be only a passenger within the driver’s seat — watching the Tesla drive and glancing on the surroundings.
I by no means felt the necessity to take over. Merging onto freeways, dodging cable automotive tracks and cyclists, studying building indicators like a seasoned native — the automotive simply received on with it. There was even a second the place it negotiated a kind of terrifying San Francisco crests. You realize, those the place you possibly can’t see excessive. It did not blink. I imply, it does not have eyelids, however you get the purpose.
Among the visible UI updates for the navigation interface included in Tesla’s FSD v14. Right here, you can begin FSD and decide the totally different velocity profiles.
FSD v14 provides you choices. Customary mode was my go-to, matching the encircling site visitors and sometimes nudging previous the posted limits (you possibly can tweak that). It felt human. Not lawless, simply in tune with everybody else.
Chill mode obeys limits extra strictly and drives extra conservatively, whereas Mad Max and Hurry are extra aggressive with velocity and lane adjustments. I attempted these briefly, however actually, I used to be having fun with the trip an excessive amount of to hurry. Even Sloth mode saved up properly, simply with a bit extra restraint.
Lane adjustments have been clean, principally. A couple of times my Tesla would sign after which change its thoughts, which might be complicated for others on the highway, nevertheless it by no means felt harmful. Even on the freeway, it dealt with driving like a seasoned commuter.
Lombard Avenue? Please.
Lombard Avenue was a spotlight. Everybody is aware of it because the world’s crookedest avenue, the type of highway that makes you begin to sweat. FSD did not simply deal with it, it crushed it.
Cornering felt smoother than I would handle myself, and the automotive was assured in its turns, navigating prefer it’d accomplished it a thousand occasions. There was no map weirdness, no ghost braking, no nonsense. It was virtually boring. Which, on this case, is a praise.
On a regular basis spectacular
The system excelled the place I anticipated it to falter. Somebody pulled out with out warning? It reacted immediately. Pedestrian wobbling into the highway? It slowed down respectfully. Building cones, confused Waymos, bizarre intersections — it figured them out with out hesitation. San Francisco is thought for difficult stop-start site visitors, funky lanes and a few weird parking habits. The automotive felt native to the chaos.
My solely actual gripe? Cease indicators. It’s kind of too reserved. Typically it could look forward to 10 full seconds, even when it was blatantly clear. Certain, that is textbook driving, and being secure is what we prefer to see. However there may be such a factor as overcautious.
Weatherproof autonomy
It rained. It received foggy. However FSD simply saved going.
When the cameras received a bit messy, the wipers cleaned them, together with the front-facing digital camera tucked behind the rear-view mirror. A small warning flashed up from time to time, alerting me of potential degraded efficiency attributable to visibility. But when something was degraded, I did not discover. It by no means misinterpret an indication or misplaced the plot.
Parking was the cherry on prime. It could pull into or reverse into areas, even in tight garages. Often, I would decide the precise area I needed, however more often than not, I simply let it do its factor. And it did it nicely.
This adjustments all the things
I’ve used Autopilot loads, within the UK the place FSD is not a factor. However FSD is miles forward. There is not any have to show you are paying consideration each few seconds. It feels pure, fluid, even enjoyable. I would be mendacity if I stated it did not really feel barely magical.
I’ve by no means pushed in San Francisco earlier than. I did not know the streets. However the automotive did. And I trusted it. That is the important thing takeaway right here: I trusted the system. At no level did I clench, panic, and even hesitate. And that’s not what I anticipated from one thing known as “Full Self-Driving.” Particularly after shouting at Autopilot a good bit at dwelling.
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14 is presently solely obtainable in america and Canada, with no confirmed timeline for worldwide growth. Though it’s coming — quickly, I hope. Entry requires a appropriate Tesla mannequin and an active FSD subscription or purchase, priced at $199/month or $8,000 upfront.
