Blind Spot Collision Monitoring: Kia Telluride Ex's Safety Feature

Kia's Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA) system has been praised by Autoblog as the best in the industry, winning the 2020 Autoblog Technology of the Year Award. The system includes a traditional blind-spot warning light in the side mirror, a second warning light beamed onto the windshield, and a live camera feed of either the left or right blind spot displayed in the central digital portion of the gauge cluster. When a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the steering wheel vibrates and a warning chime is activated. The system also includes a collision avoidance feature that can apply the brakes to prevent a collision. However, it is important to note that the system has limitations and may not operate properly under certain circumstances, such as inclement weather, road conditions, or when the sensors are blocked. While the Kia Telluride EX is equipped with blind-spot monitoring, it is not clear if it includes the Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance (BCA) system. Users have reported that the blind-spot indicators in the mirrors do not work below 20 mph and that the system may not be as aggressive as they would like in showing vehicles in the blind spot.

The Kia Telluride's Blind-Spot Collision Warning Light

The Kia Telluride is equipped with a Blind-Spot Collision Warning Light system that offers drivers advanced safety features and peace of mind while on the road. This system is designed to assist drivers in detecting vehicles in their blind spots and help prevent potential collisions. Here's an overview of how the system works and its key features:

The Blind-Spot Collision Warning Light is a standard feature on the Kia Telluride, including the EX trim. It is designed to provide drivers with visual, audible, and haptic alerts to warn them of vehicles in their blind spots. The system uses sensors and cameras to monitor the vehicle's surroundings and detect objects in the blind spot areas. When the system detects a vehicle in the blind spot, it activates a yellow warning light in the side mirror, indicating the presence of a vehicle. This light is designed to be easily visible to the driver, providing an early warning to help prevent potential collisions.

In addition to the visual warning, the system also provides an audible chime and a gentle vibration of the steering wheel when the turn signal is activated while a vehicle is in the blind spot. This multi-sensory approach helps ensure that the driver is alerted to the potential hazard and can take appropriate action. The system is designed to be non-intrusive while still providing effective warnings.

The Kia Telluride also offers an advanced feature called the Blind Spot View Monitor. This feature uses a system of cameras to provide a live feed of the blind spot areas, displaying it in the central digital portion of the gauge cluster when the turn signal is activated. This allows drivers to see their blind spots clearly without having to turn their heads, providing an additional layer of safety and convenience. The resolution of the camera feed is solid, and it remains useful even in low-light conditions.

The Blind-Spot Collision Warning Light system in the Kia Telluride has been recognised in the industry, winning the 2020 Autoblog Technology of the Year Award. It was praised for its comprehensive and well-designed safety features, offering drivers advanced warnings and collision avoidance capabilities. The system was also noted to be effective in reducing driver stress, particularly when navigating crowded city streets or making lane changes on busy highways.

However, it's important to note that the system has certain limitations. For example, it may not function properly in inclement weather conditions, such as heavy snow or rain, or when the sensors are obstructed by foreign materials like snow, dirt, or debris. Additionally, there are specific driving scenarios where the system may not operate as expected, such as on curved roads, merging lanes, or inclined surfaces.

In conclusion, the Kia Telluride's Blind-Spot Collision Warning Light system offers advanced safety features that enhance the driver's awareness of their surroundings. With visual, audible, and haptic alerts, as well as the Blind Spot View Monitor, the system provides a comprehensive solution to help prevent blind spot-related collisions. While it has some limitations, overall, it contributes to a safer and more confident driving experience.

The system's limitations

The Kia Telluride's Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) has several limitations that may affect its functionality. Firstly, the system may not work properly when the vehicle is travelling at low speeds, typically below 20 miles per hour. At such speeds, the side indicators may not illuminate, and there may be no audible warning or steering wheel vibration when a vehicle is in the blind spot.

Additionally, the BCA system has limitations when operating in specific environments and conditions. For example, it may not function optimally in inclement weather, such as heavy snow or rain, or when the rear corner radar is covered with foreign material like snow, rain, or dirt. The system may also be affected by extreme temperatures and the presence of fixed objects near the vehicle, such as sound barriers, guardrails, or street lamps.

The BCA system also has limitations when driving on certain types of roads. It may not operate properly on curved, inclined, or narrow roads with overhanging trees or grass. It may also be less effective when driving on highways, motorway ramps, toll roads, or roads with different lane heights.

Furthermore, the BCA system has limitations with certain types of vehicles and obstacles. It may not always detect motorcycles, bicycles, trailers, or large vehicles like buses or trucks. Additionally, the system's braking control may be compromised when driving over bumpy or slippery surfaces, or when the vehicle makes abrupt lane changes.

It is important to note that the BCA system is designed to assist the driver, but it should not be solely relied upon. Drivers should remain attentive and aware of their surroundings at all times, as the system has limitations and may not detect all potential hazards.

The system's malfunction and limitations

Blind-Spot Collision Warning systems in cars are a crucial function of the driver assistance system, providing 360° road condition coverage at low speed. However, these systems are not without their limitations and malfunctions. Here are some common issues and drawbacks of Blind-Spot Collision Warning systems, including those in the Kia Telluride EX:

Limitations

• Speed restrictions: Blind-Spot Collision Warning systems often have speed limitations and only become active after a certain speed is reached. For example, in the Kia Telluride, the indicators for the Blind-Spot Collision Warning do not appear at speeds below approximately 20 miles per hour.
• Specific driving conditions: These systems may not work in certain driving conditions, such as when driving on a sharp curve, on a slope, or when passing a car in front of you.
• Visual warning light: The visual warning light in the side-view mirror may be too small and difficult to see, especially with bright lights or other environmental factors.
• Reliability: While these systems can provide excellent reliability, they are still technological gadgets that can have errors. Therefore, it is important not to rely solely on them and always be mindful of other cars when changing lanes.

Malfunctions

• Random failures: Blind-spot monitors may stop working randomly due to technical issues, internal wiring problems, or old age. This can lead to a situation where the system fails to illuminate the light or indicates the wrong side, potentially causing confusion and accidents.
• Issues with speed limit: If the speed of the car is too low, the system may not detect other vehicles, as it requires a certain speed to accurately gauge the speed of surrounding vehicles.
• Radar and sensor problems: Sometimes, radars and sensors may fail to detect surrounding objects due to wiring issues or incorrect placement of sensors.
• Electrical malfunctions: Electrical problems can affect the functioning of the blind-spot monitoring system, and professional help may be required to resolve them.
• False alarms: In some cases, the system may give false alarms, such as when a vehicle is passing through a tunnel wall and the system mistakes it for a truck.

The Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist settings

When set to "Active assistance", the system will provide a warning message, an audible alert, steering wheel vibration, and even apply braking assist depending on the collision risk levels. This comprehensive support ensures you are well-informed and can take the necessary actions to avoid a potential collision.

If you prefer a more subtle approach, you can opt for "Warning only". In this mode, the system will still provide visual, audible, and haptic alerts to notify you of potential dangers in your blind spot. However, it will not actively intervene with braking assistance. This setting empowers you to make the necessary adjustments to your driving without automated braking.

Additionally, you can customise the warning timing and volume to suit your preferences. If you find the default warning timing too sensitive, you can adjust it to "Late" for a slightly delayed alert. As for the warning volume, you can choose from four levels: High, Medium, Low, or Off. If "Driving safety priority" is selected, the audio volume will temporarily decrease when a warning is issued, ensuring you don't miss any critical alerts.

It is important to note that the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist feature may not function optimally in certain circumstances. For example, it may not operate as expected in inclement weather, on curved or inclined roads, or when foreign material obstructs the sensors. Therefore, it is always essential to stay alert and aware of your surroundings while driving, even with these advanced driver assistance systems in place.

The Blind-Spot View Monitor

The BSVM is part of the 360° camera system, which is very convenient and makes parking extremely easy. The cameras are helpful in tight parking and manoeuvring situations. The BSVM provides a video image of the side of the vehicle when the driver uses the turn signal to indicate their intention to change lanes. This image will typically appear in the gauge cluster and show the adjacent lane and any object in the blind spot.

The BSVM is a standard feature in the Kia Telluride SX. To enable it, go to User Settings > Driver Assistance > Blind Spot Safety > Blind Spot View and make sure it is checked and enabled.

The Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) is another safety feature in the Kia Telluride. It warns the driver with a warning message, an audible alert, steering wheel vibration, and braking assistance depending on the collision risk levels. The BCA can be turned on or off through the infotainment system screen.

Frequently asked questions