I'm considering the 2016 MDX... and debating between the AWD/Tech and AWD/Tech/AW trims -- primarily for the CMBS feature. This vehicle is for the wife and family, so it is worth the extra $1,200 for CMBS and ACC to me.

Question is: What is your real-world experience with CMBS? Has it ever saved your ass? Does it ever apply braking unnecessarily?

First-hand experiences only please. Thanks.

 

I have my CMBS set to give me the longest possible warning. I have pulled up to cars and the system has flashed the yellow warning lights and the time to brake light. Of course I always hit the brakes before the system intervenes.

I am not about to try and test CMBS and it has not activated since owning the car. Just the warning lights that my foot should be on the brake.

 

I have ACC/CMBS on my 11 MDX and it does come in handy if you travel on the hwy or drive in unfamiliar cities a lot (I used it A LOT in Houston, drivers not too bad in Phoenix, Denver or L.A.). I don't get much use from the safety feature in my home town of Albuquerque because I'm so familiar with the local driving habits. A few times, the CMBS activated a split second before I could AND it tighten both front seat belts at the same time. Because it reacted so fast, I had plenty of distance to decide to slow down, stop, or go around. A 1 second delay in reaction (seeing the problem and/or moving foot from gas to brake) at 80 mph is about 115-120 feet per second. Since the system is always on, it cuts your reaction time down when needed to give you more time to decide what to do next.

There are some "quirks" with the system with winding roads, low bridges/signs, long curves, heavy traffic, and bad weather. The good thing about the tech is you can always turn it off and drive old school if you don't need it.

 

Just had the seat belt tighten in what was really a non emergency situation. I guess it was radar interference. Pretty cool technology though.

 

The E-Pretensioners should also tighten whenever you do anything sporty, like take a ramp at higher than suggested speeds.

 

I wont go as far to say it saved my life, but it did go as far a BREAKING the MDX a solid second ahead of me hitting my break.. Stopped about 18 inches from the bumper of a Lexus RX330. The driver of the Lexus was on HER PHONE, and she did hit the car in front of her. I was looking at the radio that split second.. Drove away all Happy!!!

 

Good anecdote. Thanks.

 

what is heads up warning and how does it work?

 

I would google it or go to you tube for real time system in use. Also acura web site talk about it.

 

I experienced it twice in less than 10 minutes.
I have the settings on a LONG distance and I was driving behind a car at 25-30 miles, the car was turning right, I knew it was turning and so did not apply the brakes but MDX did with grinding sound, this happened twice on the same street in similar situations.