A recent hands-on review of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in the Model Y Premium Long Range highlighted both the advanced capabilities and notable limitations of the technology. The test, conducted on public roads, offered insights into how the vehicle’s semi-autonomous system performs under various real-world conditions.
During the drive, the reviewer interacted with Tesla’s Autopilot speed setting options—labeled “Sloth,” “Chill,” “Standard,” and “Hurry”—and observed inconsistent responses to speed limits. For example, while navigating a 60 km/h zone, the vehicle accelerated to 74 km/h despite the posted limits. The system also exhibited problematic behavior such as running a red light and parking that partially obstructed a neighbor’s driveway. These errors underscored the necessity for human supervision when using FSD, as the driver had to take control multiple times.
Family members accompanying the reviewer offered mixed reactions. While one teenager expressed enthusiasm about learning to drive with such technology, another family member responded negatively, and the reviewer’s wife was alarmed by a sudden panic braking event at a roundabout. These varied responses underscore the unsettled public perception of the system’s safety and reliability.
Despite these incidents, the vehicle demonstrated a high level of competence in numerous driving tasks. It successfully managed lane changes, encountered unexpected obstacles such as oncoming cars in a parking lot without panic, and completed overtaking maneuvers. Insurance data from Zurich suggests that Tesla drivers with the FSD subscription are statistically seven times less likely to be involved in accidents compared to human drivers without it, prompting the insurer to lower premiums for such users.
The review also experimented with Tesla’s onboard Grok AI, which offers various interaction modes including “Therapist” and “Conspiracy.” The AI was able to provide seemingly insightful responses in therapist mode but delivered outlandish answers when switched to conspiracy mode. Notably, an NSFW (“not safe for work”) mode intended for adult conversations was reportedly inaccessible.
Tesla is currently testing a fully autonomous version of its Cybercab in Austin, Texas, signaling the company’s commitment to advancing beyond semi-autonomous features. The emerging technology has the potential to reshape driving norms, with some predicting that manual driving could become socially discouraged or financially burdensome in the near future.
The review concluded with an acknowledgement of the inherent tension in pioneering autonomous driving technology: while the system shows impressive capability, it remains prone to errors that require vigilance and intervention by human drivers.