American cars have come a long way in recent years in terms of build quality, performance, and especially technology features. Sure, the design still needs a bit of work, but it is astonishing that you can these days buy an average American salon car like the Chevrolet Impala with features like Adaptive Cruise Control.

This system used to be reserved only for the biggest, most expensive German sedans. But now GM is offering it in a run of the mill Impala, and to promote it in America, they emphasize on its value at reducing the driver’s stress.

2014 Chevrolet Impala’s Adaptive Cruise Control takes over the repetitive task of braking and accelerating. It maintains a driver-selected following gap with the vehicle ahead. If that car brakes, you brake. If that accelerates, you accelerate.

Of course, the driver cannot just fall sleep and has to remain sharp. Adaptive Cruise Control still requires the driver to pay careful attention to traffic and road conditions and override the system when necessary by manually accelerating and/or braking. That said, Mercedes is now offering a version of this system that can also steer the car!

Complementing the ACC are Forward Collision Alert and Crash Imminent Braking systems, as well as a range of other safety features including Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Vision Camera, and Ultrasonic Rear Part Assist. That’s why the new Impala is a 5-star car in terms of safety.