Top 6 Best Self-Driving Cars | 2017 Ranking | Top Self-Driving Car Companies (Reviews)

2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST SELF-DRIVING CARS

What If Your Car Could Drive Itself?

For years, we’ve all pictured the possibilities that future technology would bring to our daily lives. Many of us have long dreamed about the day when we would no longer have to participate in the process of driving to work, to our appointments, or anywhere in our daily lives.

The future is coming with the increased popularity of self-driving cars.

Major companies are lining up protocol and entering the testing phase with this new concept. Self-driving car technology is enabling researchers and car manufacturers to make a giant leap forward in terms of reducing human error when it comes to car accidents. The future of self-driving cars is coming quickly.

Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Self-Driving Cars

Consumers are likely to have already encountered the Google self-driving car project, Uber’s self-driving car, or Tesla’s self-driving car. How do you know which features you should look for or anticipate on the best self-driving cars? What will the Google self-driving car cost when it’s available for sale?

AdvisoryHQ knows how important it is for consumers to stay up to date with the latest information on the technology front. Our ranking and reviews of the top self-driving cars available today will give you the information you need to make an educated decision about self-driving car companies.

Should you buy that self-driving car for sale? Find out more on what you should keep an eye out for in the sections below.

AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Self-Driving Cars

List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the car names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that self-driving car):

2016 Honda Civic LX
Audi RS7
BMW 750i X Drive
Faraday Future FF91
Infiniti Q50S with Intelligent Cruise Control
Tesla Model S

Top 6 Best Self-Driving Cars | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Self-Driving Cars	Key Features	Price
2016 Honda Civic LX	-Lane keeping and departure assistance -Braking for potential collisions -Automated cruise control	$20,440
Audi RS7	-Lane keeping assistance -Side assist -Automated cruise control with stop and go	$110,700
BMW 750i xDrive	-Automated cruise control with stop and go -Lane keeping assistance and side assist -Approach control and person warning	$97,600
Faraday Future FF91	-Driverless Valet to drop off passengers and park itself	Unknown
Infiniti Q50 with Intelligent Cruise Control	-Automated cruise control -Predictive forward collision warning -Lane keeping assistance -Digital steering system	$33,590
Tesla Model S	-Autopilot technology -Ability to self-park, enter and exit freeway -Lane change assistance	$68,000

Table: Top 6 Best Self-Driving Car Technology | Above list is sorted alphabetically

What Is Self-Driving Car Technology?

Self-driving cars sound like a dream come true for any science fiction fanatic, but what can they really offer now that they’re here?

Knowing what to expect from self-driving car technology can help you to both shop and set realistic expectations for what you’ll receive. While we won’t know exactly where the future of self-driving cars will wind up, we can take a closer look at what they have to offer in the here and now.

Image Source: Pexels

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pinpoints human error as the direct cause of 94% of all car crashes. The idea of self-driving car technology aims to eliminate this number with fancy laser technology and robust camera software.

With a combination of this equipment used in tandem with GPS software and radar, self-driving cars can place themselves in space and effectively navigate through traffic. Much of the testing for this self-driving car technology has been done on open highways. In suburban settings with more intense traffic patterns, self-driving car technology has yet to prove itself.

Many companies have attempted to be the first on the scene with the first self-driving cars available for purchase. Companies that are vying for this prestigious title include:

Google
Tesla
Uber
Honda

Almost every major manufacturer of vehicles is striving toward creating the first best self-driving car on today’s marketplace.

Companies such as Uber have already begun to test the theory in practice. Uber’s self-driving car lasted only one week in the real world before they decided to retire the idea and regroup. The ability to drive these cars was taken away by the DMV because there was no legal state permit in use, not because Uber’s self-driving car was an issue.

The Google self-driving car project has lasted slightly longer but there are still more than a dozen crashes. Some of these self-driving car accidents have already been prevented by human intervention.

By interfering with the car’s ability to steer and press the pedals on its own, they have been able to use human reason and ability to avert potential accidents on the Google self-driving car project.

As the self-driving car technology continues to improve, consumers are likely to see a self-driving car for sale in the near future. To some degree, self-driving car companies are already issuing models that can think more for themselves and cut back on human input.

The future of self-driving cars may not be totally certain, but the technology is certainly on track to continue improving through the years ahead.

Don’t Miss: This Year’s Guide: Best CD Rates (Highest CD Interest Rates Comparison)

All-in-One Change Management Tools

Top Rated Toolkit for Change Managers.

Get Your Change Management Tool Today...

AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology

What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top-rated lists?

Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.

Detailed Review—Top Ranking Best Self-Driving Cars

Below, please find the detailed review of each car on our list of self-driving cars. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed this self-driving car technology to score so high in our selection ranking.

2016 Honda Civic LX Review

While not fully automated as some of the self-driving car companies are claiming their model to be, the 2016 Honda Civic LX with Honda Sensing™ offers some of the capabilities from the best self-driving car. It gives consumers access to self-driving car technology without the burden of cost that comes with the full equipment necessary to become fully automated.

The add-on technology in Honda’s best self-driving car is considered to be an upgraded safety feature. While Google’s self-driving cars can drive themselves with all of the technology on board, the Honda Civic only has the capacity to do a handful of activities:

Lane keeping assistance (adjusts the steering if you start to veer out of the center of your lane)

Lane departure warnings (notifies you immediately if you start to make an unindicated lane change)

Road departure mitigation (notifies you when you drift off the road and can apply steering torque and braking if necessary)

Adaptive cruise control (set a following interval instead of just a speed)

In an attempt to reduce the accidents that are the direct result of human error, the best self-driving cars also help to survey the area for risk of collision. Special features on the 2016 Honda Civic will notify you if it seems like you are headed for an accident with a car in front of you.

When the accident is deemed “unavoidable,” these self-driving cars will automatically apply the brakes to minimize impact.

Pricing

One of the most appealing features about the self-driving car technology in this model is the price.

If you find one of the 2016 Honda Civic LX models on the market, you’ll be looking at a self-driving car for sale. The price tag on it may surprise you: $20,440. Compared to the Google self-driving car cost which could be as high as $320,000, the self-driving car for sale from Honda is within the reach of most consumers.

Audi RS7 Review

Another model known as a competitor to Google’s self-driving cars, the Audi RS7 is an impressive luxury model with driver assistance capabilities. Audi’s sports vehicles are better known for their high-power motors and sleek body styles.

However, the combination of their reputation and of self-driving car technology has them poised to be one of the best self-driving cars.

Image Source: Audi

The most impressive point to mention about this best self-driving car is the adaptive cruise control with stop and go. When you are considering a self-driving car for sale, this adaptive cruise control is what allows you to drive easily based on the vehicles in front of you.

Set a following distance and these self-driving cars will maintain it, even using acceleration and brakes as necessary to keep up with traffic patterns.

The active lane assist and side assist features help you to keep your best self-driving cars in tact when it comes to shifting sideways. Lane assist notifies you of an unindicated lane change and helps to put you back where you belong. The side assist feature uses radar sensors and visual warnings to notify you that a car is in your blind spot.

Pricing

Among the self-driving car companies, Audi’s addition to the market comes solidly in the middle of the pack. The 2016 Honda Civic LX is by far the most affordable of the best self-driving cars, but the Audi comes with some more impressive features in terms of its actual manufacturing.

A more powerful engine and sportier appearance, Audi is a sports car company as well as one of the new self-driving car companies. The price tag on a luxury vehicle such as this one starts much higher. These best self-driving cars start at $110,700.

BMW 750i xDrive Review

The BMW 750i xDrive is technically not designed to be one of the fully automated self-driving cars, but it does have the capability to do so. Recommending that drivers still pay attention to their surroundings, this model from BMW easily comes in near the top of the list for the best self-driving cars.

Equipped with many features that come standard in the best self-driving cars, the BMW 750i assists you in traffic with their Driving Assistant Plus. You’ll find automated cruise control with stop and go features. This feature can be set to maintain a specific speed and a following distance from the car in front of you using automatic braking and acceleration.

Other features that allowed us to rank this model as one of the best self-driving cars include:

Lane control assistance: This feature will assume responsibility for steering to keep you in your specific lane.

Side collision protection: Check your blind spots quickly and be notified of any potential crashes.

Approach control warning and person warning: City braking function allows you to automatically brake or be notified of an impending collision with another vehicle or a person.

Speeds can be set up to 210 kilometers per hour for these features to function effectively on the self-driving car technology.

Pricing

What would you expect to pay for the best self-driving cars from BMW? It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to expect a higher price tag to accompany these luxury vehicles.

Consumers who are looking to purchase one of these self-driving cars should expect prices that hover right around $100,000. The MSRP for the BMW 750i xDrive model is $97,600.

Faraday Future FF91 Review

The Faraday Future FF91 is likely to rival even Tesla’s self-driving car. The self-driving car technology included in this model is expensive, combining top of the line engine power and features with automated driving.

Image Source: Faraday Future

These self-driving cars come with no shortage of additional equipment onboard. In fact, in order to make the best use of their self-driving car technology, Faraday Future’s self-driving car companies have included equipment such as:

10 cameras
13 radar sensors
Retractable 3D LIDAR system
Sensors to steer and park autonomously

One of the best features from self-driving car companies is the ability for your vehicle to park itself. The Faraday Future model doesn’t disappoint in this aspect with its Driverless Valet. Capable of dropping off its passengers and parking itself in designated private parking lots, your self-driving cars will be adding an extra layer of convenience.

Of course, it includes high-tech features included on other self-driving cars as well: side cameras to prevent blind spots, a rechargeable battery for electric self-driving cars, and fast acceleration. There’s no shortage of bells and whistles on this option among the best self-driving cars.

Pricing

Claiming to be production-ready and available for release in 2018, the Faraday Future FF91 price tag might make you hesitate. Coming in close to the projected Google self-driving car cost, the Faraday Future model is projected to come in around the six-digit mark. Some consumers are speculating that the cost will come in close to $180,000.

Reservations are currently being made with a refundable $5,000 deposit from consumers.

Infiniti Q50 with Intelligent Cruise Control Review

Consumers who desire a car that can almost drive itself through traffic-laden situations will love the self-driving car technology that comes standard with the Infiniti Q50 with Intelligent Cruise Control. With a modest price tag and superb features, this model easily ranks as one of the best self-driving cars available on today’s market.

The Q50 comes with the Intelligent Cruise Control feature, a unique name for the same automated cruise control that comes standard on most of the best self-driving cars. Top self-driving car companies seem to have recognized that driving in traffic is a huge pet peeve for consumers.

This feature is the direct result of the self-driving car companies who are attempting to make it more palatable.

You must first engage this feature for it to work, but it can really handle a variety of situations:

Maintain a steady speed as you drive a lengthy route
Maintain distance from the car in front of you
Slow down when necessary with normal traffic patterns
Accelerate and return to previous speed when traffic clears

It can also assist you in staying within the confines of your own lane, predicting car crashes that could result from up to two cars in front of you, and a digital steering system.

Pricing

The Infiniti Q50 comes from one of the more budget-friendly self-driving car companies. Aware that not every consumer can afford the luxury vehicles that are accompanied by a six-digit price sticker, Infiniti’s self-driving car companies have tried to fill in the gap.

Coming in just slightly higher than the 2016 Honda Civic LX, these self-driving cars have a starting MSRP of $33,950. Prices could increase with the addition of luxury features as you build your specific vehicle.

Free Wealth & Finance Software - Get Yours Now ►

Tesla Model S Review

Tesla’s self-driving car, the Tesla Model S, gives consumers a lot of upgraded and tech-friendly features from one of the top self-driving car companies on the market. With a price tag that definitely makes it out of reach for some consumers, the Tesla Model S gives you a lot of features to consider.

Image Source: Tesla

In order to keep drivers safe, the Tesla Model S comes equipped with an advanced sensing technology. Equipment that comes standard on Tesla’s self-driving car includes:

Eight surround cameras for 360-degree visibility
Twelve updated ultrasonic sensors
Forward-facing radar
Vision, sonar, and radar processing software

The feature from self-driving car companies that tends to interest most consumers is their Autopilot feature. Designed to help you maintain control regardless of traffic conditions, Tesla’s version of automated cruise control has some impressive capabilities not seen from other self-driving car companies.

The Tesla Model S (and any of their other self-driving cars) can stay within a lane, change lanes without your input, and transition on to and off of the freeway. What’s more, it can even park itself in a parking spot close to your final destination, as well as be summoned to and from your garage.

Pricing

The price tag on Tesla’s self-driving car isn’t as staggering as you might imagine. With as many capabilities as it comes equipped with, you would expect to pay much more than they are actually charging. Expect to pay a minimum of $68,000 with price increases for upgrades.

You can build your Model S from the ground up with custom delivery set for a few months into the future. These best self-driving cars can be as fast, as sturdy, and as luxurious as you want them to be.

Conclusion—Top 6 Best Self-Driving Cars

The future is quickly arriving with the increased prevalence of self-driving cars and the transition of car manufacturers to become self-driving car companies. From Uber’s self-driving car attempt to the better-known Google self-driving car project, you’re bound to hear about this new wave of the future.

If Google’s self-driving cars piqued your interest, these are bound to be a new must-have item.

Focus your attention elsewhere with the automated cruise control features, lane keeping assistance, and even self-park features available on some of the best self-driving cars. Depending on your budget, you may even be able to incorporate some of the more luxury features into your self-driving cars.

Finding the features that appeal most to you as a driver is the most complicated aspect of selecting self-driving cars. How much are you interested in spending and what would you like to be able to do?

Self-driving car technology is continuing to evolve as time passes and research improves. These top six best self-driving cars today may have top of the line technology but the future of self-driving cars is still up in the air. Where will your car be able to take you in the future?

AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:

Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.

Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures.