ProPILOT Assist combines Intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist to help you drive on large highways and freeways.
Never operate this system without reading your owner’s manual. You’ll find detailed information about the system limitations, warning lights, indicator meanings, icons, and more.
This article explains the basics of how to operate Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist, but it is not a comprehensive guide.
Read your owner’s manual! Misunderstanding how to use this feature could result in a fatal accident. You’ll find all the information you need in your owner’s manual, including the significant risks involved with ProPILOT.
Ensure you know exactly what you’re doing before using ProPILOT Assist on the road.
Table of Contents
What is Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist?
The Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist is a driver-assist program. It’s a semi-autonomous driving software. However, it doesn’t replace you – the driver. You must still maintain awareness and be ready to react at any time.
ProPILOT Assist combines two in-car programs to control your vehicle’s journey on large, well-maintained, multi-lane highways.
- Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
- Steering Assist
- This includes Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI) and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention (I-BSI).
ProPILOT is also available with standard cruise control, but Steering Assist won’t kick in.
It works by combining the information from two sensors:
- Windshield-mounted camera
- Bumper-mounted radar sensor
It’s crucial to remember that there are many system limitations for ProPILOT Assist. It will only work in some road and weather conditions, for example. Read the owner’s manual to understand the complete system limitations and when it’s dangerous to use!
How to turn on Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist
Turning on ProPILOT Assist on the Nissan Leaf is a simple task. Follow the instructions below.
- Press the ProPILOT Assist button.
- The ProPILOT Assist icon will illuminate in the driver’s display.
You’ll find the ProPILOT Assist button on the right-hand side of the steering wheel. It’ll be next to the cruise control buttons.
The icon looks like a bird’s eye view of a car with concentric circles around it.
Using ProPILOT Assist
Once you’ve activated the system, you can use the Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist. Here’s how to do that.
- Activate ProPILOT Assist (see above).
- Accelerate to the speed you want to travel at.
- Press the SET – button.
The ProPILOT Assist icon will turn blue. The ProPILOT activation indicator will also illuminate in the same color.
ProPILOT Assist is now controlling your speed and is ready to intervene with Steering Assist. It’ll adjust the speed of your car if approaching a slower car ahead too.
Changing the set speed in ProPILOT Assist
Use the RES+ and SET- buttons to increase or decrease your set speed.
- Increase speed in 5 mph increments – press and hold RES+.
- Increase speed in 1 mph increments – lightly tap RES+.
- Decrease speed in 5 mph increments – press and hold SET-.
- Decrease speed in 1 mph increments – lightly tap SET-.
Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist: changing the set distance
The Nissan Leaf ProPILOT system has three set distance options with Intelligent Cruise Control:
- Long
- Middle
- Short
At about 60 mph, these distances translate to approximately 200 feet, 150 feet, and 90 feet (respectively). Generally, the further you are from the car in front, the safer.
- Press the Distance switch to cycle through these three options.
The Distance switch is to the left of RES+, SET-, and CANCEL.
- When no car ahead is detected, the space in front of the car icon will be empty.
- When a vehicle is detected ahead, another car icon will appear ‘in front’.
Turning off Steering Assist with Nissan Leaf ProPILOT
You can use ProPILOT Assist without Steering Assist (leaving only ICC active).
Here’s how to turn Steering Assist off:
- Press the Steering Assist button on the trim to the left of the steering wheel.
How to cancel the Nissan Leaf’s ProPILOT Assist
There are three ways to turn off the Nissan Leaf ProPILOT Assist:
- Press CANCEL; or
- Press the ProPILOT Assist switch; or
- Tap the brake pedal.
- Tapping the brake pedal won’t work if you’re stationary. You’ll need to use one of the other methods.
As always, reading your owner’s manual is vital, especially with a system as new as this. Keep yourself safe and never operate ProPILOT Assist – or any other features, for that matter – without reading your booklet from cover to cover.
The owner’s manual also contains more information on the system’s limitations. These are vital to understand before driving. The ProPILOT Assist system might be unpredictable and might not work on certain roads and in certain weather conditions.
See a PDF of the Nissan Leaf owner’s manual below.
