I have the 2016 Honda Civic LX with Sensing. It doesn't require me to keep my hands on wheel. However, it keeps losing the lane, requiring you to steer manually. Maybe the lane markings are not clear enough here in Los Angeles.
Also, the adaptive cruise control often brakes abruptly, even making the front collision warning system go off. I also don't know if it activates the brake lights when it brakes (since traditional cruse controls don't). This means that I usually brake manually.
All those things make this feature less useful than it should be. Before I bought this car, I actually did some research on this, but I haven't found any test that compares how well these features do in practice.
For normal (non-adaptive) cruise control there are few situations where the brakes would make sense, but one of those is a steep hill. An easy way to find out what happens if you have a decent grade nearby: set a low speed and point yourself down the hill. I commuted over a large grade for some years and all the cars I drove would brake on it. Can't speak for every system ever made, obviously.
traditional cruise control is just about keeping constant speed, no adaption to situation, road inclination etc. my 12 year old BMW has one, wonderful feature and keeps me still engaged with what's on the road
Traditional cruise control will most definitely hit the brakes. Set a speed and then drive down a nice grade, you'll see it in action. The oldest vehicle I've seen this in was a 1989 Dodge Caravan, you could literally watch the brake pedal move.
Also, the adaptive cruise control often brakes abruptly, even making the front collision warning system go off. I also don't know if it activates the brake lights when it brakes (since traditional cruse controls don't). This means that I usually brake manually.
All those things make this feature less useful than it should be. Before I bought this car, I actually did some research on this, but I haven't found any test that compares how well these features do in practice.