Tesla's FSD update is an absolute game-changer. Here's what you need to know.

Cruising through scenic landscapes, a Tesla driver engages the self-driving feature, enjoying a hands-free experience as mountains and ocean views pass by in the background. Source: Tesla (Australia).

Tesla recently updated their vehicle's new full self-driving versions to version 14.2.1. They're offering free trials for Tesla owners, and this just made me completely change my mind on how I saw the future of self-driving vehicles. This new version has been claimed by Elon Musk to be pretty much fully hands-free (that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful), and it's even been stated that you can text and drive while using it. Is that completely true? I don't know. But this new update might just convince me to pay their hefty subscription fee of $99 per month for access to full self-driving. The FSD has shown significant improvement since it was first conceived (I've been there from the start). I recently tested it on the free version, and I noticed a couple of improvements and things that blew me away. Here's my take.

Whether we like it or not, the fact that Tesla is one of the leading forces in the autonomous transportation race is undeniable. This lead was extended when they recently released their newest update - V14.2.1. This article details my experience with this new version. Here's a hint: that $99 monthly fee feels a little less ridiculous now.

After starting the car, I set my destination. I clicked the relatively large blue button labeled 'Start Self Driving'. The car immediately began to drive itself out of the parking lot. I noticed it was extremely cautious when it did this, as there were many obstacles and cars around. It kind of paused in the middle of backing out for a moment, which was a little weird - probably a glitch. As the car entered the main road, it navigated the streets skillfully. Quite aggressively, I have to admit. But this makes sense, since I had the FSD mode set to 'Hurry'. These modes have different characteristics to match the desired style of driving. These modes are Sloth, Chill, Standard, Hurry, and Mad Max. Sloth is really slow, the type of thing to piss people off. Chill is a little slow, but won't get you honked at. The standard mode is pretty good. I found that it sometimes neglected to overtake certain cars that were driving very slowly. Hurry was the perfect one for me. It has the perfect mix of aggressiveness and 'keeping me alive'-ness (one of the main characteristics I look for in a car). Mad Max mode, on the other hand, is very aggressive, resembling the film's fast-paced structure. I mean, this mode literally allows the autopilot to ignore the speed limit. Expect to receive at least a few middle fingers if you're using it on the highway (joke, by the way).

The car pulled out onto the first turn. It didn't make any mistakes during this. The first real challenge came in a traffic jam near a signal. It would need to find the right lane and know exactly when to turn. Unfortunately, this maneuver was nowhere near as perfect. It waited way too long to turn, even though we were on a yield and there weren't any cars in sight. This is where I had to turn it off and take over. But taking into account that FSD is still in beta? I am not gonna lie, that's pretty good performance. I distinctly remember my dad using the FSD feature a year ago and how it almost ended in a disaster. We were going along a winding country road. The autopilot suddenly decided it would be a good idea to swerve 45 degrees to the left. This almost led us to going off-road; luckily, my dad instinctively grabbed the wheel and yanked it the other way, saving us from a terrible situation. This just goes to show how fast the FSD market is evolving. Completely autonomous cars are nearly upon us. In fact, they may already be here. I'm eager to see what's next for the autonomous transportation industry, and I bet you are too. To stay updated, sign up for TecRes. Note: This is not a sponsored ad for Tesla. I genuinely thought this was worth writing about. Only use self-driving features responsibly. Adhere to their usage guidelines.