What is hill descent control?

Hill descent control is designed for off-road driving and is often found in SUVs and 4x4 cars. It does pretty much what it says on the tin – the system helps control the car when going down a hill. Simply activate hill descent control and start driving down a hill then, odd as it might feel, take your feet off the pedals. The car will use a combination of its gearbox and brakes to keep your rate of descent slow and controlled, and handle any sliding that occurs over slippery surfaces. This leaves you free to concentrate on choosing a safe line with your steering without the hassle of holding the brake pedal, too.