Due　to　road　curvature　and　sensors’　limited　field　of　view,　as-built　highway　curves　would　pose　an　operational　challenge　to　the　adaptive　cruise　control　(ACC)　system　and　its　shared　control.　However,　very　few　studies　explored　the　adaptability　of　ACC　system-dedicated　vehicles　(V-ACC)　considering　the　vehicle-road　geometry　interaction.　Therefore,　the　objectives　of　this　study　are　twofold:　(i)　investigating　the　implications　of　horizontal　curves　on　V-ACC　dynamics　and　kinematics　characteristics;　and　(ii)　evaluating　V-ACC＇s　adaptability　from　the　safety,　comfort,　and　speed　consistency　(S-C-S)　aspects.　To　this　end,　a　PreScan/CarSim/MATLAB/Simulink　co-simulation　platform　is　established　and　it　is　validated　by　OpenACC　database　followed　by　designing　many　tests　featuring　circular　curve　radius　(RC),　desired　speed　(Vde),　and　clearance.　The　impact　mechanism　of　geometric　features　was　analysed　by　interpreting　dynamics　and　kinematics　characteristics　along　curves　and　critical　features　were　further　extracted　by　reference　to　S-C-S　thresholds.　The　results　show　that:　(i)　either　smaller　RC　or　higher　Vde　causes　those　characteristics　toward　their　S-C-S　margins;　(ii)　neither　sideslip　nor　rollover　occurs,　and　speed　consistency　is　good　in　most　RC　conditions;　and　(iii)　drivers　can　follow　the　leading　car　comfortably　with　Vde　=　40,　80–100　km/h　but　feel　uncomfortable　when　Vde　=　50–70　km/h　and　RC　approaches　its　lower　bounds.　©　2024　The　Author(s).　IET　Intelligent　Transport　Systems　published　by　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd　on　behalf　of　The　Institution　of　Engineering　and　Technology.