diff --git a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/tests/test_vision_controller.py b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/tests/test_vision_controller.py
index 9f6efffb55..d35b79a73b 100644
--- a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/tests/test_vision_controller.py
+++ b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/tests/test_vision_controller.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ This file is part of sunnypilot and is licensed under the MIT License.
 See the LICENSE.md file in the root directory for more details.
 """
 import numpy as np
+import pytest
 
 import cereal.messaging as messaging
 from cereal import custom, log
@@ -12,11 +13,52 @@ from openpilot.common.params import Params
 from openpilot.common.realtime import DT_MDL
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.cruise import V_CRUISE_UNSET
 from openpilot.selfdrive.modeld.constants import ModelConstants
-from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.smart_cruise_control.vision_controller import SmartCruiseControlVision
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.smart_cruise_control import MIN_V
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.smart_cruise_control.vision_controller import SmartCruiseControlVision, _ENTERING_PRED_LAT_ACC_TH
 
 VisionState = custom.LongitudinalPlanSP.SmartCruiseControl.VisionState
 
 
+def _th_above_f32(th: float) -> float:
+  """
+  Return the next representable float32 *above* `th`.
+  This avoids flaky comparisons around thresholds due to float32 rounding.
+  """
+  th32 = np.float32(th)
+  above32 = np.nextafter(th32, np.float32(np.inf), dtype=np.float32)
+  return float(above32)
+
+
+def _build_single_spike_filtered(n: int, base: float = 1.0) -> np.ndarray:
+  """
+  Create an array where max() is >= threshold but p97 is < threshold.
+  This demonstrates the behavior difference vs np.amax().
+
+  Note: We intentionally construct using float32-representable values to match
+  the data path through cereal/capnp.
+  """
+  th = float(_ENTERING_PRED_LAT_ACC_TH)
+  th32 = float(np.float32(th))
+
+  # numpy percentile default is linear interpolation: idx=(n-1)*p/100
+  idx = (n - 1) * 0.97
+  w = float(idx - np.floor(idx))
+
+  base32 = float(np.float32(base))
+
+  # Choose spike so that p97 = base + w*(spike-base) < th
+  # -> spike < base + (th-base)/w. Use a margin (0.9) and ensure spike >= th.
+  if w == 0.0:
+    spike = th32 + 1.0
+  else:
+    spike = base32 + (th32 - base32) / w * 0.9
+    spike = max(spike, th32 + 0.01)
+
+  arr = np.full(n, base32, dtype=np.float32)
+  arr[-1] = np.float32(spike)
+  return arr
+
+
 def generate_modelV2():
   model = messaging.new_message('modelV2')
   position = log.XYZTData.new_message()
@@ -101,4 +143,72 @@ class TestSmartCruiseControlVision:
       self.scc_v.update(self.sm, True, False, 0., 0., 0.)
     assert self.scc_v.state == VisionState.enabled
 
+  @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "case, should_enter",
+    [
+      ("p97_just_above_threshold", True),
+      ("single_spike_filtered", False),
+      ("persistent_high_values", True),
+    ],
+    ids=[
+      "p97>threshold_enters",
+      "single_spike_max_large_but_p97_below_threshold",
+      "high_values_persist_trigger_entering",
+    ],
+  )
+  def test_max_pred_lat_acc_uses_p97_and_threshold(self, case, should_enter):
+    n = len(ModelConstants.T_IDXS)
+    th = float(_ENTERING_PRED_LAT_ACC_TH)
+
+    if case == "p97_just_above_threshold":
+      # Use the next representable float32 above threshold to avoid float32 rounding flakiness.
+      val = _th_above_f32(th)
+      pred_lat_accels = np.full(n, np.float32(val), dtype=np.float32)
+
+    elif case == "single_spike_filtered":
+      pred_lat_accels = _build_single_spike_filtered(n, base=1.0)
+
+    elif case == "persistent_high_values":
+      # Make enough "high" samples so p97 is driven by the persistent trend, not a single outlier.
+      high_count = max(2, int(np.ceil(n * 0.03)) + 1)
+      pred_lat_accels = np.full(n, np.float32(1.0), dtype=np.float32)
+      pred_lat_accels[-high_count:] = np.float32(2.0)
+      pred_lat_accels[-1] = np.float32(8.0)  # keep one big outlier too
+
+    else:
+      raise AssertionError(f"Unknown case: {case}")
+
+    # Override model predictions so:
+    # predicted_lat_accels = abs(orientationRate.z) * velocity.x == pred_lat_accels
+    mdl = generate_modelV2()
+    mdl.modelV2.velocity.x = [1.0 for _ in range(n)]
+    mdl.modelV2.orientationRate.z = [float(x) for x in pred_lat_accels]
+    self.sm["modelV2"] = mdl.modelV2
+
+    v_ego = float(MIN_V + 5.0)
+
+    # 1st update: disabled -> enabled
+    self.scc_v.update(self.sm, True, False, v_ego, 0.0, 0.0)
+    # 2nd update: evaluate entering condition from enabled state
+    self.scc_v.update(self.sm, True, False, v_ego, 0.0, 0.0)
+
+    # Controller does percentile on numpy float64 arrays (values already quantized by capnp),
+    # so compute expected in float64 to match behavior and avoid interpolation/rounding deltas.
+    expected_p97 = float(np.percentile(pred_lat_accels.astype(np.float64), 97))
+
+    # allow tiny numeric differences due to float conversions/interpolation
+    assert np.isclose(self.scc_v.max_pred_lat_acc, expected_p97, rtol=1e-6, atol=1e-5)
+
+    if should_enter:
+      # We assert entering primarily by state (this is the actual intended behavior).
+      assert self.scc_v.state == VisionState.entering
+      # Optional sanity: should be >= threshold with some margin (since we used nextafter above threshold).
+      assert self.scc_v.max_pred_lat_acc > th
+
+    else:
+      # Difference vs np.amax(): max can be above threshold, but p97 stays below it.
+      assert float(np.max(pred_lat_accels)) >= th
+      assert self.scc_v.max_pred_lat_acc < th
+      assert self.scc_v.state == VisionState.enabled
+
   # TODO-SP: mock modelV2 data to test other states
diff --git a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/vision_controller.py b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/vision_controller.py
index d144178e93..a9d2a66227 100644
--- a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/vision_controller.py
+++ b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/smart_cruise_control/vision_controller.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class SmartCruiseControlVision:
 
       # get the maximum lat accel from the model
       predicted_lat_accels = rate_plan * vel_plan
-      self.max_pred_lat_acc = np.amax(predicted_lat_accels)
+      self.max_pred_lat_acc = np.percentile(predicted_lat_accels, 97)
 
       # get the maximum curve based on the current velocity
       v_ego = max(self.v_ego, 0.1)  # ensure a value greater than 0 for calculations