super cruise package cadillac

The Newest Version of Cadillac’s Super Cruise Is Actually Great

Hands-free driving assistance without the stress.

Super Cruise is a fancy brand name for Cadillac’s hands-free driver assistance system. When activated, it’ll control the throttle, brakes, and steering without any input from the driver. And unlike most driver assistance systems I’ve experienced, it’s actually something you’d want to use on a regular basis.

The system has been around for years now. First announced in 2014 and launched in 2017 on the CT6 sedan, it uses pre-scanned LIDAR map data, real-time GPS tracking, and a slew of car-mounted cameras and sensors to operate. Its first iteration worked well, but didn’t stand out as something you’d actually want to use all the time. But this latest update, pushed out in 2020, is a game-changer. Enhancements to the programming mean more natural steering and pedal inputs, while automatic lane-changing means you don’t have to intervene when you come upon a slower car on the road. And activating it is as easy as pushing one button on the steering wheel while cruise control is active.

On the road, it’s uncanny just how well Super Cruise works. It’s not just that it’ll stay between the lines and not hit anything—that’s the bare minimum these days. It’s that the system just seems so natural . It feels like there’s an actual human driving the car, rather than a machine designed to mimic a driver. It’ll speed up and slow down in traffic without being jerky, and lift off through sharper bends so as not to throw occupants about the cabin. With Super Cruise, there isn’t this constant fear that you’re inconveniencing other drivers on the road or getting in their way. It blends in perfectly to the environment in which it’s operating.

Most impressive is Super Cruise’s ability to analyze the road situation and change lanes accordingly. The system will speed up or slow down to automatically switch lanes, just like a real driver would. Even if you activate Super Cruise while in the left lane, it’ll eventually make its way to the right lane to let quicker traffic go by. If a particularly strong gust of wind catches the car, it’ll apply corrective steering to bring itself back to the center of the lane. This was especially helpful considering the car used for this test was a 2022 Escalade, a vehicle with the side profile of a building. Super Cruise will even work when it’s raining.

Best of all, Super Cruise lacks the hesitation found in so many other driver assistance systems that make them unbearable to use. It’s refreshing not having to worry about Super Cruise’s every move—it just does what it’s expected to without being intrusive.

You still have to keep your eyes on the road, of course. There are monitoring systems inside the cabin to ensure the driver never stops paying attention to what’s in front of them. If you look down at your phone or stare at your mirrors for too long, the bright green strip of light on the steering wheel will begin to flash to get your attention. Keep your eyes away for too long, and the system will turn off and bring the car safely to a stop. This isn’t a self-driving system —it’s important to make that distinction. On the plus side, Super Cruise can monitor your eyes through sunglasses, so you don’t have to take them off to get the system to work.

Super Cruise is far from perfect, obviously. It stopped working—after sufficient warning—several times while on I-95, a road pre-scanned by the system, citing “no road information.” There were also a couple of instances where it wouldn’t activate because it thought the car was in an exit lane when it was just cruising in the right-most lane. There were a few sections of road I wasn’t totally comfortable letting Super Cruise drive on, like tight construction zones (Cadillac says not to use it here) or Manhattan’s no-runoff, wild-west FDR Drive. It’s not that it wouldn’t navigate through these places, it’s just that the margins are too close to take the risk.

While having the LIDAR data makes Super Cruise work as well as it does, it also limits the system’s use. Cadillac has mapped over 200,000 miles of highway in North America, covering a vast majority of our country’s well-used interstate system. The problem is, there are over 4 million miles of road in the United States. So if you don’t drive on one of those pre-mapped roads, Super Cruise is useless to you.

There’s also the price. Adding Super Cruise to your Cadillac will cost you $2500 upfront, along with an active subscription to keep it working. The first three years are included with the purchase price, but after that, you’ll have to shell out $25 a month, according to Onstar’s website .

Super Cruise makes the monotonous boredom of highway driving just a bit more relaxing. Sure, you still have to pay attention. But you’re not constantly applying micro-movements to the car to stay in your lane or pass slower traffic. You’re just sitting there, chilling out, listening to your favorite podcast. It’s not a massive improvement, it’s just something that makes the ins and outs of everyday life slightly more bearable.

Whether that’s worth the price of entry and the monthly premium is up to the driver. To me, it only seems worth it if you're commuting on a Super Cruise-mapped road every day. And even then, it’d have to be a long enough drive to keep Super Cruise enabled for more than a few minutes at a time. Otherwise, it just becomes a gimmick to show off to friends and family a few times a year. But as the system gets better, it’ll begin to appeal to more and more people. Seeing how far GM has come so far, we have high hopes for the future of Super Cruise.

Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' former lead deputy editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine where he contributed car reviews, industry interviews, and more. He has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.

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Everything You Need To Know About Cadillac Super Cruise

What it does, what it doesn't do, and why it's important.

After the latest fatal accident involving a Tesla vehicle, we thought it would be a good time to talk about driver-assistance features, particularly semi-autonomous systems like Autopilot. Many people misunderstand the limitations of these systems, as evidenced by the litany of accidents. Despite popular belief, Tesla's Autopilot is not a dedicated "hands-free" system where drivers can remove their hands from the wheel. In fact, the only systems currently available that offer this ability are Super Cruise from General Motors and BMW's Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, which isn't as advanced.

Ford will soon introduce its similarly-named Blue Cruise system for the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E, but as of right now, Super Cruise is the gold standard for driver-assist features. To educate people on how Super Cruise works, we borrowed a 2021 Cadillac Escalade Sport for a week to test the technology ourselves. It's pretty cool in practice, but it's far from perfect.

What Is Super Cruise?

Super Cruise is GM's name for a driving assistance feature that keeps a vehicle in its lane without driver intervention. Think of it as more of an advanced cruise control. Combined with the radar adaptive cruise control, drivers in Super Cruise-equipped vehicles can drive on the highway without using their hands or feet. Cadillac recently introduced Enhanced Super Cruise with the ability to change lanes automatically. Drivers only need to activate their turn signal, and the car will change lanes when it deems it safe to do so.

Activating Super Cruise is easy, just like turning on cruise control in an older vehicle with one additional step. Program the adaptive cruise control to the desired speed, wait for the steering wheel icon to appear in the gauge cluster, press the Super Cruise button on the steering wheel, and wait for the light to turn green. So long as the steering wheel light remains green, Super Cruise is active.

Explaining The Levels Of Autonomy

"Self-driving" vehicles are ranked by five levels of autonomy, or six if you include Level 0 with no driving assistance whatsoever. Level 1 includes vehicles with a single element of automation, such as adaptive cruise control or lane-keep assist. These cars handle one element of driving, but the driver needs to monitor all other aspects. Super Cruise exists in the Level 2 category, alongside Autopilot, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, and Blue Cruise. Level 2 systems handle the steering and acceleration/deceleration but still require driving intervention.

No vehicles in the United States currently offer Level 3 autonomy, but Honda is the first to market with such a system in Japan with its Legend sedan. Level 3 vehicles can make informed decisions, such as passing a slower vehicle, but they too require driver involvement.

When most people envision a "self-driving car," they are thinking of Level 4 or Level 5. Level 4 mostly drives itself but requires a driver override in specific circumstances. Level 5 is the purest definition of autonomy, a vehicle without a steering wheel or pedal. No such vehicles are currently available to purchase.

How Super Cruise Works

Super Cruise functions using a bundle of cameras and sensors positioned around the vehicle. The system only activates on compatible highways where GM has recorded LiDAR map data by scanning the road. The highly detailed LiDAR data ensures that the system always knows where to be. To ensure the system is as safe as possible, GM also uses high-precision GPS and a Driver Attention System that uses a camera to ensure the driver is watching the road. If the car detects a driver is not paying attention, Super Cruise will deactivate, making it far harder to trick than Tesla's Autopilot .

GM initially mapped out over 130,000 miles of limited-access freeways, recently adding over 70,000 miles of divided highways in the US and Canada. A website lets owners plug in their ZIP code to find compatible roads nearby. GM continues to scan more roads to expand the system's coverage.

What Are The Limitations?

As previously mentioned, Super Cruise will only activate on compatible highways in the US and Canada. It can not be used to drive through a neighborhood or a rural backroad. Although the system lets drivers take their hands off the steering wheel, the system does not replace the driver completely. If it detects a driver falling asleep at the wheel or texting while driving, it will audibly warn them to take control. Since Super Cruise is only a Level 2 system, not Level 3, it can not think for itself by passing slower traffic or following a navigation route.

Our Hands-Free Experience

Living in Orlando, Florida, we were eager to take the Escalade on the infamous I4 highway to test Super Cruise. Anyone who's ever visited Disney World has likely experienced this road's sweeping turns, torn-up tarmac, and insane drivers. Unfortunately, many portions of I4 are currently under construction, meaning we received a "Super Cruise Unavailable No Road Information" warning. A Cadillac representative confirmed that recent major construction prevented the system from working on the section of I4, despite the company's online maps saying it was eligible.

We later tested Super Cruise on two Florida toll roads, 408 and 417. Super Cruise functioned near-flawlessly on both highways, keeping the car in its lane and changing lanes upon request. On only one occasion, a vehicle suddenly cut over into the lane ahead of us, causing Super Cruise to get nervous and ask for driver intervention. Overall, we'd say the system works brilliantly, and we'd trust it on a long trip.

Pricing And Availability

Cadillac introduced Super Cruise on the CT6 sedan, though that model is no longer in production. The system is currently available on the 2021 Escalade as a $2,500 option. However, Cadillac forces customers to add it as part of a pricey $8,850 bundle with adaptive cruise control, magnetic ride control, and many unrelated features. This package is only available on the Premium Luxury trim and above, starting at $84,890.

Opting for Super Cruise only entitles owners to a three-year free trial, after which they will need to sign up for a $25 per month subscription. This may sound pricey, but remember that Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature , which currently does not exist, costs $10,000.

GM will soon introduce Super Cruise on several more affordable vehicles. The current list includes the Cadillac Lyriq, CT4, and CT5, Chevrolet Bolt, Chevrolet Bolt EUV, GMC Sierra, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, and GMC Hummer EV SUV. We don't know how much Super Cruise will cost on these upcoming models, but it will bring the technology down to a lower price bracket.

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2023 Cadillac XT6 Review: Super Cruising Into the Spotlight

The addition of Caddy's hands-free highway driving assistant makes the XT6 one of the most interesting luxury SUVs on the road -- but there's a catch.

• North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror

The XT6 looks about the same, but the addition of Super Cruise is a game changer.

Of all the premium luxury SUVs you can buy today, the Cadillac XT6 is definitely one of them. It's not the best, but you could certainly do worse. For 2023, however, Caddy has a particularly compelling trick up its sleeve that makes the XT6 a more compelling option in this highly competitive class: the addition of Super Cruise hands-free highway assist.

2023 Cadillac XT6

• Super Cruise is finally available
• Smooth operating V6 engine
• CUE infotainment checks all the right boxes

Don't like

• Not the latest generation of Super Cruise
• Turbo I4 is more expensive to operate
• Most driver-aid features cost extra

Visually, the XT6 hasn't changed much since I last found myself behind the wheel of the 2020 model . The SUV is as handsome as ever with the automaker's angular aesthetic and hallmark vertical LED light signatures at either end. Updates for the 2023 model year include new Latte and Rosewood metallic paint colors, optional 21-inch wheels for the more agile Sport trim level and standard Brembo brakes with red calipers for that same spec. This Premium Luxury model showcases exactly none of those changes, but is noteworthy as the sweet spot in the XT6 lineup.

3.6-liter V6 engine

The entry-level XT6 Luxury is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. Its 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque are adequate, but I'd recommend bypassing this trim entirely in favor of the Premium Luxury model with its torquier V6 engine, as it feels like a better match for this 198.8-inch long, three-row SUV.

2023 Cadillac XT6 Has One Big Advantage

Cadillac's 3.6-liter LGX V6 -- shared with other GM SUVs, including the GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Blazer -- makes 310 hp in this application as well as 271 lb.-ft. of torque. It's a solid performer with good passing power and smooth, quiet operation around town and on the highway. There's nothing to write home about, but the V6 also doesn't draw attention to itself, which is fine for a comfort-focused SUV such as this. 

Both engines are offered with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, but can be had with optional on-demand all-wheel drive for Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, or torque-vectoring Sport Control AWD for the Sport model. A drive mode selector allows the XT6's performance to be tuned for different conditions, including Sport, Snow/Ice or, for AWD models, Off-Road mode, but I don't think most drivers will ever need to switch out of the default Touring setting.

The V6 receives an EPA estimate of 21 mpg combined on regular gas, breaking out to 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway for front-wheel drive or 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for all-wheel drive. The more efficient four-cylinder is estimated at 23 mpg combined -- 21 city and 27 highway, 21 city and 26 highway for FWD or AWD, respectively -- but sips more expensive premium fuel. That means the I4 is more expensive to operate annually than the V6, according to the EPA's cost calculation tools.

The XT6 comes standard with 18-inch wheels. Premium Luxury (pictured) upsizes to 20s with up to 21-inch rims available.

Cadillac Super Cruise

The 2023 XT6 is now available with Cadillac's most advanced driver-assistance technology -- but with a catch. The new $2,500 Super Cruise system is still only the first generation of the hands-free highway steering assist and not the latest Super Cruise 2.0 tech capable of automatic lane changes or hands-free towing, as seen on the new Escalade and Chevy Silverado . That means that the XT6 also won't get the recently announced update for use on undivided highways .

That's a bit of a bummer, but Super Cruise 1.0 is still a very impressive piece of technology. On the over 200,000 miles of North American highways laser-scanned by GM, Super Cruise can be activated to provide automated steering, braking and acceleration to a preset speed, keeping the SUV centered in its lane while the driver relaxes hands-free. The Level 2 driver-aid tech requires the driver's attention to operate, so an infrared camera on the steering column makes sure their eyes stay on the road. Look away for too long and the XT6 will ask you to pay attention -- first by flashing red lights on the steering wheel, then with audible alerts -- before eventually handing control back to the human in the hot seat.

Super Cruise works as well here as it did when it debuted back in  2018 on the CT6 sedan , rounding bendy highway segments confidently and reacting predictably to changes in traffic. However, the larger XT6 feels like it crowds the left edge of the lane, which makes it difficult to get truly comfortable in the heavy traffic situations where the tech would be most useful. Admittedly, the lanes around my neck of the woods are a touch narrow, but I'd love it if a future version of Super Cruise allowed me to tweak or trim lane-keeping margins on either side.

Color-coded steering wheel lights indicate Super Cruise's state: Green for hands-free, blue for manual control and red means grab the wheel immediately.

A stacked driver-aid suite

Before even getting to Super Cruise, the 2023 XT6 boasts a modern suite of driver-assistance technologies, though many of the best features are bundled into packages at additional cost. The SUV comes standard with forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and a following distance indicator that helps prevent unintentional tailgating. 

Stepping up to the $1,300 Driver Assist package adds more robust forward automatic emergency braking, reverse braking assist and automatic seat belt tightening. Upgrade again to the $2,350 Technology package to add a surround-view camera system with onboard digital video recording, rear pedestrian detection, automated parking assist and a rear camera mirror.

Cadillac User Experience

That Technology package also swaps in an 8-inch digital instrument cluster and adds onboard navigation to the standard 8-inch touchscreen Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment. CUE is essentially a reskin of the excellent GM Infotainment 3 software with a smartphone-like icon-based interface that has an easy, intuitive learning curve. The system makes use of OnStar LTE Services for features like connected destination search, integration with onboard apps like Spotify or Amazon Alexa, and user profile syncing between vehicles, and which works best when the data subscription is maintained beyond the initial trial period.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard with wireless connectivity for drivers who prefer to stream their apps from a smartphone and a snug wireless phone charger integrated into the center console keeps the handset charged on the road.

The 8-inch Cadillac User Experience tech isn't flashy, but it's intuitively organized and easy to use.

An interesting choice

The 2023 Cadillac XT6 starts at $48,790 for the base front-drive Luxury spec, including the $1,195 destination charge. I'd recommend starting at the Premium Luxury trim level with its better V6 engine and optional Super Cruise, starting at $54,190 or $56,190 with all-wheel drive. 

My example has nearly every option listed above and a $5,000 Platinum package upgrade that adds, among other creature comforts, premium leather and an adaptive suspension. (Mine also includes a $50 credit to compensate for the lack of heated rear seats due to supply-chain shortages with a provision for a retrofit once parts stock returns to normal levels.) The bottom line, as tested, sits at $72,790.

The XT6 is a quiet and comfortable cruiser with a solid suite of standard cabin tech and optional driver aid options. But overall, it feels like a middle-of-the-pack player when stacked against the formidable competition in this price range, including the BMW X5 , Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and  Acura MDX -- any of which would deliver a better overall driving experience. That said, the addition of Super Cruise this year shakes things up significantly. Even without the latest and greatest generation of the tech, the Caddy is now the only vehicle in its class that can go hands-free at high speed. That makes the 2023 Cadillac XT6 at least one of the most interesting vehicles in this class.

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How Cadillac's Super Cruise System Works

By Kelsey Mays

CARS.COM — Fully self-driving cars may still be a long way off , but Cadillac is taking a big step with Super Cruise, a system that can steer, accelerate and brake in certain highway conditions. We first heard of it in September 2014 , but Cadillac announced in early April  that the semi-autonomous system at long last would come this fall as a $2,500 option on the 2018 CT6  full-size luxury sedan.

Related: Which Cars Have Self-Driving Features for 2017 ?

Today, GM’s luxury division released more details  on the inner workings of Super Cruise. Here’s how it works.

What Makes Super Cruise Different?

Provided you’re paying attention and able to take over, Super Cruise can drive the car indefinitely in certain highway conditions. Cadillac calls it the industry’s “first true hands-free driving technology for the highway.” That’s the first time we’ve heard any automaker advocate full hands- free  driving under certain conditions for a production car — and it comes straight from the top. In a statement, Cadillac chief Johan de Nysschen called it a way to offer “safe, simple hands-free driving for the highway.”

Audi may have similar language for the next A8 sedan in the summer , but for right now, hands-free is a big differentiator. Existing semi-autonomous systems still require a lot of driver involvement; even Tesla still calls  its Autopilot feature a “hands-on experience.” We’ve previously observed  Autopilot drive indefinitely with the right conditions, but Tesla updated the system in September 2016  to deactivate itself if you ignore warnings to hold the steering wheel. That’s still the case for the current iteration of Autopilot, Tesla confirmed today.

How Does Super Cruise Work?

Each car with Super Cruise has a network of cameras and radar sensors plus high-accuracy GPS that can pinpoint your position within 3 feet, said Kevin Kelly, an advanced technology spokesman at GM. Each car also has a database with every mile of limited-access divided highway in the U.S. and Canada, mapped through light detection and ranging technology. GM says it analyzed every mile of such roads to identify areas with sufficient conditions for Super Cruise to work — so if you approach an area where the highway ends, Super Cruise will prompt you to take over before that occurrs, according to Kelly.

It manifests itself through adaptive cruise control that works from stop-and-go conditions to highway speeds, plus automatic lane centering steering with no time-out so long as conditions are met, Kelly said. But rather than relying on lane markings or the position of the car ahead — both not-always-reliable guidelines used by conventional lane centering steering — Super Cruise primarily uses what Kelly calls the “blue line,” a virtual line down the middle of the road concocted by the lidar database. The database also alerts Super Cruise to forthcoming curves or elevation changes so it can change speed accordingly, Kelly said.

Will GM Update the Database?

Yes. GM is “remapping roads continuously, so we send new data down to the mapping system [on each car] via over-the-air updates,” Kelly said. “We are sending trucks back out to remap using the lidar, so they’re out scanning the roads continuously.”

What Happens If There’s Construction or Some Other Change That Hasn’t Been Mapped?

The centerline is the “primary” guideline for Super Cruise steering, Kelly said, but it’s not the only one. Super Cruise also accounts for your surroundings with other cameras and sensors, including downward-pointing cameras that analyze lane markings. The sensors are always trying to match up what they see with what’s in the database, and if there’s incompatibility — a new construction zone that GM hasn’t remapped yet, for example — Super Cruise notes that it doesn’t match the database and prompts you to take over, he said.

Do Cars With Super Cruise Have Lidar Scanners?

No. Super Cruise relies on GM’s lidar-mapped database that’s aboard the car, but it doesn’t add physical lidar sensors to the car, Kelly said.

How Does Super Cruise React to Merging Traffic?

Largely the same way any adaptive cruise control does. Super Cruise “acts similarly to ACC,” Kelly said. If somebody cuts you off, it “would flash the red light” to warn you of an impending collision or engage automatic braking, he said. Still, we’ve observed merging traffic as a common foil for many self-driving technologies, which often ignore the threat until too late and force you to hit the brakes first.

Driving is believing, so stay tuned for Cars.com’s firsthand impressions.

Can I Do Something Else While Super Cruise Drives?

No. Super Cruise includes a new Driver Attention System to ensure you won’t  do that. DAS employs a camera atop the steering column that watches you to ensure attention with infrared lights to track head position. It has ultraviolet sensors, too, so it can work at night.

“It’s looking at where your head is positioned with the roadway, so it knows if you’re glanced down,” Kelly said. “We’re not following strictly eyeballs. We’re following position of the head.”

Turn away for too long and the system will alert you to pay attention. If you don’t, progressive warnings chime in, from a rumbling seat and visual alerts from the instrument panel to audible warnings and an illuminating light bar on the steering wheel. Continue to do nothing, and the system can bring the car to a stop and call for help via OnStar.

It can also detect no  head movement.

“Let’s say something held up a [faux] head on a stick,” Kelly said. “If somebody held it up, and we could detect that the head wasn’t moving at all, that’s not normal.”

If it detects no head movement, the system could tell you to look down at the radio to prove you’re paying attention, he said.

Is This a Level 3 System?

No. Cadillac’s system takes a big step beyond today’s mass-market self-driving technology, but it still calls the system Level 2 — a reference to SAE International’s six-level classification  of self-driving technology: Level Zero to Level 5. Indeed, the fact that Super Cruise requires you to monitor your surroundings signals as much. Level 3, by contrast, is where the car  monitors the surroundings. Audi claims it will offer the industry’s first Level 3 system in the redesigned A8 early next year.

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Cadillac Super Cruise 101: Understanding How & Where it Works

Carl anthony.

• March 28, 2020

Cadillac Super Cruise debuted in 2017 for the CT6 and has received critical praise from the media and industry commentators. Described by Cadillac as a hands-free driving assistance feature for compatible highways, this guide is meant to clear up confusion about how and where the system works. Cadillac Super Cruise, when operated correctly, is a safe and effective ADAS system, although drivers should still remain attentive and vigilant.

What is Cadillac Super Cruise?

Cadillac Super Cruise can automatically steer, brake, and keep the vehicle positioned on the highway in certain, optimal conditions. With an attentive driver, and under the proper conditions, Super Cruise permits hands-free operation of the vehicle. Super Cruise is no longer exclusive to Cadillac either, as the Chevy Bolt is due to receive the technology next year.

Where Cadillac Super Cruise Works

Super Cruise is only available on compatible highways separated from opposing traffic. Last year, Cadillac expanded the availability of Super Cruise with an additional 70,000 miles of compatible roadways in the United States and Canada. The update, sent to customers over the air, brings the total number of highway miles Super Cruise is compatible with to more than 200,000.

“Expanding our offering of compatible highways will allow people the ease and convenience of traveling hands-free more often,” said Mario Maiorana, Cadillac Super Cruise Chief Engineer.

Some of the newly added divided highways include things like “limited intersections and traffic control devices,” according to Cadillac. Despite the update, in the presence of railroad and pedestrian crossings, stoplights or stop signs, Super Cruise will alert drivers to take control. In addition to the mileage expansion, the software update made enhancements to the driver attention system.

How To Engage Cadillac Super Cruise

• Step #1:  Press the Adaptive Cruise Control button on the steering wheel. The symbol will illuminate in white on the instrument cluster. If Adaptive Cruise Control is already set, the symbol will be green.
• Step #2: When Super Cruise detects the driver is on a compatible roadway, the symbol will illuminate in white on the instrument cluster.
• Step #3: When it is safe to do so, press the Super Cruise button on the steering wheel to engage the system. When the symbol and steering wheel light bar illuminate in green, it is okay for the driver to remove their hands from the wheel. However, green is the only permissible color. Drivers should not, under any circumstances, take their hands off the wheel unless the light bar is green.
• Step #4: To disengage, tap the brake pedal or press the Super Cruise button again.

What Cadillac Super Cruise Needs to Work

An active OnStar plan, WiFi Hotspot, functioning electrical system, cell reception, and GPS signal are required for Cadillac Super Cruise to work properly. As of last year, customers have traveled about 2.5 million miles using Super Cruise since its launch in 2017.

• Related: Cadillac to expand vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems by 2023.

How Cadillac Super Cruise Works

Super Cruise employs a driver attention system and precision LiDAR map data, along with a network of cameras and sensors that use real-time information. The combination of data from each of these points helps govern and control the steering, braking, and acceleration. Cadillac says this more data-rich approach to ADAS systems is unique in the automotive industry.

Updates to Super Cruise have come largely from customer feedback. Based on that feedback, Cadillac implemented easier activation methods, along with messages that inform drivers why Super Cruise may not be available in certain areas. Cadillac also added a lane offset feature that moves the Super Cruise-equipped vehicle slightly over in its lane. The update, meant for driver comfort, provides additional room as they pass larger vehicles.

Driver Attention System

Atop the steering column is a small camera that monitors head movement with the help of infrared lights. Should the driver turn away, or become distracted while Super Cruise is engaged, the vehicle will initiate a prompt. If ignored, Super Cruise will continue to operate , but issue a further series of alerts , including the aforementioned steering wheel light bar to prompt drivers to resume control of the vehicle.

“When we were developing Super Cruise, we knew it was important to keep the driver engaged during operation,” said Barry Walkup, General Manager of GM’s Show Vehicle & Product Durability Testing Operations. “That’s why we’ve added a driver attention function, to insist on driver supervision.”

Alerts include visual indicators for the instrument cluster, tactile alerts in Cadillac’s Safety Alert Seat, and other audible cues. If a driver becomes unresponsive, Super Cruise can stop the vehicle and notify the authorities via OnStar.

Precision LiDAR Map Data

The precision LiDAR maps relay detailed information to the vehicle about the road ahead. In conjunction with real-time data from the cameras and GPS sensors, the precision LiDAR maps prevent Super Cruise from operating where it is not compatible. Cadillac emphasizes that Super Cruise works best on divided, limited-access highways, and other roadways with defined “on-” and “off-ramps.” 

“American drivers travel twice as many miles on urban and suburban highways as they do on rural roads,” Walkup explained. “While it is technically possible for the technology to drive hands-free on other kinds of streets and roads, we feel strongly that this targeted approach is the best to build consumer and regulatory confidence and enthusiasm for advanced mobility.” 

According to Cadillac, engineers mapped every mile of limited-access highways in the U.S. and Canada. When the precision LiDAR maps are combined with other incoming data from the cameras and sensors, Cadillac says Super Cruise is four to eight times more precise than traditional GPS. The influx of data also helps the vehicle better navigate hills and curves.

Cadillac Super Cruise: Updates for 2021

An enhanced version of Super Cruise will debut first on the 2021 Cadillac CT5 and CT4, followed by the 2021 Escalade. Among the enhancements are improved software for better steering and speed control, and automated lane change functionality.

Cadillac Super Cruise with automated lane change will be an option on the 2021 CT4 and CT5 sedans, and the 2021 Escalade when those vehicles become available in the second half of 2020.

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Review: So, does Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free technology really work?

Hands off and relax?

Quebec City, QC – Barely a month goes by without a manufacturer trumpeting its latest driver assistance technologies. Safety and convenience systems such as automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are fast becoming the exception rather than the rule in everything from mass-market sedans to luxury SUVs.

Separating real breakthroughs from me-too applications can be difficult, but Super Cruise technology – available to begin with on the Cadillac CT6, but which will migrate to the rest of the range from the 2020 model year, and later across other GM brands – can justifiably be called different to anything else currently in the market.

But first, let’s talk a little about the new 2018 CT6 Platinum Super Cruise

Platinum model.

The attractively styled CT6 is Cadillac’s rival to European luxury staples like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. It’s been on sale since 2016, starting at C$62,355. We drove the range-topping, C$100,795 Platinum model, which comes with Super Cruise as standard. The technology is also available on other grades as part of a C$5,750 Super Cruise package that includes additional driver-assistance technologies, 20-inch wheels, Magnetic Ride Control and active rear steering.

Under the CTS Hood: 404-hp V6

The all-wheel-drive CT6 Platinum is powered by Cadillac’s excellent, 404-horsepower, twin-turbo V6 mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Its high-end interior boasts a Bose sound system, 20-way power front seats with massage function, attractive Sapele wood and twill weave carbon-fibre trim, and soft black leather.

How Does Cadillac Super Cruise Work?

Super Cruise is only available for use on divided highways. GM worked with an external company, Ushr, to create high-definition 3D maps of all eligible routes in the US and Canada – some 210,000km in all – using LiDAR (light detection and ranging). It’s likely that LiDAR scanners will end up on the fully autonomous cars of the future, but for now the cost remains prohibitive, so the LiDAR maps are instead stored on two identical hard-drive partitions in the rear of the CT6 that provide redundancy in the event of a glitch.

The map data is refreshed every three months courtesy of OnStar over-the-air updates but the car checks for urgent updates every six hours.

On- and off-ramps are not included in the eligible highways and nor will Super Cruise change lanes automatically. Cadillac’s intention has been to create a system that’s 100% reliable on the roads for which it has been designed, thereby removing the possibility of the type of high-profile incidents that have befallen the likes of Tesla.

There’s less weaving across the lane than you’d expect, although this effect was noticeable when the system was working to counteract the high winds encountered on part of our 400km test drive.

Once you’re on one of the mapped highways, a number of conditions must be met for the system to engage. The stored LiDAR data provides information on lane number and width. A high-precision GPS then determines the car’s current lane before a forward-looking camera identifies lane markings and plots the car’s course for the next 2.5km. The 360° parking camera further refines the car’s positioning in the center of the lane.

When the system is ready, a greyed-out steering wheel icon appears in the instrument panel. Press the appropriate button on the left of the steering wheel and the icon turns green, as does the light bar at the top of the wheel. If all looks good, you can take your hands off and voilà , you’re Super Cruising…

Tesla Autopilot vs Cadillac Super Cruise

Electric automaker Tesla have their own hands-free tech – here are a couple good pieces comparing the two driver assist systems: one from CleanTechnica.com and another from Chris Davies at SlashGear who prefers Caddy’s version.

Super Cruise on test: Hands-off on the highway

In practice the system works very well. It only took us a few curves to gain confidence that the system would guide us safely around. There’s less weaving across the lane than you’d expect, although this effect was noticeable when the system was working to counteract the high winds encountered on part of our 400km test drive.

For kilometres at a time however we were able to leave the wheel alone, intervening only when encountering slower traffic. Here the system behaves like a regular ACC, slowing to maintain a safe distance until the driver initiates an overtake.

Driver-Assistance (Not Semi-Autonomous)

Cadillac is branding Super Cruise as a driver-assistance system rather than a semi-autonomous technology, stressing that the driver remains involved in the driving process even when hands-off. An innovative head tracking system is key to preventing the driver’s attention from wandering – no chance of watching an iPad movie here. A small infra-red camera on the steering column watches the driver’s face and triggers alerts in the event of persistent inattention.

We failed to fool the well calibrated head-tracking system which does a good job of keeping you engaged without becoming irritating. A flashing green light bar triggered if we covered our face or looked away for long periods; that escalated to red flashes and seat vibrations if we still failed to respond. Should the driver become incapacitated or refuse to retake control, Super Cruise will ultimately shut off and brake the car to a standstill on the highway.

Cadillac is branding Super Cruise as a driver-assistance system rather than a semi-autonomous technology, stressing that the driver remains involved in the driving process even when hands-off.

Where Super Cruise notably struggled was in construction zones. For one, the cameras don’t recognize temporary speed limits, although automatic adjustment could conceivably come later as connected-car technology becomes more prevalent. The system’s response was in any case inconsistent: if it failed to plot the lanes ahead, it shut off, but in other cases would continue as before.

This scenario underlined why Super Cruise is Level 2 autonomy, not Level 3: the driver needs to remain alert to what’s ahead because he or she is ultimately still in control. To be fair to Cadillac, this is exactly how it is marketing the system.

Final Thoughts on the 2018 Cadillac CT6

The CT6 Platinum is a credible and distinctive luxury contender but not without its issues. The rearward view is poor thanks to undersized (but stylish) door mirrors. Likewise the 20-inch rims look better than they perform: there’s too much road noise and the ride lacks the plushness you’d expect from a full-size luxury car, even with the magnetorheological dampers prioritizing comfort in Tour mode.

The interior is attractive, no question, and the materials are of an appropriately high quality, but there was the odd squeak or vibration from the instrument panel of our test car. There are questionable ergonomics, too: Cadillac’s touch-sensitive buttons have never worked as well as conventional switches and while the central touchpad might help keep eyes on the road, my sense is that most people will still navigate the infotainment via the touchscreen itself.

Takeaway: Our Cadillac Super Cruise Conclusions

Super Cruise provides the CT6 with a standout feature to differentiate itself from luxury rivals. In our test it proved itself accurate and reliable but most importantly, it performed exactly as Cadillac intended. Cadillac has been deliberately cautious in its approach to the hands-off driving function and rightly so: advances in driver-assistance technology such as Super Cruise, done right, will build public confidence in the more ambitious autonomous functions yet to come. Head-tracking systems such as Cadillac’s are likely to form a key component of the transition between human-guided and automated automobiles.

If I have a reservation about Super Cruise then it’s the potential for increased driver distraction; this issue is not limited to Cadillac’s system, of course. Being hands-off on the highway will certainly reduce driver fatigue over long distances but without driving tasks to occupy you – assessing speed and distance, checking mirrors and the like – there’s a real risk of becoming bored, especially with no one else in the car.

Super Cruise and similar systems that will follow behind are not designed for the driver to check out completely – as a fatal Tesla Autopilot accident in 2016 unfortunately proved – but my concern is that the temptation for the driver to play with a phone, for example, will be heightened, especially when alone in the car. Our test revealed that the CT6’s head tracking system is excellent at detecting a wandering gaze; let’s hope that drivers don’t find a way to circumnavigate its vigilance.

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2025 Cadillac Escalade-V Spotted Camo-Free, Revealing New Details

The 2025 model year is set to debut a mid-cycle refresh for the Cadillac Escalade, and with it, Cadillac will also refresh the high-performance Escalade-V. First joining the Escalade lineup for the 2023 model year, the Escalade-V adds a supercharged infusion of go-fast goodness to Caddy’s SUV lineup. Now, we’re getting our first look at the exterior of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade-V in showroom-ready condition thanks to the following spy photos.

As covered by our sister publication, GM Authority , this particular Cadillac Escalade-V prototype is an example of the short wheelbase model (rather than the extended-wheelbase Escalade-V ESV), with the exterior covered in Black Raven paint (paint code GBA). Up front, we see the refreshed 2025 Cadillac Escalade fascia , which includes new lighting that’s very similar to that of the all-electric Escalade IQ, including turn signal indicators mounted horizontally, and vertical lights in the sides of the fascia, the latter of which include the Daytime Running Lights and the main forward lights. It should also be noted that the Escalade-V will have its own unique fascia enhancements that will not be shared across the 2025 Escalade lineup.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade-V also features a dual-level mesh grille, with the lower grille section incorporating a blockout panel for the ADAS sensors. The grille is also notable for the multi-colored Cadillac badge, indicating this particular model is not equipped with the optional Onyx Package, which includes Monochrome Cadillac badges.

The side shows off new 24-inch wheels , which are shod in 285/40ZR24 Bridgestone Alenza A/S 02s tires. It’s unclear if 24-inch wheels will be standard equipment on the Escalade-V, or offered as optional. The profile also shows off V-Series badging added to the doors.

Moving around the the rear, we find most of the styling elements are carried over from the current model, although the taillight graphics appear to be updated. Inside the cabin, the refreshed 2025 Escalade is expected to incorporate a pillar-to-pillar display similar to that of the all-electric Escalade IQ and Celestiq sedan, while under the hood, the high-performance Escalade will once again cradle the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, rated at 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque.

Subscribe to Cadillac Society for the latest Escalade-V news, Cadillac Escalade news , and around-the-clock Cadillac news coverage. We also invite you to join the latest discussions in our Cadillac forums and Cadillac Escalade-V forum .

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Mark P. Gordetsky April 9, 2024, 9:53 am

XT5 ….V? just asking.

Frank Ricciardi April 9, 2024, 9:53 am

Can’t say that I’m a big fan of the new front facia.

David April 9, 2024, 10:38 am

Looks nice, needs to be lower!

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