Super Cruise - The Better Driver Assistant

January 31, 2022 · 8 min read

I will cover a somewhat controversial topic: GM's Super Cruise and why I think it's better than Tesla Autopilot. I believe Super Cruise is the best self-driving system available today in any car.

Those who don't know Super Cruise is GM's self-driving system. It is fantastic, and we recently drove the latest version of Super Cruise in the new Cadillac Escalade, and today, I'm going to explain how it works and what makes it so great.

Every new car brand has this. So you have Volvo Pilot Assist, Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive, Tesla Autopilot, and blah blah blah. Of course, they all have different names, but the basic idea is that the vehicle can drive itself based on specific criteria. These vehicles are equipped with various sensors and cameras that relay information to the car and tell it to speed up or slow down. The automation extends to the steering and braking functions as well.

Self-driving vehicles are getting common, especially in luxury cars. The second best system is Tesla Autopilot, but the best one is GM's Super Cruise. Super Cruise will be in 22 different GM vehicles by 2023, and 10 vehicles by 2022. We have orders in for the Silverado 1500 High Country with Super Cruise. These vehicles are available to reserve now by clicking here. You can also get Super Cruise on your Silverado EV, and you can reserve yours here.

LET ME REPEAT. We have orders placed to build multiple Silverado 1500 High Country units with Super Cruise that have already been placed with GM. We anticipate ordering more, so if you want to get an order with the exact features and colors along with Super Cruise, contact us to start a sold order customized to your needs. Reach out to us to put an order in for exactly what you are looking for.

What is Super Cruise and What Does It Do?

GM came out with this truly fantastic high-tech self-driving system, and then they put it into lower sales volume vehicles like the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet BOLT EUV. That is the main reason you haven't heard much about Super Cruise. GM designed this fantastic technology and limited it to some less desirable vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with an older version of Super Cruise and did not have automatic lane change. This kind of limited rollout makes sense as a way to make sure Super Cruise is everything GM expected it to be. The newer version found in the Silverado 1500 High Country is the one we tested.

Super Cruise works in a very similar fashion to your standard cruise control. On the steering wheel, the cruise control buttons activate what at first looks like adaptive cruise control. Most luxury vehicles have a version of this, and it just means that your car will slow down if a vehicle is going slower than you are in your lane. Once the cruising speed is set and the car is ready, a gray steering wheel icon appears on the gauge cluster. That is when you know that Super Cruise is ready to be used. At this point, you don't have to activate Super Cruise if you don't want to and could continue to drive with standard adaptive cruise control.

There is a second button on the steering wheel to engage Super Cruise. This button has the same icon as the steering wheel icon on the dash. When you click it, your steering wheel will light up blue, letting you know that Super Cruise is activating. Once the blue light turns green, you know the vehicle is driving itself.

What happens next is pretty cool. As long as the green light stays illuminated, you can keep your hands off the wheel, and as long as you're looking forward, the green light will remain illuminated indefinitely. There are a few exceptions that we will talk about. With over 200,000 miles of eligible roads, Super Cruise can drive for hours without needing any input from you. It will steer, brake, and accelerate all on its own. The only requirement is you remain facing forward. The newest version of Super Cruise can even change lanes.

When you're ready to change lanes or come up to a slower car and need to pass it, press the turn signal, the vehicle will start searching for an opening. Once it finds one, it automatically moves over and changes lanes. You can then stay in the lane, or once you pass the slower vehicle, activate the turn signal again and go back to your original lane. The vehicle does all of this without you having to touch the steering wheel. The minimal input is a nice touch and helps keep me engaged with the road. Since Super Cruise can make drives from Birmingham to Nashville or Atlanta to Dallas, it seems like an important feature to remind people that they are still behind the wheel of a car going over 60 MPH.

There Are Two Limitations to Super Cruise

There are two crucial limitations. Number one, as I've mentioned, to use Super Cruise, you must be sitting in the driver's seat and looking forward. You have to be watching the road. Super Cruise has this little camera mounted right in the middle of the steering wheel, and that camera watches your eyes. If your eyes aren't looking at the road, Super Cruise knows that you aren't paying attention and you're not engaging with what's happening in front of you, and you're a risk behind the wheel. So the green steering wheel light will begin flashing to remind you to focus on the road. It is worth noting that you can look away from the road for a few seconds without Super Cruise getting upset with you. While I don't recommend using those few seconds to text, the system was designed so you can change the radio station or climate settings without constantly being alerted to look at the road.

After like eight to ten seconds, that's when it starts to flash the green light and Super Cruise begins the process of assuming you are no longer paying attention. Then, the nice green light will become an angry red flashing light, and Super Cruise will start to deactivate. The deactivation process begins by vibrating the seat, and it will start to slow the vehicle down. There will be an alert on the gauge cluster telling you to take control of the vehicle, as well as an audio alert. At this point, you will be forced to drive the vehicle yourself, and you will have to go through the activation process again if you want Super Cruise to continue driving you.

The second limitation is Super Cruise will only activate on mapped roads. Those familiar with Tesla's Autopilot might scoff at the idea it will only work on specific routes, but GM has mapped almost every interstate in the USA. Here is a picture of the most up-to-date map.

This limitation means Super Cruise is best used during a long road trip. However, GM is constantly adding highways, and they are currently making an effort to include major local roadways to the list. So while this version of Super Cruise can't get you from your driveway to your local store without any input, it does make tedious long distant driving much more enjoyable.

Yes, Tesla owners, I know that is a significant limitation but be honest. Are you using Tesla's Autopilot on small in city roads? Do you trust that much? I think Tesla's Autopilot does a good job on the highway, but it is slow and scary to drive around town. So I don't feel like this limitation is a fundamental limitation. I love future technology, but I am not comfortable letting Autopilot drive a vehicle around an urban area.

Why Super Cruise Is The Better Driver Assistant

I feel like Super Cruise beats out Tesla because you are totally hands-off. The camera system that watches your eyes means you don't have to constantly tap the steering wheel to let it know you are paying attention. That is the method used by Tesla, and it gets frustrating on longer drives to have one hand loosely on the steering wheel, or if you do take your hands off the steering wheel, the alerts you get to tap the wheel. GM's system, by comparison, doesn't have constant alerts because it knows if you are paying attention from your eyes alone. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but you need to try them both. Trust me, that slight distinction was enough for me to give GM's Super Cruise the nod.

If I were comfortable trusting Autopilot on street roads, I would say Tesla is better, but I simply do not. Instead, I want a system that requires very little input on my part and only for straightforward drives. That means the mapped road system GM uses suits me perfectly. I love it going through Atlanta. It handles traffic perfectly and makes it so I don't have to manage the break and gas, and the vehicle gets me where I am going.

Super Cruise will require your vehicle to be connected. This means some sort of data program through OnStar. You will receive a 3 year trial period when you buy your Silverado, and after the trial ends, it will be $25 per month for Super Cruise.

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Sep 09, 2022 in Electric Vehicle

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV - America's Most Affordable EV SUV

Chevy says the electric compact SUV will start at around $30,000 and have as much as 300 miles of range. It goes on sale in the fall of 2023. The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Aims to be an Affordable All-Electric SUV Chevy says the entry-level Equinox EV will start at "around" $30,000 and have an estimated 250 miles of range. Other trim levels offer 280 to 300 miles of range and hands-free driver assistance. The Equinox EV goes on sale in fall 2023. Allocation for the Equinox EV has not been determined, but GM is no longer taking reservations for its new EVs. While we will promise a discount from MSRP, we won't know the amount until GM makes up its mind about how dealers will acquire these vehicles. Following the Silverado EV and Blazer EV, the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV continues filling GM's ranks with all-electric alternatives. For the Equinox EV, that means a compact SUV that Chevy will price starting at around $30,000. More expensive trim levels offer GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving, 300 miles of range, and a 19.2-kW onboard charger. more Battery Options The Equinox EV offers two battery sizes. Chevy hasn't said the capacity of either, but only the entry-level 1LT trim comes with the small battery, with an estimated range of 250 miles. Chevy estimates the larger battery, standard in higher trim levels, to offer 300 miles of range for front-drive Equinox EVs and 280 miles when equipped with all-wheel drive. Front-drive models have 210 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of torque, while all-wheel drive versions offer 290 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. The Equinox EV is built on a similar platform as the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq, though the Equinox EV is smaller than those vehicles. When you compare the EV to the gas Equinox, the EV has a longer wheelbase and overall length. In addition, its wheels are pushed close to the front and rear bumpers, creating shorter overhangs that generally make for generous interior space and more attractive exteriors. The sportier look of the Equinox EV with the lower roof line decreases the overall storage capacity. At 57 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, it has a little less space on paper than its gasoline counterpart. However, we look forward to testing the ICE and EV to see if the difference is meaningful. One highlight is that the cargo floor has two height settings, like the Honda CR-V. Unlike other electric vehicles, the Equinox EV does not have a storage area under the hood. Chevy reps said frunks are costly to implement and don't test well with its focus groups. Equinox Interior Inside, all Equinox EVs come with an 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster, and an impressive 17.7-inch center touchscreen is available on most trim levels. It's the same screen as you'll see in the Blazer EV and Silverado EV, and while the screens in the car we sat in weren't interactive, the graphics appeared crisp and easily readable. Interior storage options appear to be numerous and well thought out. For example, the center console has a generously sized opening under the cupholders and the tray where you set your phone, providing enough room for a large handbag. All manner of Chevy driving assistance will be available, from adaptive cruise control, heads-up display, rear-view camera, and so on. Most impressive, though, is GM's hands-free Super Cruise system, which is available on all trim levels except the base. On a personal note, I have a BOLT EUV with Super Cruise and love it. It managed to drive i459 and i59 hands free without any input on my part. Making the drive from Birmingham to Fort Payne as easy as pressing a button. Charging Speed As for charging, most Equinox EV models have an 11.5-kW Level 2 onboard charger, which Chevy estimates can add 34 miles of range per hour. The priciest RS trim level offers a 19.2-kW charger, increasing Chevy's estimate to 51 miles of range per hour. In addition, all Equinox EVs support 150-kW DC fast charging. How do I order a 2024 Equinox EV? Request Equinox EV Info Silverado EV Blazer EV Just because GM doesn’t have reservations doesn’t mean you can’t work with us on getting the new Equinox EV. At this point, we are not taking deposits and reserving people. It is just too far out, and we aren’t ready to manage it until we get a better idea of how many GM will send us. But you can tell us you are interested in an EV. We stayed away from market adjustments, and you won’t find any vehicles priced above MSRP on our website. We have a long history of hyper competitive pricing, and we will not have any market adjustments on our pricing for Equinox EV. At a minimum we will be selling this for $100 back of MSRP, but we will be determining pricing later once we have more information from GM.

Feb 14, 2022 in Electric Vehicle

Super Bowl Sopranos Ad Steals the Show

Did you watch "The Sopranos" when it was on HBO a few years back? Well, Chevrolet partnered with the creator and director of the show David Chase to create a 60 second Superbowl commercial. The ad, called "New Generation," aired during the first quarter of the game without any previews from GM beforehand. The commercial includes many of the same spots as the original introduction. However, instead of Tony Soprano driving a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, it's the mob boss's daughter Meadow, played by Jamie Lynn Siegler, and she drives a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV. You can watch a side-by-side comparison below. more The spot features the original theme song of the show, "woke Up This Morning" by Alabama 3. It ends with the reunion of Meadow and her brother A.J., played by Robert Iler. They hug, and the voiceover says, "The first-ever, all-electric Chevy Silverado. A whole new truck for a whole new generation." A lot has changed since the show aired from 1999-to 2007. To put how fast Electric Vehicles have grown, the first Tesla wasn't produced until 2008. It is crazy to think how fast technology has evolved in just a little over a decade. While I personally would love to see a show about mobsters driving around in electric vehicles it may be something relegated to Super Bowl commercials and our imaginations for the time being. Chevrolet hasn't had a Super Bowl commercial since 2015. This ad was one of two that were aired this year. The second was a broader brand-focused ad that featured Dr. Evil, played by Mike Myers. I find it a little strange that the same man/organization that invested heavily into Starbucks would also be dabbling in electric vehicles, but what do I know? Here is that spot if you want to watch it.

Sep 11, 2024 in Blazer EV

Exceptional Lease Offers at Donohoo Chevrolet: Drive Your Dream Chevy Today!

If you're in the market for an exciting new vehicle, Donohoo Chevrolet has some incredible lease offers that make driving a new Chevy both affordable and easy. With their wide selection of models, competitive pricing, and flexible lease terms, there's never been a better time to get behind the wheel of a Chevrolet. Let’s dive into some of the best lease deals currently available. 1. 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV 1RS The 2024 Blazer EV 1RS is a stylish, electric SUV designed for those who want the perfect blend of performance and eco-friendliness. With a 24-month GMF lease, you can enjoy this cutting-edge SUV for only $349 per month. The Blazer EV 1RS is packed with advanced technology, sleek design, and the all-electric performance that’s perfect for today’s driving needs. 2. 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV 2RS For those seeking a bit more power and style, the Blazer EV 2RS offers a step up in performance. This model is available on a 24-month GMF lease at $399 per month. The 2RS brings additional upgrades in terms of features, while still delivering the quiet, all-electric drive that is synonymous with Chevy’s EV line. 3. 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV AWD 2LT Looking for both all-wheel drive and affordability? The Blazer EV AWD 2LT comes in with a fantastic offer. Available on a 24-month GMF lease at just $299 per month, this deal gives you all the capability of an AWD vehicle at a budget-friendly price. The 2LT trim offers comfort, technology, and efficiency, all wrapped into one attractive package. Why Lease from Donohoo Chevrolet? At Donohoo Chevrolet, their commitment to customer satisfaction goes beyond offering great cars. Here’s why you should consider leasing from them: Flexible Lease Terms: With convenient 24-month terms, you’re not tied into a long-term commitment, allowing you to upgrade to a new model more frequently. Competitive Pricing: Their lease offers are designed to fit various budgets, making it easier to drive home the vehicle of your choice without breaking the bank. Cutting-Edge Models: From all-electric options to feature-packed trims, Donohoo Chevrolet has the latest and greatest models in stock, ensuring you drive the best Chevy has to offer. Ready to Take the Next Step? With these outstanding lease deals, Donohoo Chevrolet is making it easier than ever to drive home in a new Chevy. Whether you’re drawn to the efficiency of an electric vehicle, the performance of an RS trim, or the practicality of all-wheel drive, Donohoo Chevrolet has the right lease offer for you. Visit Donohoo Chevrolet today to take advantage of these limited-time offers and experience the thrill of driving a brand-new Chevy!