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An inside look at GM's cutting-edge hands-free driving assist

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Some years back, I’m driving a Cadillac CTS-V around a race-track with a professional racing driver sitting shotgun. She’s critiquing my driving technique, a work in progress. I gear down for a corner, turn in, and then, I get blasted — third time this lap.

Deep Dive: GM Super Cruise explained by a Cadillac developer Back to video

“Get your hand off of that shifter and back on the wheel! The shifter isn’t going anywhere!” she commands.

After years of similar instruction from similar professionals around the world, it’s a lesson that’s now been hard-wired into this driver’s brain: your hands belong at 9 and 3 at all times.

Today, Philip Asante is a young software developer working toward an opposite goal through cutting-edge electrification and driver assistance technologies for General Motors. His duties include leading a team which integrates all of the software components that power GM’s Super Cruise — a system designed to give customers of equipped vehicles push-button access to extended periods of hands-free driving.

“Super Cruise is the result of over five years of development,” says Asante. “From the research stages to development and validation, we made sure this technology worked safely, seamlessly, and was easy for our customers to use. It was important to bring comfort and convenience to our customers on their daily freeway commutes, and I really feel Super Cruise has enabled that.”   

Asante graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University. After developing a passion for unmanned systems and developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), Asante went on to spend 6 years working in the aviation industry.

“I have always been fascinated in working with sensors to understand a vehicle’s environment and leveraging that information to have the vehicle navigate and make decisions within that environment” Asante explains.

I had my first experience with Super Cruise during a 1,500 kilometre highway-intensive test-drive in the 2022 Cadillac Escalade. My tester was set up in a configuration ideal for winter touring — proper winter tires, GM’s straight-six Duramax diesel engine for efficient cruising, and Super Cruise available at the press of a button.

The first thing I need to tell you about using Super Cruise is that it feels incredibly natural.

When activated, a green light appears on the steering wheel, the car magnetises to the centre of its lane, you release your hands, and off it goes. Provided the weather is good and road markings are visible, you could cruise like this for hours, as I did. It doesn’t even mind a little light to moderate snowfall, so long as road markings remain distinguishable. 

Second, while I expected to feel nervous or uncomfortable about the car doing this much work for me, Super Cruise becomes easy to trust in a matter of seconds. When making a correction or following a corner, Super Cruise makes steering inputs predictably and with a sense that the adjustment was carefully pre-calculated, to be delivered as smoothly as possible.

On my watch, system operation was free of any sketchy, startling, or abrupt inputs. Heck, it’s probably smoother at the wheel than I am in some situations. 

Over my first 120 kilometres using the system, I was only tempted to grab the wheel once as a precaution in a snow-covered corner. 

Before long, Super Cruise feels smooth, steady, and trustworthy, even if you’re a hard-wired 9 and 3 sort of driver like me. From behind the wheel, Super Cruise drivers can therefore expect lower stress levels, increased comfort, and the ability to enjoy the forward scenery with their hands comfortably on their laps for extended periods.

And there’s only one button. If you’re on a compatible highway with visible lane markings, the system turns on with a click. It’s easier than activating the popcorn setting on your microwave oven. 

Just tap, wait a half-second for the green light and activation message, and it’s hands off.

Need to change lanes? Just tap the signal lever, and Super Cruise completes the lane change for you, hands free, after vehicle sensors determine the path is clear. 

If the system needs the driver to take control, warnings are subtle but effective: a red light flashes on the wheel, a slight vibration is issued through the seat, and an on-screen infographic requests you take over. The point is made quickly, but it isn’t alarming. 

Super Cruise relies on a database of maps, made up of highly-detailed scans of available highways. This database gives Super Cruise a reference point and the ability to pinpoint the vehicle’s position with extreme accuracy, though it means the feature only works on pre-mapped highways. Currently, these include 320,000 kilometres of divided highways in Canada and the USA. You can check out the full map here.

Super Cruise is very serious about you keeping your eyes on the road at all times.

“Super Cruise is the only system on the market that provides hands-free driving at regular highway speeds” says Asante. 

“It also monitors the driver’s eyes, allowing for true hands-free driving”

A built-in camera, located on the steering column, is used to make sure driver eyeballs are glued to the road ahead. Look away for too long, and the system cuts off. Also, the camera works if you’re wearing sunglasses.  Ultimately, Super Cruise is designed to work with, not in place of your attentive and safe driving. 

Based on his experience in Aerospace engineering, Asante says that Super Cruise’s functionality achieves similar goals to auto pilot and auto throttle systems used by commercial aircraft pilots — specifically, enhancing safety and freeing up operator bandwidth that’s better used for observing your instruments, mirrors, and surroundings. 

Whether using Super Cruise to lower stress levels, increase comfort, or to just watch a cutting-edge feature at work in your next car or truck, shoppers are getting very interested in this new wave of advanced driving tech. 

Some 85 per cent of current Cadillac CT6 owners say they’ll only consider a vehicle equipped with Super Cruise, and Asante’s team is answering their call by helping roll the system out across more of GM’s portfolio. 

Initially, Super Cruise was introduced on the 2018 Cadillac CT6. The system I’m reporting on here is an enhanced version of the original, which is now available on the Cadillac CT5, CT4, Lyriq, and Escalade. It’s also available on the GMC Hummer EV, and it’s coming to the Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 later this year. By the end of 2023, it’ll be available on 22 vehicles with both combustion and electric power. 

It’s a busy time for people designing the next generation of driver-assistance technology, and Asante has an important piece of advice for young and aspiring engineers and engineering students who hope to pursue a path like his.

“There was my academic work, and then there was also this opportunity to do what we could consider extracurricular. I participated in a lot of student competitions, notably Unmanned Systems Canada. I’d strongly encourage people looking to get into this space to look for those sorts of opportunities, and to be able to experiment with a certain technology. That’s how I find myself here today.”

When testing in the middle of a Northern Ontario winter, the extreme cold can sometimes take a toll on test vehicles, and my Escalade tester was no exception. Though the Duramax straight-six diesel engine reliably starts, sans block heater, at 35 below, my tester’s air suspension system experienced a cold-related hiccup.

On the coldest morning of the year, about an hour into a 430-kilometre highway drive after 10 days of testing, a warning message appeared on the instrument cluster which read “Service Levelling System”. The air suspension system was suffering a malfunction, possibly the result of sitting for an extended period in extreme cold. Unable to fully control the suspension system, this malfunction put the Escalade into a ‘safe’ mode, where the top speed is limited to 90 km/h, and the cruise control and Super Cruise are unavailable. The vehicle remained safely drivable, though with reduced functionality and at a reduced speed.

Though likely caused by a specific operating condition involving frigid temperatures, Escalade drivers in Northern climates should be aware of this possible trouble area, and contact a dealer at the first sign of trouble, if detected.

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Justin Pritchard

Justin Pritchard is an experienced motoring expert whose work is read and watched by Canadians across the country on a weekly basis. Starting his career at Auto123.com back in 2005 (while finishing his final year of studies at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario), Justin quickly applied his passion for writing, presenting, and photography, working under some of the most recognized editors in the Canadian motoring scene.

Justin has written one of the largest collections of used car buyer guides on the internet, and his TV program, AutoPilot, has aired over 600 episodes across 16 seasons. Presently, AutoPilot is the only English-language motoring program on Canadian cable TV, though he's lent his informative style and easy-to-identify voice to video features for Youtube, Driving.ca, Autotrader.ca, Motoring TV, and elsewhere. With 4 years as co-chair of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program, a passion for vehicle testing shines though in all of his work.

A passion for photography from a young age makes Justin as comfortable behind the camera as in front of it, and capturing motoring memories from the scenery of beautiful Northern Ontario is a priority in much of his work. The particularly harsh winter climate in this part of Canada makes Justin a particular expert on winter driving, winter tires, and extreme-weather safety.

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Youtube: @JustinPritchard

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GM’s Super Cruise Hands-Free Driving Feature Blew My Mind Over 2,000 Miles

On a road trip deep into Canada with the loaded GMC Yukon Denali Ultimate, one big thing stands out.

By Steve Mazzucchi

As convenient as flying can be, some places are remote enough that driving makes more sense. Such is the case with Murdochville, Canada, a tiny town (2016 pop: 651) nearly 400 miles northeast of Quebec City.

That’s the decision three buddies and I made when we chose to check this locale — which serves as a base camp for some pretty killer backcountry skiing and splitboarding in the Chic-Choc Mountains — off the bucket list. As our destination was also 869 miles from my New York City apartment, this trip proved the perfect occasion to put GMC’s most tricked-out SUV, the Yukon Denali Ultimate , through its paces.

Now, a lot of things stand out about this nearly $100,000 rig , including the boss 18-speaker Bose sound system, massage-ready front seats, luxurious wood-and-leather-lined interior, running boards that automatically deploy whenever you open the doors and tons of space for four dudes and all their ski and snowboard gear . But as we took the YDU on a nearly 2,000-mile adventure, one futuristic feature truly dominated our chatter: GM’s hands-free driving tech, known as Super Cruise. Here’s why — complemented by some Canadian atmosphere showing off the vehicle, of course.

Super Cruise Is Super Smart

I remember trying out Tesla’s self-driving feature several years ago on a test drive. While I was impressed, it still felt like a novelty. I had similar feelings about Super Cruise until I began playing with it on the relatively short drive from NYC to my buddy Giuseppe’s place in New Paltz the day before we’d make the nearly 800-mile push from there to Murdochville.

I started with simple cruise control and adaptive braking, which is pretty handy for giving your foot a rest on the highway. Then, at the touch of a button, the light bar on the steering wheel illuminated blue and then green, and Super Cruise was happening .

The most striking thing is once you set a cruise control speed, you’ve empowered the vehicle to do what it can to maintain it, most notably by using its cameras and radar to detect road markings and other vehicles. Doing so, it can then not only stay in its lane but also engage the turn signal and automatically change lanes when the moment’s right. If you set the cruise control speed high enough, you’ll be zigging and zagging through traffic like a robotic Lewis Hamilton.

But You’ve Gotta Stay Engaged — and That’s a Good Thing

It’s kind of scary how quickly I came to trust Super Cruise and let it do its thing while I rocked out to the Allman Brothers at 75 miles an hour. On that very first drive, I was texting Giuseppe brief updates on my ETA, and the next morning, after rolling out at 5:30 a.m., I let it handle much of the highway action, even while I chowed down on some breakfast empanadas picked up at our first pit stop.

But that isn’t to say you can watch TikToks or snooze while driving. A small camera on the dashboard tracks your head and eye movement, and if it senses a lack of attention, Super Cruise deactivates: the seat vibrates, the green light bar blinks and then turns red and the display tells you to grab the wheel and take control. It’s not quite as dramatic as, say, Arnold Schwarzenegger overpowering a Johnny Cab , but if you don’t respond, the vehicle will literally slow to a stop.

Giuseppe handled half of the miles and learned firsthand that Super Cruise has little tolerance for smartphone-addled drivers. He told me that while I was napping in the back, he texted one too many times — the system completely shut down and made him wait several minutes to engage Super Cruise again.

Super Cruise’s “Butt Haptics” Are Quirky

Along with the light bar and the display behind the steering wheel that indicates such usual metrics as your speed, cruise control speed and lane changes, the most noticeable sign of Super Cruise is what I call “butt haptics.”

Basically, anytime the vehicle goes to make a lane change — or it senses you doing something inadvisable, like veering out of your lane or backing into a snowbank — the seat vibrates. It has a bit of a language, too: a buzz on the left cheek when it’s switching to the left lane and one on the right cheek when it’s headed that way.

It takes some getting used to and sometimes feels superfluous, but I did find some of the pulsing kind of helpful and safety-enhancing in its own weird way. Speaking of weird, here’s a funky thing you can do when Super Cruise is engaged — flick the turn signal stalk on the highway, and if the road is clear, the vehicle will change lanes without you doing another thing.

Super Cruise Doesn’t Always Work — and Some of Its Moves Are Disconcerting

Not long after we crossed the border into Canada, I got a notification I hadn’t before: “Super Cruise Unavailable.” We all began to theorize that maybe the whole damn thing doesn’t work in Canada for Byzantine legal reasons.

We were totally wrong. Later on, it worked just fine. Basically, as long as there are clearly visible lane markings, the system seems able to function. But if the road is covered in snow — or it’s a dirt road like the one we encountered on one of our splitboarding jaunts — you’re SOL.

That’s understandable, but I do want to note a couple of moments where the AI gave me pause. First, if you set the cruise control too fast, it can occasionally accelerate into turns in a way no human would. Second, when it comes to passing large vehicles like semi trucks, a human driver typically will give them a wide berth. Super Cruise passes them like it would any other vehicle, and unless you like the feeling of “buzzing the tower,” so to speak, it can feel a bit freaky.

Super Cruise Is a Major Conversation Piece… for Now

Even with these quirks, however, the title of this story is accurate: Super Cruise really did blow my mind, and of all the features people commented on during this very long road trip — we drove all the way back in one day — it was easily top of the list. When our buddies thanked Giuseppe and I for driving, we felt kind of sheepish, like an airline captain who uses autopilot for everything but takeoffs and landings.

One thing that really stands out is something the YDU didn’t do, which is leave me feeling totally exhausted upon arrival at our lodgings after some 14 hours on the road. That says a ton for both the comfy interior and certainly for Super Cruise. It’s pretty awesome to endure such a punishing drive and wake up the next morning refreshed and ready to tackle a mountain.

GM has done impressive work creating a system that safely and efficiently makes driving less taxing, essentially letting the driver monitor highway maneuvers and take over when necessary. That alone makes Super Cruise something to talk about — while wondering how long it will be till such functionality is so standard it is taken for granted. As someone who still appreciates manual shifting , I hope that day doesn’t come too soon.

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We tow hands-free with GM's next-gen Super Cruise

We test the next-generation, hands-off driver aid on a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali while towing a big trailer.

GM's Super Cruise is arguably one of the most significant automotive innovations to come out in the last two decades. This hands-off driving aid is right up there with features like backup cameras and automatic emergency braking. Further improving Super Cruise, engineers have developed an enhanced version that's easier to use and offers additional features. We got to experience this updated system firsthand at the automaker's proving ground in Milford, Michigan, and it is seriously impressive.

Super Cruise: The basics

If you're not familiar, Super Cruise automatically controls vehicle speed and steering, allowing you to zip along with your hands off the wheel -- though there are a few caveats. Super Cruise is geofenced, meaning it can only be engaged on certain roads, specifically limited-access divided highways, of which about 200,000 miles' worth have been mapped in the United States and Canada. Beyond that, you also have to pay attention. A driver-facing camera ensures you're always situationally aware and ready to intervene at a moment's notice if the system needs a hand, not watching TikTok videos on your phone or taking a nap in the back seat.

Super Cruise launched about five years ago on the Cadillac CT6 sedan and since day one the system has worked phenomenally well . It's smooth, almost immediately confidence-inspiring and intuitive. Building on this foundation, the next-generation version can be engaged while towing and it's smart enough to change lanes automatically.

Super Cruise... GM is making a great feature even better.

Super towing

Making long drives with a trailer much easier, you'll soon be able to tow with Super Cruise, something I experienced in a heavily camouflaged 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali , a refreshed version of the GMC brand's full-size truck.

Anywhere normal Super Cruise works you'll also be able to tow with it. Typically, this would not include a GM proving ground, though the Milford facility track has been mapped so the system can operate there. Once you're on an appropriate roadway the system recognizes, you just hit the button and wait for the steering wheel lights to go green. When they do, this indicates you're super cruising and can take your hands off the wheel and relax… just not too much, because you have to remain alert and ready to take over.

I only experienced it for a few minutes, but towing with Super Cruise was a seamless experience. The system works just as well while dragging a huge box trailer as it does in a Cadillac CT6. The system is responsive and builds driver confidence in seconds.

Aside from being a godsend to drivers that regularly haul trailers, the ability to tow with Super Cruise should give GM a leg up on rivals that are developing similar hands-off driving aids. For instance, you won't be able to do the same thing with Ford BlueCruise , at least when it first comes out.

Automatic lane change

Another clever Super Cruise feature is the ability to change lanes automatically. If you have the system set at, say, 70 mph and you close in on another vehicle that's only doing 60, the vehicle recognizes this, changes lanes to pass the slower-moving obstacle and then moves back into the previous lane. These maneuvers are seamless: as smooth as a human could do. Super Cruise even flashes the turn signals while doing all this, something human drivers often neglect to do.

Automatic lane change works anywhere Super Cruise can be engaged, though it's unfortunately disabled while towing, which is probably smart. This feature can also automatically move a vehicle over if it's in a lane that's ending, an incredibly smart touch.

Super Cruise can be a godsend while slogging through rush-hour traffic.

Beyond that, enhanced Super Cruise  offers lane-change-on-demand functionality. If you want to move over, just tap the turn signal stalk and if it's clear, the vehicle will mosey on over. If you fully engage the stalk, it still only moves one lane at a time; you have to reengage the turn signal for each lane you want to shift.

Vehicle Intelligence Platform

The next-generation Super Cruise's innovative new features are enabled by several things. GM's new Vehicle Intelligence Platform electrical architecture provides more throughput for the system's various computers and sensors. Beyond that, 360-degree radar arrays have been added so this latest version of Super Cruise can see all around the vehicle. This addition allows the system to look at traffic, so it doesn't jump out in front of another car or truck that's zooming past. Enhanced Super Cruise is smart enough to accelerate or decelerate so it can try to find a suitable gap and change lanes.

With better radar units and other sensors (and likely unfathomable amounts of software tying all this together), engineers also improved the driver-attention monitor. It has better sun-glare performance so the system doesn't disengage when you're driving into the sun and it's low in the sky, the system can track head pose and eye gaze so it's better at knowing whether you're paying attention -- and it even works with polarized sunglasses.

The future, today

Super Cruise is GM's killer app. Since its release, it's been a seriously impressive bit of kit and the enhanced version feels like a  significant  step forward even in my admittedly limited testing. The abilities to tow with it engaged and use the automatic lane-change capability are slick features.

After years of being shackled to just one model at one of its divisions, it finally seems like the automaker is recognizing this technology's significance. You can get Super Cruise in the Chevy Bolt EUV all-electric crossover right now and GM is expanding its availability -- including the enhanced version -- to 22 different models by 2023, bringing the future a little closer to the present.

And at long last, GM is pushing this groundbreaking driver aid out across its products portfolio. You'll be able to get new Super Cruise in six 2022-model-year vehicles starting in Q1 2022. This includes the Cadillac Escalade , CT4 and CT5 models, the Chevrolet Silverado , GMC Sierra and Hummer EV pickup . By 2023, it should be available in a whopping 22 different models.

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GM is getting rid of ‘Ultra Cruise’ branding as it reevaluates its ADAS program

The automaker pitched ultra cruise as its next-generation driver-assist system to cover ‘95 percent’ of driving maneuvers. now, it’s being combined with its super cruise program..

By Andrew J. Hawkins , transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.

Share this story

General Motors is getting rid of the “Ultra Cruise” brand and merging the team that was working on it with the team responsible for Super Cruise, as the automaker reconsiders its goals for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS).

Last week, CNBC reported that GM was “ending the Ultra Cruise program,” focusing instead on the current Super Cruise system that is available across the company’s vehicle lineup. GM spokesperson Aimee Ridella clarified that the ultimate intention is to improve Super Cruise but that no one is being laid off as a result of this decision.

“GM is not scaling back its advanced driver assistance programs,” Ridella said in an email. “We have reallocated our ADAS-focused resources to bring even more capability to Super Cruise under one recognizable consumer brand.”

“GM is not scaling back its advanced driver assistance programs.”

GM first announced Ultra Cruise during an investor event in 2021, describing it as a massive leap over the company’s  Super Cruise system , which allows for hands-free driving on mapped divided highways. In contrast, Ultra Cruise will cover “95 percent” of driving scenarios on 2 million miles of roads in the US, the company said.

The subtext was that GM wanted a system that rivaled Tesla’s Full Self-Driving , which is a Level 2 system that allows for hands-free driving on surface roads but still requires the driver to take control if required. Even though Tesla has been criticized for rolling out a beta version of its ADAS before it was actually ready, GM clearly thought that a next-generation hands-free driving system was worth pursuing.

As defined by SAE International, a Level 2 system can control steering, acceleration, and deceleration as well as monitor blind spots and even change lanes automatically. But the driver needs to stay vigilant and keep their eyes on the road; if they don’t, the vehicle’s driver monitoring system will theoretically detect it, and the system will send several warnings to the driver before disengaging.

First introduced in 2017, Super Cruise was GM’s first foray into hands-free driving. The system relies on a detailed map of the highway system, which are the only roads where it can be activated.

Now that Super Cruise is the dominant — and only — ADAS brand in GM’s portfolio, the automaker is revising its goals for partial automation. That includes reevaluating the goal of trying to achieve hands-free driving for 95 percent of scenarios as well as which sensors will be necessary to achieve these aims.

Previously, GM outlined several of the sensors that will power the driver-assist system, including cameras, short- and long-range radar, and a lidar sensor. GM has said its vehicles will come with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Ride Platform to process all that sensor data.

The first vehicle that was supposed to come with Ultra Cruise was the ultra-luxury Cadillac Celestiq . Production of the $340,000 bespoke vehicle has reportedly begun at GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.

The decision to do away with the Ultra Cruise brand comes as the automaker is dealing with the fallout of a pedestrian injury involving a driverless car operated by its wholly owned subsidiary Cruise. Several executives have resigned, and the company’s driverless vehicles have been taken off the road pending an internal investigation.

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GM's Super Cruise expansion adds 750,000 miles of rural roads

That will nearly double its current network..

GM has announced a significant expansion of its Super Cruise operating area by around 750,000 miles to rural roads and minor highways in the US and Canada, TechCrunch reported. The upgrade is set to be completed by 2025 and will nearly double the automaker's current 400,000 mile network.

First launched in 2017 , Super Cruise allows fully hands-free operation under the supervision of a driver, who must be ready to take control at any time. It uses highly accurate GPS, cameras, radar sensors and a driver attention system to ensure the operator is paying attention.

However, it can only be operated on designated roads that have been LiDAR scanned for GM by a third-party contractor. That generates maps maps showing lane level data, topography, the radius of road curves and more, allowing Super Cruise to adjust speeds when necessary. That's particularly important on rural roads and highways that are more likely to have tight curves, steep hills and other potentially dangerous sections.

The automaker has taken a slow approach to its driver assistance system, especially compared to rival Tesla, which offers a $12,000 Full Self Driving system that can operate on city streets. GM recently unveiled the Ultra Cruise system that could also work in cities, saying it could be used "95 percent" of the time hands-free. However, that program was reportedly cancelled , with GM now fully focusing on Super Cruise.

GM offers 15 vehicles with Super Cruise, including pickups, SUVs, the Bolt EUV and all Cadillac models. Up until now, it's largest Super Cruise expansion took place in 2022 , growing from 200,000 to 400,000 miles.

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Preview: 2025 Buick Enclave Goes Turbo and High-Tech

Super Cruise and more active safety features are among the highlights

The 2025 Buick Enclave is the last SUV among the redesigned fraternal triplets from General Motors to be unveiled, following the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia . As before, the Enclave is positioned as the most luxurious and elegant of the mechanically related three-row SUVs. 

Buick describes it as “longer, wider, and taller” than before. GM has not released specifications, but we expect those changes to be incremental rather than transformative.

• 2025 Buick Enclave: CR's Take Outside Inside What Drives It Active Safety and Driver Assistance

The new Enclave makes notable advances in technology, with a massive 30-inch dash-mounted screen and a robust suite of active safety features. Plus, it’s the first Buick with Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free active driving assistance system, which gives the ability to simultaneously use adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance. 

Like the Traverse and Acadia, the Enclave ditches the trusty 3.6-liter V6 for a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It’s again offered in front- and all-wheel drive. 

The Enclave is offered in three trims: Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir—the brand’s designation for its peak luxury. 

Like its siblings, the Enclave will be built at GM’s Lansing Delta Township facility in Michigan.

Some details, such as exact dimensions, price, and fuel economy, will be released closer to the start of production. Here’s what we know so far. 

What it competes with: Acura MDX , Jeep Grand Cherokee L , Lexus TX , Hyundai Palisade , Infiniti QX60 , Kia Telluride , Lincoln Aviator , Mazda CX-90 Powertrains: 328-hp, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive Price: $45,000-$65,000 (estimated) On sale: Summer 2024

Photo: Buick Photo: Buick

The Enclave’s redesign sees a natural progression, moving to increased technology and shifting to a turbo powertrain. It remained competitive over its production run. In fact, right now it’s still ranked second in its class, aided by a strong road-test score and average predicted reliability. 

The outgoing Enclave had a passel of virtues that counted a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, a roomy interior, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a lively powertrain. Its demerits are few, with fuel economy being a notable one through the years. We measured just 18 mpg overall. We hope the new powertrain brings a welcomed improvement.

The previous Enclave we tested came up a bit short in fit and finish, with some ill-fitting trim pieces and fewer comfort features than expected at its price. Hopefully, the new Enclave will be elevated to contemporary standards. 

We have long found the Enclave to be a strong competitor and even a suitable alternative to driving a larger truck-based SUV for many shoppers. No doubt that tradition will continue. Perhaps the biggest question is how different the three GM SUVs will feel. 

We will report on that as soon as we buy examples to test.

Buick states that the Enclave has increased in size but it hasn’t released specs. Based on the Traverse measurements, the difference may be incremental rather than significant. 

Overall, the new Enclave fits in with the latest Buick design language. But it’s a bit generic from the side, and it lacks the elegance seen in the prior Enclave’s artful curves. 

The front fascia and headlamps closely resemble the entry-level Envista, with the lights being narrow, horizontal slashes. Likewise, the fog lamps are tucked into dramatic corner coves that flank a prominent trapezoidal grille. On the Sport Touring, the grille surround and inserts are black. 

The rest of the Buick is reminiscent of the Chevy and GMC—until you see them side by side. All three have quite different treatments for the rear pillars. The Buick may have the most graceful execution, but it’s also a bit less distinctive. That glass shape and trim remind me of other models, like the Acura MDX . The taillamp treatment also varies significantly among the trio. 

The Preferred and Sport Touring come with 20-inch wheels, while the Avenir wears giant 22-inch wheels.

The cabin sees a more dramatic makeover than the exterior. The dash is dominated by a 30-inch screen that serves as a combination instrument panel and infotainment display. Unlike other vehicles that have adopted such a massive screen, this “floating” display juts out from the dash rather than being integrated, as in the Cadillac Escalade and even more so in multiple recent Mercedes-Benz models. Also, like in a Mercedes, the gear selector is a wand on the steering column and the wiper control stalk is on the left. 

There are limited physical buttons to the left of the steering wheel and a row beneath the infotainment screen. Hard keys, as they’re often referred to, may seem a bit nostalgic as cars become computers on wheels, but there’s no beating the simplicity of physical controls when driving. 

The infotainment system uses Google Assistant, allowing voice interaction for directions via Google Maps, dictating text messages, and performing a range of vehicle functions. Apps can be added to expand functionality, including Spotify for listening to music. 

There’s a wireless phone charge mat to keep your device charged when using wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

Every Enclave has front heated seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and active noise control to hush unwanted exterior sounds.

The Sport Touring trim brings sporty touches, such as a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and the cabin is festooned with ST badging. 

Avenir bumps the stereo up to 16 speakers and adds a panoramic roof. It upgrades the front seats to ventilated perches with a massaging function. The second-row outboard seats are heated. It also includes the Power Package available on the other trims, with a head-up display and one-touch folding second- and third-row seats.

What Drives It

The next-generation Enclave ditches the 3.6-liter V6 for a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite being a smaller engine, this powerplant has slightly more horsepower than the previous V6, rising from 310 hp to 328 hp for the 2025 model. Typical of turbos, torque makes even greater gains, moving up from 266 lb.-ft. to 326 lb.-ft. 

That engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave can be configured in front- or all-wheel drive. Maximum tow capacity is 5,000 pounds. 

The Avenir comes with an adaptive suspension that can rapidly respond to changing road conditions, thereby heightening comfort and handling as called upon. 

Active Safety and Driver Assistance

Like the Chevrolet Traverse, the Enclave is expected to come with a full suite of active safety and driver assistance features that include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. 

Other standard features include adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning with reverse automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and sign recognition. Like the Chevy, the Buick is likely to provide some safety warnings via vibrations to the driver’s seat. 

Available on all Enclave trims, the Super Cruise active driving assistance system allows hands-free operation on many highways. GM expects to expand the Super Cruise road network in the U.S. and Canada to 750,000 miles through 2025. The Super Cruise package includes a driver attention monitor and active parking assistance.

Jeff S. Bartlett

Jeff S. Bartlett is the managing editor for the autos team at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2005. Previously, Jeff served as the online editorial director of Motor Trend for 11 years. Throughout his career, Jeff has driven thousands of cars, many on racetracks around the globe. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSBartlett .

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Preview: 2025 Buick Enclave Goes Turbo and High-Tech

Super Cruise and more active safety features are among the highlights

2025 Buick Enclave Avenir

By Jeff S. Bartlett

The 2025 Buick Enclave is the last SUV among the redesigned fraternal triplets from General Motors to be unveiled, following the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia . As before, the Enclave is positioned as the most luxurious and elegant of the mechanically related three-row SUVs. 

Buick describes it as “longer, wider, and taller” than before. GM has not released specifications, but we expect those changes to be incremental rather than transformative.

The new Enclave makes notable advances in technology, with a massive 30-inch dash-mounted screen and a robust suite of active safety features. Plus, it’s the first Buick with Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free active driving assistance system, which gives the ability to simultaneously use adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance. 

Like the Traverse and Acadia, the Enclave ditches the trusty 3.6-liter V6 for a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It’s again offered in front- and all-wheel drive. 

The Enclave is offered in three trims: Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir—the brand’s designation for its peak luxury. 

Like its siblings, the Enclave will be built at GM’s Lansing Delta Township facility in Michigan.

Some details, such as exact dimensions, price, and fuel economy, will be released closer to the start of production. Here’s what we know so far. 

What it competes with: Acura MDX , Jeep Grand Cherokee L , Lexus TX , Hyundai Palisade , Infiniti QX60 , Kia Telluride , Lincoln Aviator , Mazda CX-90

Powertrains: 328-hp, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive

Price: $45,000-$65,000 (estimated)

On sale: Summer 2024

The tasteful rear design distinguishes the Buick from its corporate siblings, with its unique chrome-trimmed rear-side windows and horizontal lighting that spans the SUV’s full width.

Photo: Buick

The Enclave’s redesign sees a natural progression, moving to increased technology and shifting to a turbo powertrain. It remained competitive over its production run. In fact, right now it’s still ranked second in its class, aided by a strong road-test score and average predicted reliability. 

The outgoing Enclave had a passel of virtues that counted a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, a roomy interior, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a lively powertrain. Its demerits are few, with fuel economy being a notable one through the years. We measured just 18 mpg overall. We hope the new powertrain brings a welcomed improvement.

The previous Enclave we tested came up a bit short in fit and finish, with some ill-fitting trim pieces and fewer comfort features than expected at its price. Hopefully, the new Enclave will be elevated to contemporary standards. 

We have long found the Enclave to be a strong competitor and even a suitable alternative to driving a larger truck-based SUV for many shoppers. No doubt that tradition will continue. Perhaps the biggest question is how different the three GM SUVs will feel. 

We will report on that as soon as we buy examples to test.

Buick states that the Enclave has increased in size but it hasn’t released specs. Based on the Traverse measurements, the difference may be incremental rather than significant. 

Overall, the new Enclave fits in with the latest Buick design language. But it’s a bit generic from the side, and it lacks the elegance seen in the prior Enclave’s artful curves. 

The front fascia and headlamps closely resemble the entry-level Envista, with the lights being narrow, horizontal slashes. Likewise, the fog lamps are tucked into dramatic corner coves that flank a prominent trapezoidal grille. On the Sport Touring, the grille surround and inserts are black. 

The rest of the Buick is reminiscent of the Chevy and GMC—until you see them side by side. All three have quite different treatments for the rear pillars. The Buick may have the most graceful execution, but it’s also a bit less distinctive. That glass shape and trim remind me of other models, like the Acura MDX . The taillamp treatment also varies significantly among the trio. 

The Preferred and Sport Touring come with 20-inch wheels, while the Avenir wears giant 22-inch wheels.

The latest Buick face is on display here with this Enclave Sport Touring, featuring slender LED headlamps, deep fog lamp coves, and a prominent trapezoidal grille.

The cabin sees a more dramatic makeover than the exterior. The dash is dominated by a 30-inch screen that serves as a combination instrument panel and infotainment display. Unlike other vehicles that have adopted such a massive screen, this “floating” display juts out from the dash rather than being integrated, as in the Cadillac Escalade and even more so in multiple recent Mercedes-Benz models. Also, like in a Mercedes, the gear selector is a wand on the steering column and the wiper control stalk is on the left. 

There are limited physical buttons to the left of the steering wheel and a row beneath the infotainment screen. Hard keys, as they’re often referred to, may seem a bit nostalgic as cars become computers on wheels, but there’s no beating the simplicity of physical controls when driving. 

The upscale Buick Enclave Avenir cabin looks clean, modern, and rather carlike.

The infotainment system uses Google Assistant, allowing voice interaction for directions via Google Maps, dictating text messages, and performing a range of vehicle functions. Apps can be added to expand functionality, including Spotify for listening to music. 

There’s a wireless phone charge mat to keep your device charged when using wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

Every Enclave has front heated seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and active noise control to hush unwanted exterior sounds.

The Sport Touring trim brings sporty touches, such as a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and the cabin is festooned with ST badging. 

Avenir bumps the stereo up to 16 speakers and adds a panoramic roof. It upgrades the front seats to ventilated perches with a massaging function. The second-row outboard seats are heated. It also includes the Power Package available on the other trims, with a head-up display and one-touch folding second- and third-row seats.

The Enclave Avenir boasts a panoramic roof, heated second-row seats, and a power-folding ability for the second- and third-row seats.

What Drives It

The next-generation Enclave ditches the 3.6-liter V6 for a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite being a smaller engine, this powerplant has slightly more horsepower than the previous V6, rising from 310 hp to 328 hp for the 2025 model. Typical of turbos, torque makes even greater gains, moving up from 266 lb.-ft. to 326 lb.-ft. 

That engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave can be configured in front- or all-wheel drive. Maximum tow capacity is 5,000 pounds. 

The Avenir comes with an adaptive suspension that can rapidly respond to changing road conditions, thereby heightening comfort and handling as called upon. 

Active Safety and Driver Assistance

Like the Chevrolet Traverse, the Enclave is expected to come with a full suite of active safety and driver assistance features that include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. 

Other standard features include adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning with reverse automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and sign recognition. Like the Chevy, the Buick is likely to provide some safety warnings via vibrations to the driver’s seat. 

Available on all Enclave trims, the Super Cruise active driving assistance system allows hands-free operation on many highways. GM expects to expand the Super Cruise road network in the U.S. and Canada to 750,000 miles through 2025. The Super Cruise package includes a driver attention monitor and active parking assistance.

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2024, Consumer Reports, Inc.

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2024 Buick Envision Priced Starting at $37,295, Gets Huge 30-Inch Screen

The facelifted Envision ditches front-wheel drive, and it won't have GM's Super Cruise hands-free system available as originally planned.

• There's a brand-new 30-inch screen unit housing gauge cluster and central infotainment duties.
• Buick has also canceled its plan to include Super Cruise on the 2024 Envision, choosing to debut it at a later date instead.

Buick's all-SUV lineup has been undergoing some changes recently with the company most recently updating the 2024 Envision. We first saw the handsome redesign back in June , but the company has released new information about the revamped Envision as the SUV's summer arrival draws nearer.

As with the other recently updated Buick models, pricing is broken down into three trim levels, with the Envision ditching the old mid-level Essence in favor of a new Sport Touring trim. The barrier of entry for the Envision has risen to meet the more modern SUV, with pricing for the entry-level Preferred trim jumping $2500 to start at $37,295. The new Sport Touring trim adds 20-inch alloy wheels in place of the standard 18s and starts a further $2500 above the Preferred, ringing in at $39,795.

Upgrading to the top-trim Avenir means forking over quite a bit more dough, with the flagship model carrying a base price of $48,395. Springing for the top trim adds convenience features such as a heated steering wheel, multi-zone A/C, and standard remote engine start.

Unlike the system that debuted in the Encore GX, which pairs an 8.0-inch gauge cluster and an 11.0-inch central infotainment under one piece of glass, all Envision models have a comparatively huge, ultrawide 30-inch touchscreen display. According to Buick, the system allows owners to customize the screen to display the information they deem most important. The system uses customizable widgets to provide navigation, media, or general vehicle information. The system runs natively with Google built in, and wireless versions of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

No Super Cruise (for Now)

Unfortunately, the Envision will not come equipped with GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving assistant, as was originally planned. The brand scrapped the technology for the revamped SUV before launch. According to Buick, as timelines for the Envision shifted, so did the launch of Super Cruise–equipped Buicks. Fortunately for fans of the technology, a Buick representative confirmed to Car and Driver that the brand remains committed to adding the system to its vehicles in the future.

This is the first we've seen of the Envision's updated interior in all its glory. In addition to the new screen, the front and rear seats are redesigned, as are the dash and center console. Buick also stepped up the two-tone look for the Envision, especially with the Slate Blue wrapping around the top of the dash and front door cards.

Little has changed in the performance department, with the 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine returning as the sole mill. It pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is now standard, as Buick has dropped the previously standard front-wheel drive from the lineup.

The Envision is set to begin arriving at dealerships this summer.

Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver . His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.

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• News for General Motors

GM's Cruise Resumes Manual Driving As Next Step To Relaunch Robotaxis

(RTTNews) - Cruise LLC, the autonomous vehicle company owned by auto giant General Motors Co., announced its plan to resume manual driving as the next step in return to fully driverless operations.

The company, which had paused all its operations last year following an accident, now said manual driving will be resumed to create maps and gather road information in select cities, starting in Phoenix.

The work is done using human-driven vehicles without autonomous systems engaged, and is a critical step for validating its self-driving systems. Cruise expects the process to help inform where it ultimately will resume driverless operations.

Cruise, which was founded in 2013, had paused all its driverless operations in the United States since October last year, following an October 2 incident in which a pedestrian was struck and dragged by a Cruise vehicle in San Francisco.

Following the accident, the state of California had suspended the firm's license to operate driverless cars. Further, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe into pedestrian risks by Cruise. Amid the safety review of its U.S. fleet, Kyle Vogt, CEO and Co-Founder of Cruise, and co-founder Dan Kan both resigned from the firm. Further, the company in December dismissed nine key executives.

Cruise now said it has made significant progress, guided by new company leadership, recommendations from third-party experts, and a focus on a close partnership with the communities in which its vehicles operate.

Prior to the pause in operations, Cruise had provided hundreds of thousands of driverless trips to riders on complex city streets in San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, Houston and elsewhere.

Cruise noted that during the operational pause over the last few months, it maintained ongoing and extensive testing in complex, dynamic simulated environments and on closed courses.

Now, starting with Phoenix, the company would conduct manual and supervised driving in multiple cities to expose its AVs to a diverse set of driving environments and conditions as part of its plan to resume driverless service.

Cruise in a blog post said, "Safety is the defining principle for everything we do and will guide our progress through this process. As we begin this work, we have requirements in place that not only cover the safety criteria, functions and roadworthiness of the vehicle, but also include robust incident response protocols and extensive training and ongoing performance monitoring for the operators behind the wheel."

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