In recent years, automakers have been developing driver assistance technologies that help drivers avoid trouble on the road. Many of these automated features are now standard—like automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist—but if you’re willing to pay extra, some automakers have systems that go even further. Consider GM’s Super Cruise, which allows you to drive hands-free on over 400,000 miles of compatible roads across North America.
Not every model at a GMC, Cadillac, Buick, or Chevy dealer can be had with Super Cruise, and it’s often an optional feature reserved for higher trim levels, but it’s available on more vehicles in 2024 than ever before, and we can expect it to spread even further in the future. So let’s take a look at what this feature actually is (and what it isn’t) and then look at which models and trims you can find it on for the 2024 model year.
What Is Super Cruise?
Adaptive cruise control takes the basics of traditional cruise control but autonomously keeps pace with the traffic in front of you as it slows down and speeds back up. Super Cruise takes this concept to the next level by taking control of the steering as well, allowing drivers to take their foot off the pedal and their hands off the wheel.
But don’t get confused: this system does not make a vehicle a self-driving car, and you should never take your eyes off the road. If things get too complicated, you have to be ready to take over driving at a moment’s notice. Even so, this feature can be a big comfort on long-haul drives where it’s easy for fatigue to set in after hours of driving on the open highway.
Super Cruise is a complex system that combines several different pieces of technology beyond just adaptive cruise control and lane centering. It makes use of real-time cameras, radar sensors, GPS data, and LiDAR to keep track of both the road in front of you and the drivers around you. It also keeps track of the driver and gives them a warning if it senses that they’re no longer paying attention. In addition to simply handling steering and braking on compatible roads, Super Cruise can also change lanes automatically to avoid slow drivers, and it can be used while trailering.
Chevrolet Models
Chevy may be on the humble side compared to the rest of GM’s brands, but that doesn’t mean it’s not getting its fair share of advanced tech features. Super Cruise is available on a number of models across the lineup, but you’ll have to pay attention to both the trim levels and the available packages if you want to make sure you get it.
Since part of the appeal of electric vehicles (EVs) is how futuristic they are, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that all three electric models being introduced for the 2024 model year are available with Super Cruise. The feature comes standard on the Launch Edition of the Equinox EV, an electrified version of Chevy’s popular compact SUV, but once the regular lineup is in place, it will become an additional feature available only on the high-end 3LT and 3RS trims. The midsize Blazer EV—also an electrified version of an existing SUV nameplate—offers available Super Cruise only on the sporty SS trim.
When it comes to trucks, you won’t find Super Cruise on the 2024 Colorado or Silverado HD. But the most popular truck in Chevy’s stable—the full-size, light-duty Silverado 1500—does offer the feature on its top-tier High Country trim. It doesn’t come standard, though, so be sure to add on the Premium II Package to unlock it, along with a power sunroof and power-retractable assist steps, among other features. Super Cruise is also available on the new-for-2024 Silverado EV.
Finally, three models in Chevy’s non-EV SUV lineup can be had with Super Cruise. The midsize Traverse is entering a new generation for the 2024 model year, making Super Cruise available on the LT and Z71 trims and standard fare on the athletic RS. On the other hand, the full-size Tahoe and Suburban only make this feature available on the pricey Premier and High Country trims, and then only if you add on the Advanced Technology Package, which also includes enhanced automatic emergency braking and reverse automatic braking for added peace of mind.
GMC Models
GMC models tend to have a more upscale look and feel than their Chevy counterparts but still prioritize power and performance in their trucks and SUVs. The GMC equivalent to the Silverado 1500, the Sierra 1500, offers Super Cruise as an available feature on the luxury Denali and Denali Ultimate trims, as long as you opt for the Denali Reserve Super Cruise Package. The same is true for the full-size Yukon SUV and its XL variant, except the package you’re looking for is called the Advanced Technology Package.
The other GMC offering that includes Super Cruise is the Hummer. Once a symbol of gas-guzzling, the Hummer has been reborn as a fully electric vehicle, available as either an SUV or a pickup truck. Whichever body style you opt for, you’ll get Super Cruise as a standard feature across all trim levels.
Buick Models
Climbing up the General Motors luxury ladder, we come to Buick. Up until the 2024 model year, Super Cruise wasn’t available on any Buick vehicles, but the 2024 Envision—an upscale compact SUV—will change that. This model is also getting a makeover inside and out, giving it both the modern technology and looks to match.
Cadillac Models
GM’s luxury brand Cadillac has Super Cruise available across a range of cars and SUVs, both gas-powered and all-electric. The Lyriq is an EV SUV that made its debut for the 2023 model year, and its 2024 model offers Super Cruise as an available option across all trims. New for the 2024 model year, the Celestiq EV is a sleek, futuristic-looking car that can also be had with Super Cruise.
Both the CT4 and CT5 sedans offer available Super Cruise on the Premium Luxury trim. This feature is also available on the CT4-V and CT5-V, performance-oriented versions of the cars that are more powerful and designed for thrilling driving dynamics. The midsize XT6 can be had with Super Cruise on both the Premium Luxury and Sport trims.
For the 2024 model year, the full-size Escalade is getting a big upgrade. On the 2023 Escalade, Super Cruise was merely an available feature on all trim levels except for the base Luxury. But for 2024, this feature will be standard on all of those trim levels, from the Premium Luxury up to the Sport Platinum, on both the Escalade and the longer Escalade ESV.
The Past, Present, and Future of Super Cruise
While Super Cruise is more available now than it was a few years ago, it’s still pretty rare to find it in a GM dealership—and it’s pretty easy to see why, as this feature is really a suite of several advanced features working together to perform a difficult task.
Whether this system will continue to improve incrementally across the lineup or whether it’s replaced with something new, like Ultra Cruise, for the moment, Super Cruise is an impressive piece of technology that can be put to use by drivers who understand it. We’ll be keeping an eye on future GM models to see if this feature’s availability continues to increase as the years go by.
