TOWING HANDS-FREE WITH GM SUPER CRUISE IS SO EASY A CAVEMAN COULD DO IT

Towing can be a daunting task for someone who has never pulled a boat or a trailer before, but modern vehicles and technology make it easier than ever. To find out just how easy it can be, CarBuzz drove down to South Florida to sample a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country pickup truck equipped with General Motors' Super Cruise technology. For the uninitiated, Super Cruise is a Level 2 semi-autonomous software that enables hands-free driving on mapped roads. It is also the only system of its kind that currently allows hands-free trailering.

Chevy tossed us the keys to a nearly $80,000 pickup truck, hooked up a trailer, set a route on the Florida Turnpike, and promptly told us to let Super Cruise take the wheel. What happened next was so uneventful (in a good way) it made us wonder if a caveman could do it.

What Is Super Cruise?

Among all the Level 2 autonomous driving systems available in 2024, Super Cruise is the most comprehensive. It launched back in 2017, beating Tesla Full Self-Driving by three years, Ford BlueCruise by four years, and Stellantis Active Driving Assist by six years. In the years since Super Cruise was first released, it has spread to more models and now operates on more roads. Chevy now offers hands-free driver-assist software on seven vehicles: Silverado 1500, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV. GMC and Cadillac have several models with Super Cruise as well, and Buick will finally get access to it later this year on the 2025 Enclave.

Using real-time cameras, sensors, and GPS combined with LiDAR map data, Super Cruise keeps the vehicle centered in its lane while adaptive cruise control maintains a set distance to the vehicle in front. So long as the green light is illuminated on the steering wheel, Super Cruise can run hands-free. The system can even detect slower traffic and execute a lane change on its own. You can also trigger a lane change manually using the turn signals. It's not quite "self-driving," but it feels pretty close. Super Cruise isn't considered a Level 3 system because it still requires the driver to pay attention and keep their eyes on the road (a sensor watches to make sure). Only Mercedes-Benz offers an L3 system that doesn't require driver attention in the US, but it only works in California and Nevada up to 40 mph.

Hands-Free Keeps Improving

GM launched Super Cruise with around 130,000 miles of mapped divided highway, and that number has since increased to over 400,000 miles. By 2025, GM will have expanded it to around 750,000 miles in the US and Canada. Recent updates have even allowed hands-free driving on local roads, not just highways. We sampled this ability in the 2024 Chevy Traverse on some rural roads outside Atlanta, Georgia. Other useful additions to the software include hands-free lane changes, towing, and general improvements to how it stays in the lane and tackles curves.

The American automaker initially planned to launch a new software to sit above Super Cruise, called Ultra Cruise. It was set to debut on the Cadillac Celestiq, but GM has since decided to merge Ultra Cruise under the Super Cruise brand to avoid consumer confusion. GM never specified the exact abilities of Ultra Cruise, but it was believed to be a more advanced hands-free system that could operate on most roads, both local and highway. Instead of creating a flashy system available on a single six-figure Cadillac, GM will instead focus on improving Super Cruise for every vehicle.

Towing With No Hands

When towing a boat or a trailer, it can be disconcerting to keep the vehicle centered in the lane, especially when faced with any heavy wind. With Super Cruise, it becomes a non-issue. We hopped onto the highway, where we were almost immediately able to activate the system. From there, the green light illuminated, allowing us to take our hands off the wheel. The Silverado never swayed or struggled around sweeping bends. Even as faster-moving traffic cut in front, the adaptive cruise control handled it brilliantly by stabbing at the brakes when necessary. All you have to do is sit there and watch the road.

There is only one major limitation to Super Cruise while towing: it can't change lanes automatically. When a trailer is connected, the system will automatically know not to allow auto lane changes. You will see a message in the gauge cluster saying that you will need to put your hands back on the wheel, but we wish GM would have included a more descriptive warning that explains why.

In order for the lane changes to work, while towing, the trailer would need sensors to see what's behind. It's a minor annoyance, but we hope that most Silverado owners aren't trying to weave through traffic with a trailer attached. Even still, GM is the only company that lets you go hands-free while towing, so we'll count it as a win.

Beyond Super Cruise, the Silverado 1500 High Country makes trailering a breeze thanks to its 14 available camera angles. These included a hitch view, making it easier to attach a trailer and a transparent trailer view that makes the trailer invisible so you can see what's coming up behind it. You can leave the transparent trailer angle up on the infotainment screen while driving, and using either turn signal triggers a wide-angle side rearview to see blind spots. The cameras take all the fear out of towing, so you can have the confidence to change lanes when necessary.

2024-07-01T04:44:00Z dg43tfdfdgfd