- Search Cartoons
- Comic Archive
-
Payne
Store
Henry Payne RSS
Cadillac Super Cruise vs. Tesla Autopilot: Which is tops?
Posted by Talbot Payne on November 2, 2020
In a test of 17 driver-assistance systems across brands ranging from Tesla to Mazda, Cadillac’s Super Cruise topped Consumer Reports’ list in limited testing conditions. But in truth, Super Cruise and Tesla Autopilot are head-and-shoulders above the field.
Cadillac’s is the safest. Tesla’s the most capable. Their priorities reflect two very different companies that are in a race for the self-driving future.
Cadillac is part of the multi-brand, lawyered-up General Motors behemoth intent on realizing an electrified, autonomous future – including the Cruise ride-sharing service that has been approved to test Chevy Bolt robots in San Francisco. Its approach is conservative and deliberate, with layers of redundancy.
Tesla, by contrast, is an ambitious startup electric carmaker led by swashbuckling founding father Elon Musk. He sees his model lineup – not a separate fleet like Cruise – leading the world into the autonomous future. Autopilot 2020.12.6, the latest over-the-air update, is a daring, risky, real-world exploration of state-of-the-art self-driving.
I have driven all the automakers’ systems and am constantly evaluating upgrades. Consumer Reports’ test released Wednesday consisted of a 30-mile loop of interstate and secondary roads (plus the company’s test track) and was limited to the systems’ lane-keeping and speed-control ability using adaptive cruise-control. In industry jargon, these are “Level 2” systems that require full driver engagement. Full-self driving “Level 4” systems do not require driver attention.
Super Cruise and Autopilot, unlike their peers, push hard on the Level 2 envelope and give a peek at a self-driving future.
Super Cruise was introduced in the now-defunct Cadillac CT6 sedan, and is on course for use in 22 vehicles (including non-Cadillacs like the GMC Hummer and Chevy Bolt) by 2023. Super Cruise generally acts like other lane-keeping, adaptive-cruise systems in the market – though it doesn’t work on secondary roads and highways with stoplights.
It is limited to divided, limited-access highways like I-75. That’s because GM is intent on perfecting self-driving in a safe environment devoid of stoplights and traffic crossings that can confuse the current technology. Cadillac is determined that you can relax, take your hands off the wheel, and – yes – check your email and texts.
Consumer Reports tries to discourage such ideas, saying: “The evidence is clear: If a car makes it easier for people to take their attention off the road, they’re going to do so—with potentially deadly consequences.”
But, let’s be honest, that’s the whole point of autonomous systems – to allow drivers to do other things. And that’s why CR gives Super Cruise its highest rating, because it constantly monitors drivers to make sure they aren’t too distracted.
An infrared camera stands watch on the steering column, monitoring the driver at all times. The purpose of Super Cruise is to allow the driver to relax as if in an easy chair with hands off the wheel, whereas other systems constantly urge drivers to grip the wheel.
That includes Teslas like my Model 3. Tesla requires some assurance from the driver that they’re engaged – hand on the wheel, rolling the adaptive-cruise speed button – every 15 to 30 seconds.
Freed of the helm on Super Cruise, I ate a meal and thumbed email on a 400-mile test. If the camera detected my head turned for any period of time, a steering wheel-mounted light would escalate warnings: 1) flash green 2) turn red 3) flash red and start braking while a voice warned: PLEASE TAKE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
Cadillac is clearly concerned the Barcalounger position will encourage naps.
With its constant nannying, falling asleep at the Tesla wheel is less likely. But quick texts and email checks are doable. If you ignore the nanny 1) a blue light will flash in the screen, 2) a warning chime will sound, then 3) the car will revoke your self-driving privileges for the rest of the drive.
Both vehicles can skillfully take turns up to 85 mph. Enter a curve too fast, and they’ll back off the throttle. Lane-centering is superb. True to its ambitious nature, Tesla features “Navigate on Autopilot” to negotiate a highway route entered in the car’s navigation system, lane changes and all. While in Super Cruise, you have to change lanes yourself – though a lane-change upgrade is coming this winter with the all-new Escalade.
For all of their sophisticated cameras, neither robot mode can see pop-up construction zones with orange barrels. Neither can see potholes. Neither will work in bad weather like snow.
Exit the highway and Super Cruise hands me back the controls. It knows its limitations.
But that’s just where the Tesla is getting interested. With its latest upgrade, Autopilot wants to drive secondary roads too.
It’s not for the squeamish.
Traveling down Telegraph Road with Autopilot’s blue wheel symbol glowing on the screen, the Model 3 detected a stoplight and slowed down to determine if it was red or green. I often had to goose the accelerator pedal so a surprised follower didn’t rear-end me. Having recognized the Christmas tree, Autopilot will stop at red or keep going through green. Or it might stop at green. Flashing yellow is a crapshoot.
At a busy construction intersection at Big Beaver and Crooks Road, the Tesla rudely sped by queued traffic in the right lane before I realized the lane was closing and I merged left.
In Charlevoix, two joggers in the street (their profiles popping up in the car’s crisp display) caused the Tesla to slam on the brakes. A human driver would have just weaved around them.
Navigating south to Detroit on I-75, Autopilot expertly changed lanes in and out of slower traffic, speeding up to make sure it merged seamlessly.
It’s a fascinating, attention-demanding glimpse at what the car sees, and a reminder of how far autonomous systems have to go. For those who simply want a relaxing interstate drive, however, Super Cruise is your driver.
Still, the two companies move relentlessly ahead. Even in the month since Consumer Reports’ test, advancements have been made. Super Cruise has added the aforementioned auto-lane change feature as well as adjusted lane-centering so the vehicle will move farther over in the lane when passing, say, an wide semi-truck. Meanwhile, Tesla has rolled out a fully self-driving update to select customers. That’s right – the Tesla turns at intersections on its own.
The driverless future is coming, ready or not.